How fat is to fat?

[NFM07]

Its a very common thing in the animal world of owners thinking that feeding their animal makes their animal happy and fat animals are happy animals. When it comes to dogs, cats, horses, and even snakes(to a point) I can tell when an animal needs to lose some weight. However, how fat is to fat when it comes to a beardie? I have seen some photos that make me wonder, I wont point the photos out dont want owners mad at me, but I really dont know what is "normal" for them. If you have photos of fat dragons please feel free to post them and please point out what makes them fat.

On the flip side, how do you know when one needs to add weight?

Thanks!

 

[MrWhite]

Its a very common thing in the animal world of owners thinking that feeding their animal makes their animal happy and fat animals are happy animals. When it comes to dogs, cats, horses, and even snakes(to a point) I can tell when an animal needs to lose some weight. However, how fat is to fat when it comes to a beardie? I have seen some photos that make me wonder, I wont point the photos out dont want owners mad at me, but I really dont know what is "normal" for them. If you have photos of fat dragons please feel free to post them and please point out what makes them fat.

On the flip side, how do you know when one needs to add weight?

Thanks!

I'm glad you brought this up, the exact same thoughts have crossed my mind as well.

 

[Jess]

I'm not entirely certain as to what exactly makes them fat either. Like, I've seen some beardies who I personally think are way over weight, but other members say they look fine.
I'm still not sure whether or not Dudley is officially fat, LOL. I've gotten different answers from different members. His belly doesn't drag on the ground and he moves around fine, but he has a lot of fat stores on his tail, fat pads on his head, and under his armpits. He ate his veggies daily before he started brumating, and I limit his bugs more than most people do, but he is still 550 grams. :| He loses a good amount of weight during brumation and "Spring fever", so I'm hoping to keep him around 460-480 grams next year. I just acquired some dubia, so he will have a less fattier feeder than his usual superworms when he wakes up.
So even if he isn't technically fat, I think he would be healthier, happier, and more active if he lost some weight. I'm really careful about keeping all of my other pets a healthy weight, so I feel bad that he has gotten a little pudgy!
He was actually 442 grams when I adopted him. :roll:

It's much easier to tell if a dragon is too thin: Their fat pads on their heads will be sunken in, and their hip bones stick out.

 

[NFM07]

Glad Im not the only one who was wondering.

Jess, where are their fat pads located?

 

[Jess]

On top of their heads. There is one behind each eye.

 

[Chair76]

the first pick of my beardie when he was young, before i knew about this site, and found the good info.(this was all before so you can tell hes skinny)

and the next picture is of him now, that i took today just laying around posing. in this one you might be able to tell the difference of meat pattys on their heads and you cant see the tail bones showing. he weights around 300 grams. which i think the ideal weight for a beardie is 500 and full grown or more.and yes hes belly slighty touchs the ground now.

by the way can anyone tell me what kind of beardie i have. for example if you misunderstood like a central western beardie or some other type?

 

[Deemac6]

I've been told Thil was over weight while also told she was fine, personally I think she is fine, she does have more fat in places then other beardies but she doesn't seem affected by it at all, she is roughly 550 and I don't think she should be put on a diet, she moves around fine, belly doesn't drag and she isn't lazy (atleast not anymore since she got over her little phase) which I think means she is perfectly fine, i've seen other dragons who are much bigger then her and I feel as long as they don't see effected by it and don't strain to move or hold themselves up they are fine. As long as you are feeding a good diet and they get out for exercise.

 

[herpgirl2510]

I just adopted Rosie she may be a little on the big side. I however do not plan on putting her on a diet.

 

[NFM07]

I've been told Thil was over weight while also told she was fine, personally I think she is fine, she does have more fat in places then other beardies but she doesn't seem affected by it at all, she is roughly 550 and I don't think she should be put on a diet, she moves around fine, belly doesn't drag and she isn't lazy (atleast not anymore since she got over her little phase) which I think means she is perfectly fine, i've seen other dragons who are much bigger then her and I feel as long as they don't see effected by it and don't strain to move or hold themselves up they are fine. As long as you are feeding a good diet and they get out for exercise.

