Overweight rescue chin

[NorthIdahoChins]

Hi Everyone: I rescued a chin a few days ago who seems very overweight to me. He is 4 years old and has never been fed pellets or hay! He has been fed only fruit & nut mix, seeds, & treats. His poop was very dry and in the shape of seeds. I put him on PANR & hay immediately. This morning his poop looks much better. Both of his eyes started watering but I think he is poking himself with the hay (he didn't know what to do with the hay at first). Should I put him on probiotics or something else since he has had such a horrible diet for the past 4 years? You can't even see his little feet because of the fat that is hanging over them. I'll attach a picture. He's the sweetest big thing! Any suggestions on names for him?

 

[ticklechin]

Get him a better wheel, give him a good diet of hay and pellets only and see what happens in time. How much does he weigh? He does not look obese in that pic to me, may be different in person.

 

[Gizmo24]

ahhh that wheel gives me nightmares!!! Thats the wheel that gizmo got hurt on, causing a leg amputation ... that's so sad he's never been given hay, its incredible how stupid some people are. Good luck with him, hes super cute!

 

[NorthIdahoChins]

Oh, I should have mentioned. I took that picture when I picked him up. He is now in a different cage and with no wheel, no newspaper, and no plastic! I cringed when I saw him try to run in that wheel! The wheel went bye-bye. I am a big believer in the Chin Spin!

 

[CerLynn]

From the pic, he looks like a healthy little chunker, but if he is overweight, a chin spin (or flying saucer) would definitely help. The change in diet should help as well - the nuts and seeds in the old mix are far too fatty for chins.

 

[tunes]

It never hurts to give a little acidophilus with an abrupt food switch. Even though his diet was horrible, he looks to be in good shape. I am often amazed at how chins seem to thrive on whatever they are given by some people. People who do all the right things have chins die at 4 or 5. People who feed their chins total crap have them live into their late teens. Something really unfair about that.

 

[Parkerspetchins]

He is adorable! So glad that you are going to care for him properly. He must have been psyched to have all of those treats but it couldn't have done his body good. Congratulations to you both! I think you are headed in the right direction with him as well ).