Best Dieting Foods For Fat Hog?

A year ago, I gave one of my hoglets to one of my friends. Now she already had a hoglet from me the previous year, and loved him so much, that she wanted another little baby too. She is the nicest person you could meet, and she loves her animals to bits.

Anyway, the hoglet in question was nicknamed Roly from a young age. At 6 weeks he had a couple of problems with ingrowing infected quills, and had some antibiotics etc, and everything was fine. The only thing with Roly, is that he refused to eat loads of different types of food. And I ended up buying about 8 different brands to find one that he wanted to eat, which ended up being go cat indoor if I remember rightly. But the funny thing was, he would not eat the food from a bowl, he would only eat it scattered on the floor. Anyway, he finally came round to eating from a bowl, and off he went to his new home. Now the thing was, he was an only child, and he obv got all the milk from his Mummy..he took a lot longer to wean than the others (as above with the different brands of food).

Anyway, by the time Roly was 10 weeks old he was already double the weight I would expect a hog of that age to be.

He went to his new home, and Lesley the lady spoilt him rotten- you know, lots of treats etc, as you would with a new baby, particularly one who had the problems with his quills, etc etc.

Anyway Roly grew and grew, and unfortunately got fatter and fatter.. and I saw him the other day, and he is really really obese.. I never realised he was that big.. He cant roll up, and how he sleeps he must dribble or breathe on himself and he ends up wet and slimey under his tummy. I have told her to stop giving him treats, to not give him kitten food, and she had put him on JW light turkey kibble, but she wont really listen to me and resrots back to her old ways (just because he didnt seem to be losing weight on the light foods). She keeps giving him high % fat foods.

I have told her that it is going to affect his health, and shorten his lifespan, but she keeps saying she doesnt want him to go hungry. He uses his wheel a bit, but not much. But she keeps giving him as much food as he wants, and as many treats as he wants. Its very frustrating, because her other hog is a picture of health, but Roly is just a fat begger.

What are THE best foods to give Roly.. to help aid him lose weight...

I changed my hogs diet mix when he was on a diet, the majority consisted of science plan light. I cant remember the analysis of the food though, here was the new mix which he is still currently on:

Go Cat Chicken 2 Cups
Purina Pro Plan (Light)4 Cups
Iams Chicken (Light)4 Cups
Science Plan (Light) 5.5 Cups
Old Mix 2 Cups

I also restricted how much he was on and his insect intake and he lost a good bit, you might not see the difference too much physically but you can in their behaviour as my tubber became alot more active than he previously was, which i think is a good thing really.

In my next mix i think i will be cutting down to go cat, science plan and either iams or pro plan depending on which contains less fat x

The below might help you (to help her). Also, if she's feeding live mealworms (33% fat) and you want her to cut down, try suggesting either butterworms (13%) or roaches (dubia 17%; turkistan 15%). If she's feeding the hog waxworms, then butterworms is the perfect solution. They look like slightly bigger, 'angry' (they are bright red) waxworm grub-like things, but about the size of a tubby mealworm, but have less than half the fat of mealworms, and almost 1/5th of that of waxworms. Protein is about the same as waxies (slightly less than mealies). Get the same 'feed lots' satisfaction that she's getting at the moment, but with considerably less fat I get mine from Rick: http://www.rickslivefood.co.uk/vmchk/Butterworms/View-all-products.html

List of foods sorted by fat (up to 19%). Food name/Protein%/Fat%/First five ingredients:

