IW Health Talk
2 year old female IWH 170 pounds-too big??
WE have a two year old female who had large parents-- she IS NOT at all overweight but is already 170 pounds-- My question is she seems to have a hard time standing sometimes---not wobby just stiff. Is this normal? Also when measuring height do we measure to shoulders or top of head. THX so much she is our first and what a LOVE she is!!
You do not mention the height of the bitch. My rule of thumb on weight (overly simplistic, of course) follows the Standard which says: "The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 32 inches and 120 pounds; of bitches, 30 inches and 105 pounds, these to apply only to hounds over 18 months of age." Using these figures as my benchmark for the diseratum, I read that the bitches should only be 2 niches shorter and 15 pounds lighter, thus... If your bitch is over 30 inches tall, add 7.5# per inch, to the 105# stated, to her current height. It could be that if she is well-over that ratio, you might want to run a thyroid check on her. (A good thing to have in your vet file all the same.) For example, at 34 inches tall, she would be 135#. But then, I like a lean athletic marathon hound; others may interpret the Standard differently.
SUNSTAG IWs
On a more basic level if you can't feel individual ribs your dog is probably too heavy. The scenario I go over with my clients is: if your dog was hit by a car and I needed to place a chest tube between the 9th and 10th ribs can you show me where that is? It's been an eye-opener for many.
Alice Timmerman, DVM
