obesity & is there a way to tell a chin's age?

[pattitate]

Hi
over the weekend I rescued a chin that was being given away free on craigslist. When I got her, she had been kept in a small aquarium, and fed a mixture of dried corn and peanuts. The people said they had her for about two years, and apparently before that she had another home, or a series of homes (who knows) .... this time, they were giving her away because she was "grumpy" and objected to being handled.

So, I got her home, threw away the death ball and everything else she came with, and set her up in a cage with some wooden shelves on four levels, and a wheel. I also started feeding her oxbow pellets and free choice hay.

So far, she is adapting well. She seems to LOVE the fact that she can move around, and stretch out to sleep comfortably; and she's eating and drinking well with no signs of upset tummy. Her 'grumpiness' seems to have totally gone away, and she's actually being very friendly and welcomes any attention. Her fur, which had looked greasy and matted when I got her, is responding to daily dust baths. So we're off to a start.

Now my questions .... first, is there any way to tell the age of a chin? and due to the poor diet, and the fact that she could barely turn around for the past couple of years spent in a small aquarium, this girl is obese ..... really, really fat. She tires easily with just a little jumping. I know that simply putting her on better food, and allowing some activity, will go a long way; but I'm wondering if there are any specific recommendations to facilitate weight loss in a chin?

thanks

patti

 

[Chinmama]

Wow! Glad to hear she is in a home now where she can receive some proper care and attention.

As far as weight loss, I would say that not living on peanuts and dried corn should make a difference! What are some people thinking... Anyway, I would also make sure she has access to a safe wheel and once she is used to you and you are comfortable handling her - lots of out of cage playtime.

 

[Dreamlite]

I would weigh her weekly just to make sure the weight loss is reasonable. Just like in people loosing weight too fats can be bad. With good diet and a wheel she should get back to a healthy weight in no time.

 

[Cuddlebug]

I have had obese rescues show up here on bad diets and no exercise. Given good food and hay and a wheel, they all attained a reasonable weight over time. Just give her the good stuff and a wheel and she will find her true weight. You don't need to do anything more. As far as age goes. Unless they are under a year old, there is no way to know just how old they are.