Hills Science Plan Adult Indoor Cat Chicken 31.3 8.2 Chicken (Min 53% Chicken & Turkey), Chicken & Turkey Meal, Ground Maize, Ground Rice, Maize Gluten Meal
Hills Science Plan Adult Light Chicken 31.2 8.6 Chicken (Min 58% Chicken & Turkey), Ground Rice, Chicken & Turkey Meal, Ground Maize, Maize Gluten Meal
Pro Plan Adult Light Turkey & Rice 38 9 Turkey (16%), Maize Gluten Meal, Rice (14%), Dehydrated Poultry Protein, Maize
Brekkies Complete Chicken & Turkey 28 10 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives, Vegetable Protein Extract, Oils & Fats, Fish & Fish Derivatives
Brekkies Complete Rabbit, Chicken & Liver 28 10 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives, Vegetable Protein Extract, Oils & Fats, Fish & Fish Derivatives
Claude Cat Crunchies With Poultry (Tesco) 30 10 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives (Minimum 14%), Oils & Fats, Minerals, Yeast
Pets At Home Adult With Chicken, Rabbit, Duck & Vegetables 30 10 N/A
Go Cat Complete Adult With Beef, Chicken & Liver 32 10 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives (Min 25%), Vegetable Protein Extracts, Oils & fats, Derivatives Of Vegetable Origen
Go Cat Complete Adult With Chicken, Duck & Rabbit 32 10 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives (Min 25%), Vegetable Protein Extracts, Oils & fats, Derivatives Of Vegetable Origen
Go Cat Complete Adult With Rabbit, Turkey & Vegetables 32 10 Cereals (Min 4%), Meat & Animal Derivatives (Min 4% Rabbit, Min 4% Turkey), Vegetable Protein Extracts, Oils & Fats, Minerals, Derivatives Of Vegetable Origen
Go Cat Complete Senior With Chicken, Rice & Vegetables 32 10 Cereals (Min 4%), Vegetable Protein Extracts, Meat & Animal Derivatives (Min 4%), Oils & Fats, Minerals
Hills Science Plan Mature Adult 7+ Light Chicken 34 10 Chicken (Min 49% Chicken & Turkey), Chicken & Turkey Meal, Ground Maize, Ground Rice, Maize Gluten Meal
Go Cat Complete Indoor Cat With Chicken, Vegetables & Garden Greens 35 10 Cereals, Vegetable Protein Extracts, Meat & Animal Derivatives (Min 4%), Derivatives Of Vegetable Origin, Oils & Fats
Pets At Home Adult Light With Chicken 35 10 Fresh Chicken (Min 24%), Poultry Meat Meal, Maize, Rice, Maize Gluten Meal
Iams Adult Light Rich In Chicken 28 11 Chicken (>26%), Maize, Wheat, Animal fat, Dried Whole Egg
Arden Grange Light Rich In Chicken 30 11 Chicken Meal 26%, Whole Grain Rice 23%, Whole Grain Maize, Beet Pulp
Burns Chicken & Brown Rice 28 12 Brown Rice, Poultry Meat Meal, Maize, Poultry Fat, Chicken Liver
James Wellbeloved Senior/Light Duck & Rice 29 12 White Rice (Min 26%), Duck Meat Meal (Min 26%), Maize Gluten, Duck Fat, Poultry Gravy
James Wellbeloved Senior/Light Lamb & Rice 29 12 White Rice (Min 26%), Lamb Meat Meal (Min 26%), Maize Gluten, Lamb Gravy, Potato Protein (Min 2.5%)
James Wellbeloved Senior/Light Turkey & Rice 29 12 White Rice (Min 26%), Turkey Meat Meal (Min 26%), Maize Gluten, Turkey Fat, Poultry Gravy
Purely Adult Complete Cat Food with Chicken (Pets At Home) 28 13 Poultry meat meal, Maize meal, Fresh chicken (26% in the brown component), Rice, Poultry fat, Pork gravy, Fish meal, Sugar beet pulp, Linseed, Maize gluten meal, Yeast, Minerals, Barley meal, Oatmeal, Vegetables (peas, carrots, spinach), Fruit (tomato, citrus fruit pulp, grape skins), Salt
Dodson & Horrell Chudleys Feline 30 14 Cereals, Meat & Animal Derivatives, Oils & Fats, Vegetable Protein Extracts, Derivatives Of Vegetable Origen
Iams Senior & Mature 32 14 Chicken (>26%), Maize, Wheat, Animal fat, Dried Whole Egg
Pets At Home Senior Complete With Chicken 32.5 14 Fresh Chicken (Min 25%),Maize, Poultry Meat Meal, Maize Gluten Meal, Rice
Pro Plan Adult House Cat Chicken & Rice 36 14 Chicken (20%), Maize Gluten Meal, Dehydrated Poultry Protein, Rice (14%), Maize
Joe & Jills Fresh Chicken & Rice 28 16 Fresh Chicken Meat (Min 26%), Poultry Meat Meal, Rice (Min 26%), Maize, Chicken Fat
Purely Adult Complete 40% Chicken (Pets At Home) 28 16 Fresh Chicken (Min 26%), Poultry Meat Meal, Rice (Min 19%), Poultry Oil, Sugar Beet Pulp
Purely Senior Complete 40% Chicken (Pets At Home) 28 16 Fresh Chicken (Min 26%), Poultry Meat Meal, Rice (Min 17%), Poultry Oil, Sugar Beet Pulp
Hi Life Complete & Crunchy Rich In Organic Chicken 29 16 Poultry (Including Fresh Organic Chicken Min 21%), Whole Maize, Whole Linseed, Fish Meal, Vitamin & Mineral Supplements
Iams Adult Rich In Chicken 34 16 Chicken (>26%), Maize, Wheat, Animal fat, Dried Beet Pulp
Iams Adult Rich Lamb 34 16 Chicken Meal, Maize, Wheat, Animal Fat, Lamb (>4%)
Iams Natures Wellness Rich In Wholesome Chicken 34 16 Chicken (>30%), Maize, Animal fat, Rice, Barley
Pro Plan Adult Chicken & Rice 36 16 Chicken (21%), Rice (16%), Maize Gluten Meal, Dehydrated Poultry Protein, Maize
OrganiPets Adult Comple Fresh Organic Chicken & Rice 30 17 Organic Fresh Chicken (Min 22%), Organic Whole Rice (Min 19%), Chicken Meal, Prarie Meal, Organic Oats
Iams Multicat 36 17 Chicken (>30%), Maize Grits, Animal fat, Salmon(>4%), Dried Beet Pulp
Denes Options Healthy Skin Rich In Chicken & Turkey With Rice 30 18 Poultry Meat Meal (Chicken Min 14%, Turkey Min 14%), Maize, Rice (Min 4%), Chicken Oil, Fishmeal
Hi Life Cherish Gold Rich In Chicken 30 18 Fresh Chicken (Min 22%), Rice, Poultry Meal, Maize, Chicken Oil
James Wellbeloved Adult Duck & Rice 31 18 White Rice (Min 26%), Duck Meat Meal (Min 26%), Duck Fat, Maize Gluten, Potato Protein (Min 9%)
James Wellbeloved Adult Lamb & Rice 31 18 White Rice (Min 26%), Lamb Meat Meal (Min 26%), Maize Gluten, Lamb Gravy, Potato Protein (Min 2.5%)
James Wellbeloved Adult Turkey & Rice 31 18 White Rice (Min 26%), Turkey Meat Meal (Min 26%), Turkey Fat, Maize Gluten, Potato Protein (Min 9%)
Pro Plan Senior Vital Age 7+ Chicken & Rice 37 18 Chicken (20%), Rice (18%), Maize Gluten Meal, Soya Meal, Maize
Pro Plan Adult Delicate Turkey & Rice 40 18 Turkey (18%), Rice (18%), Maize Gluten Meal, Dehydrated Turkey Proteins, Rice Gluten Meal
Hills Science Plan Mature Adult 7+ Active Longevity Chicken 31.6 18.4 Chicken (Min 50% Chicken & Turkey), Chicken & Turkey Meal, Ground Rice, Ground Maize, Maize Gluten Meal
Almo Nature Hollistic Cat Food With Chicken & Rice 30 19 Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Fresh Chicken Meat, Chicken Meal, Whole Linseed
Arden Grange Adult With Chicken & Rice 31 19 Chicken Meal 30%, Whole Grain Maize 16%, Whole Grain Rice 16%, Dried Brewers Yeast

