Excercise regiment for a 16lb Maltese? - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**bermudagirl** · 12-20-2012, 10:14 AM

Hi my Maltese, Princess, is 16 pounds, and she's 10 years old. She has problems with her thyroid.. but her weight gain also comes from lack of excercise and diet. I have her on the diet that her vet told me to put her on, no treats and the right measurement of food. I need to know about what to do for her excercise. How long and far she should walk for? Her vet said that she needs to run some during her walks... I know I have to start out slow since she's not used to it and gets tired fast, and she has a little bit of arthritis. Can someone help me please. ..

**Zoe's Mom88** · 12-20-2012, 10:22 AM

Honestly, at this point I would basically focus more on the diet aspect of it. Shortly after you start it you will see the weight come off. Measuring the food portions is key. You can go for walks also but I wouldn't exert her too much. My Mom has a Yorkie who was a bit overweight and she cut the treats out only and there was a big difference with just that.

**Furbabies mom** · 12-20-2012, 10:25 AM

Yep, get some weight off first, or just go on a regular walk to start out. She'll want to walk more and her knees will feel better with less weight on her.

**Summergirl73** · 12-20-2012, 10:29 AM

I agree with the others. I'd be nervous about "running" an overweight Malt with arthritis issues. Especially at 10 years of age. I hope her thyroid issues are being well managed? I think for now I'd focus on gentle walks a few times a day to build stamina gradually. The Vet should be able to give you a better idea of what your fluff can manage physically.

**bermudagirl** · 12-20-2012, 10:34 AM

Okay, but how long should her walks be for? And they had prescribed her with levothyroxine to take for her hypothyroid.

**Zoe's Mom88** · 12-20-2012, 11:08 AM

I would just walk for a couple (2-3) minutes....not long at all. I really think diet will make all the difference.

**fran** · 12-20-2012, 03:10 PM

I have an overweight cavaschon. I have been battling a weight issue with her for over a year. We tried measuring her food, no treats and exercise. I started walking her 5 minutes and slowly worked her up to 20 mins. She has arthritis and hip displacha (?). After switching foods and exercise she has finally lost 4 lbs. With it being winter now I walk her on the warmer days. Anything over 40 degrees. She gets stiff with colder weather, so I bought her a sweater. Good luck with the weight loss.

**jmm** · 12-20-2012, 03:33 PM

I would work up to 20 minute walks a couple times a day. Start with 5 minutes, work up a minute every day or two. A brisk trot is plenty fast enough. I would not run an old arthritic dog.

**bermudagirl** · 12-20-2012, 05:19 PM

Oh ok thank you everyone all of your advice is very helpful. :-)

**CorkieYorkie** · 12-20-2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe's Mom88

My Mom has a Yorkie who was a bit overweight and she cut the treats out only and there was a big difference with just that.

Yes, we had an overweight Yorkie as well!! (He literally "trained" my father to give him a treat just for scratching at the TV stand...

) Once they cut out the excessive treats, the weight came off.

Plus, when I myself am trying to lose weight, I always focus on diet first, because working out when you are still out of shape is no fun at all

12-20-2012, 10:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
bermudagirl Newbie Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 3	Excercise regiment for a 16lb Maltese? Hi my Maltese, Princess, is 16 pounds, and she's 10 years old. She has problems with her thyroid.. but her weight gain also comes from lack of excercise and diet. I have her on the diet that her vet told me to put her on, no treats and the right measurement of food. I need to know about what to do for her excercise. How long and far she should walk for? Her vet said that she needs to run some during her walks... I know I have to start out slow since she's not used to it and gets tired fast, and she has a little bit of arthritis. Can someone help me please. ..

12-20-2012, 10:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zoe's Mom88 Maltese Guru Name: Barbie Dog's Name: Zoe (Kyra my Angel in Heaven) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,490	Honestly, at this point I would basically focus more on the diet aspect of it. Shortly after you start it you will see the weight come off. Measuring the food portions is key. You can go for walks also but I wouldn't exert her too much. My Mom has a Yorkie who was a bit overweight and she cut the treats out only and there was a big difference with just that. __________________

12-20-2012, 10:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Furbabies mom Maltese Guru Name: Deborah Dog's Name: Laurel (maltese), Dewey, Violet and Hardy and Dewey Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 8,610	Yep, get some weight off first, or just go on a regular walk to start out. She'll want to walk more and her knees will feel better with less weight on her. __________________ Deborah and my Fluffs, Laurel, Violet , Hardy and Dewey!

12-20-2012, 10:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
Summergirl73 Maltese Guru Name: Bridget Dog's Name: Lady Bella (and Katie & Lucky at The Bridge) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,756	I agree with the others. I'd be nervous about "running" an overweight Malt with arthritis issues. Especially at 10 years of age. I hope her thyroid issues are being well managed? I think for now I'd focus on gentle walks a few times a day to build stamina gradually. The Vet should be able to give you a better idea of what your fluff can manage physically. __________________ "A weed is just a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered." Last edited by Summergirl73; 12-20-2012 at 10:31 AM.

12-20-2012, 11:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zoe's Mom88 Maltese Guru Name: Barbie Dog's Name: Zoe (Kyra my Angel in Heaven) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,490	I would just walk for a couple (2-3) minutes....not long at all. I really think diet will make all the difference. __________________

12-20-2012, 10:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
bermudagirl Newbie Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 3	Okay, but how long should her walks be for? And they had prescribed her with levothyroxine to take for her hypothyroid.

12-20-2012, 03:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
fran Member Name: Fran Dog's Name: Roux, Skyler, Ellie. Tory waiting at the bridge Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 198	I have an overweight cavaschon. I have been battling a weight issue with her for over a year. We tried measuring her food, no treats and exercise. I started walking her 5 minutes and slowly worked her up to 20 mins. She has arthritis and hip displacha (?). After switching foods and exercise she has finally lost 4 lbs. With it being winter now I walk her on the warmer days. Anything over 40 degrees. She gets stiff with colder weather, so I bought her a sweater. Good luck with the weight loss. __________________ Fran Mommy to Roux, Skylar, Ellie and foster mom to Desi

12-20-2012, 03:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
jmm Maltese Guru Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 8,692	I would work up to 20 minute walks a couple times a day. Start with 5 minutes, work up a minute every day or two. A brisk trot is plenty fast enough. I would not run an old arthritic dog. __________________ JMM - JaMi Maltese, Home to Performance Maltese Becoming a Follower on our Blog!!!

12-20-2012, 05:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
bermudagirl Newbie Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 3	Oh ok thank you everyone all of your advice is very helpful. :-)

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