Animals

Obese beagle who had to be carried on walks goes on raw diet and loses two stone


Kimmy was dramatically overweight at 3st 4lbs (Picture: Caters News)

Kimmy the 16-year-old beagle was once a stray who ate out of rubbish bins.

When she was adopted by Caitlin Brink, 27, from South Carolina, Kimmy quickly got used to her more luxurious lifestyle and became more than a little lazy.

The dog piled on the pounds, eventually weighing in at a whopping 3st 4lbs.

Kimmy was so tubby she couldn’t jump on the sofa, scratch her belly, or even lick herself.

She had a huge appetite and had no shame in barking at people until they gave her treats.

Caitlin initially thought the excess fat was ‘cute’, but as Kimmy kept having to be carried on her daily walks, she realised it was time to make a change.

Caitlin said: ‘I will admit I was ignorant to how harmful the excess weight was to her at the time.

‘I thought she was such a cute little chunk.

The 16-year-old dog was so unfit she had to be carried on her walks (Picture: Caters News Agency)

‘Initially, I spoilt her with treats and more treats until I started to actually note how she wasn’t really living a quality life.

‘That’s when I realised obesity isn’t cute.’

Caitlin started taking Kimmy out for longer walks, but this made little difference.

Caitlin said: ‘We used to live on the third floor of our apartment complex and she couldn’t even make it two floors before needing a break.

‘During a walk, she could manage ten feet of following her nose and then struggling to pant in the first patch of shade she could waddle to.

‘She couldn’t be a dog and it was devastating to see.

She also had a loud snore and constantly slept (Picture: Caters News Agency)

‘I then realised exercise wasn’t the most important part of her transformation. I had to look to her diet and caloric intake.’

First, Kimmy’s portions were limited, but it took over a year for her to drop 7lbs.

When Caitlin discovere the raw diet, everything changed.

She said: ‘I discovered a raw diet and have never looked back.

‘We saw results within the first week.

‘Feeding raw is not for every dog, but Kimmy thrives.

‘It was a lot of hard work in the beginning as we had to measuring out her meals and make sure it had all the right supplements and nutrients to be balanced.

‘We even bought her her own chest freezer to keep her meals fresh and so we could stock up on meat and organs.’

Kimmy has now dropped the excess weight thanks to a raw food diet (Picture: Caters News Agency)

Meals consist of 80% protein, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ and 10% bone balanced over three days.

Fruits and vegetables, eggs and the occasional non-raw treats are added as needed and supplements to ensure she received all her needed nutrients.

Kimmy now weighs a healthy 1st 2lbs and is absolutely thriving.

‘Her coat became shinier, better breath, her teeth health improved as the bone meals helped naturally scrape off years of tarter build up,’ Caitlin said.

‘Her energy levels were like none seen before and finding the diet that best suited her gave me a new dog.

‘The raw diet has ultimately saved her life.

‘She has maintained a healthy weight and has a lot of energy to continue to follow her nose and get into all sorts of trouble.’

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