I've been doing some research on this issue as many people are finding that diets with aph's don't work.

i've found a study online based on African hogs on the effect of fibre on weight. The study came to the conclusion that an African hog needs 30% protein at all times, no more than 10 % fat but, 10 - 15% fibre! If you look at your cat biscuits nutritional values the fibre isn't good enough. SO when we put our fatty hogs on the lowest fat biscuit, usually gocat, the fibre amount is also very low and the hogs slow down and gain weight.

The study found that any African hog on less than 10% fibre in it's diet gained weight to teh point of obesity.

Now I've found a few good brands of cat food which fit the bill perfectly but they are american. I'm currently trying to find a British one but am finding that many websites don't show the nutritional value of the cat biscuits they are selling. Kiana, do you have records of the fibre?

Only record I have for fibre is:
Pets at Home: Advanced Nutrition Indoor Cat Food with Chicken 29 12 9 10 Poultry Meat Meal, Fresh Chicken (min. 18%), Maize, Rice, Maize Gluten Meal, Fish Meal, Animal Fat, Oatmeal, Cellulose Fibre, Chicken Gravy, Minerals (Includes; Yucca Extract, Cranberry Extract, Citrus Extract, Rosemary Extract), Brewers Yeast, Chicory Root, L-Carnitine. Total Chicken min. 40%

29 protein, 12 fat, 9 fibre, 10 moisture. And meat meal as the main ingredient. So in all, not terribly wonderful!

I know the americans want 10-15% fibre in their foods, but finding out the fibre for UK foods is hard. If anyone has a packet of anything that does say the fibre/moisture content, shoot me a PM and I'll add it to my master list that I use for this type of question I would agree that more fibre would help the obese hogs a lot. Only US cat food I have atm is wet though.

Why do the US have a greater range of cat foods? They are the smae brands that we have here such as royal canin but more options.

Greater demand. More people, more demand. On the flipside, they have really really crappy hamster cages, whereas ours are actually 'sensible'.