Shiggins - Normally in the summer we do walk every day 30 min with his backpack (he feels important because he carries Spaghettios lol), but between the weather and my schedule I have only been able to do a half hour. Believe me, if I could get more energy out of him I would. With the walks he is better, but he usually has a half hour in him at night that he gets all worked up. I forgot to mention he is only about a year and a half. You know, I have always wanted to do a more meat diet with him... I will really take your advice on the starches, makes sense, I am ashamed to say I never looked into that.

Elizabeth - I will look into the Nutro brand, but I would have to find him something other than Lamb and Rice. Science Diet had a lamb and rice brand and for some reason it made him very gassy (??) which wasnt good for anyone. It is too bad though, it did wonders for his coat.

Burnt Umber - I will look into Van Patten's as well. Expense is not really an issue when it comes to Jack and like you said, with a little dog, those bags go me a loooong way.


Thanks guys, even before the weight issue I was looking into changing his food. This is currently what is in his:

Chicken, Brown Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Soybean Meal, Chicken Meal, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Whole Grain Oats, Apples, Cranberries, Soybean Oil, Peas, Carrots, Dried Beet Pulp, Iodized Salt, Flaxseed, Broccoli, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

I think I would really like to get him away from the grains. I understand dogs are omnivores, but I do not think wheat, grains, apples, etc need to out weigh the meat.

I think I will give him a month on a new food and increase exersize before checking his thyroid. I am currently trying to save up to move out of my mothers house, so funds are limited.