Not to sound rude but its that same type of thinking that leads to overweight furred animals. I cant count how many times I have heard that when people bring their animals into the vet office because of one reason or another and fight with the vet when they are told their animals is overweight. They are a lot smaller then we are extra weight is heavier and causes a lot more problems for them. Im not trying to say that your dragon is overweight, again Im asking because I dont know enough about them. Nor am I saying that your other animals (if you have them) are overweight, just saying that its a VERY common reason why owners allow their animals to get overweight and have health problems.

Thank you to those of you who have to offer photos and giving me an idea of how to tell a healthy weight from unhealthy weight.

 

[Deemac6]

I wasn't talking about furred animals at all and never did I mention I have the same thought process when it comes to them, I have owned many cats and dogs in my life of not only different sizes but different weights and even thought two cats could be the same weight they each handled it differently. I find it very easy to tell and correct when my furred pets are over or under and most of the time as long as like I said animals are given the proper amount of attention and exercise weight shouldn't be much of a problem. Just like humans animals have different body sizes and deal with the weight different. My male cat just visited the vet, he is indoors and a very muscular male, his is 14 pounds and has his food out all the time, I don't personally believe in keeping an animal on a schedule. He could stand to lose a pound or two but that doesn't mean i'm going to put him on a diet. You asked about dragons, I answered about dragons, I don't like how you assumed that transferred over to my other animals.

Also I wanted to add before you think to suggest my cat is over weight the vet agreed he is perfectly healthy, he is an adult orange/tiger male and from my experiences orange cats are big cats. I don't attribute the same signs (belly dragging/trouble lifting their own weight/lazy) to mammals and I find It is easy to tell when a mammal is over weight and i'm sorry you deal with people who have a problem hearing their pets are over weight but you shouldn't assume that because someone feels a certain way about one type of animals diet it is the same all around, what is attributed to Thil is not the same for my furred pets or my snake, and same for the snake.

 

[NightmareDisco]

I have been back and forth over whether or not Nemesis is fat or not. She's def a hefty lady, but not to an unhealthy scale. She's 18.5" and 517 g. My vet said she was a fatty and I tried putting her on a diet but she genuinely acted like I was starving her (I was not lol) But we have an eating schedule now that works for both of us that includes lots of bok choy (the only green she will eat, and yes, I have tried SO many others)
However, here is a pic of her being super fat when she was gravid that I think is really cute

I think, as long as they don't drag their bellies and are active (as active as one can expect from a beardie :roll: ) then you're fine

 

[MrWhite]

hehe, that picture is exactly how I feel after a Thanksgiving dinner :wink: "ooof, I ate too much" :lol:

 

[Brokenwings]

mine weighs 610grams and the vet says she's in perfect health.
fully grown lady

 

[Drache613]

Let's please keep this a friendly & constructive discussion. Personal attacks & abuse are not tolerated on this forum. Thank you.

 

[NFM07]

I wasn't talking about furred animals at all and never did I mention I have the same thought process when it comes to them, I have owned many cats and dogs in my life of not only different sizes but different weights and even thought two cats could be the same weight they each handled it differently. I find it very easy to tell and correct when my furred pets are over or under and most of the time as long as like I said animals are given the proper amount of attention and exercise weight shouldn't be much of a problem. Just like humans animals have different body sizes and deal with the weight different. My male cat just visited the vet, he is indoors and a very muscular male, his is 14 pounds and has his food out all the time, I don't personally believe in keeping an animal on a schedule. He could stand to lose a pound or two but that doesn't mean i'm going to put him on a diet. You asked about dragons, I answered about dragons, I don't like how you assumed that transferred over to my other animals.

Also I wanted to add before you think to suggest my cat is over weight the vet agreed he is perfectly healthy, he is an adult orange/tiger male and from my experiences orange cats are big cats. I don't attribute the same signs (belly dragging/trouble lifting their own weight/lazy) to mammals and I find It is easy to tell when a mammal is over weight and i'm sorry you deal with people who have a problem hearing their pets are over weight but you shouldn't assume that because someone feels a certain way about one type of animals diet it is the same all around, what is attributed to Thil is not the same for my furred pets or my snake, and same for the snake.

I said in my post that I was not saying that your animals were overweight just that your reply was the same I have heard many times from people with overweight animals. Please read things fully before getting upset. seeing how a Mod was pulled in, Im leaving it at that.

hehe, that picture is exactly how I feel after a Thanksgiving dinner :wink: "ooof, I ate too much" :lol:

Agreed! Wait... I know that look my husband makes it after every big meal.

What are "normal" weights vs length?