Dog who once weighed same as baby elephant now desperate to find his forever home

Trojan was an overweight dog when he began life at the RSPCA centre

A 10-year-old dog, who weighed the same as a baby elephant, is looking for a forever home after shedding half his weight in just 12 months. 

Alaskan malamute Trojan arrived at an RSPCA centre in Dorset in November 2020, weighing in at a shocking 101kg.

Now, he weighs in at a much healthier 60.1kg, but the senior pooch needs a home that can keep his previous health and age in mind when taking him on.

Trojan the dog before his dramatic weight loss

Nicola added: "Trojan is arthritic and has thyroid problems so will need ongoing treatment in his new home.

"These conditions won’t be covered by any insurance so his new owners will need to be prepared to cover these costs.

"Although he’s in his twilight years, don’t let that fool you; he has no intention of ‘retiring’ any time soon!

"He is still strong and likes to go for short walks, plod around the garden and have a good sniff!

"He gets on really well with other dogs but doesn’t like being jumped all over so he’s best around calm, respectful doggy friends.

"We think he’d be best as the only dog in his new home so he can have all of the attention and affection; and he really deserves it!"

Trojan is looking for a home where he’ll have good company and regular grooming.

Trojan completely transformed following his diet

He spends most of the day sleeping in the reception area at the centre.

He’s looking for a home with someone who will be around for most of the day and, once he’s settled in his new home and routine, may be able to be left for short periods of time.

He could live with older children and needs owners who will not over-fuss him. 

RSPCA chief veterinary officer Caroline Allen said: "Pet obesity is a serious welfare issue and recent studies have suggested that around half of all pet dogs are overweight. We are, quite literally, killing our pets with kindness.

"Obesity can affect all types of pets and the main causes are from eating too much or not exercising enough.

"As a rough guide (for cats and dogs), you should be able to see and feel the outline of their ribs without excess fat covering them.

"You should also be able to see and feel their waist and it should clearly ‘pinch in’ when you look down at them from above. 

"Overweight pets can suffer from serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

"Carrying more body weight can also increase the chances of pets suffering from conditions such as arthritis and can even shorten their life expectancy.

"If you’re worried about your pet’s weight, we’d recommend speaking to your vet before making any significant diet or lifestyle changes and ruling out any health conditions that may be affecting their weight."

The RSPCA says it is really important to stick to healthy diets for dogs and not to overfeed or give them too many treats, especially with Christmas approaching.