My dog memories: show off your dog's waistline

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Jumat, 22 Februari 2013

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline: Jack

by Jack's mom

Jack ate everything!

Stuff kids threw on the floor, licked the dishwasher clean, left overs on the plate.

We called him the Hoover. He literally would eat anything.

I never measured his food or really knew what was in it.

In fact, he ate dog food available at grocery stores and Walmart. I honestly never thought twice about it. If they're selling it, it must be good for dogs, right?

The other thing I thought, as he got bigger, was that all labs are fat. Fat and lab went together.

Jack got up one day at the cottage and screamed in pain from his back leg. He limped all day. I knew we had to do something, he was only three and he was limping???

I brought him in and Dr. Brian tested his thyroid to rule out anything that might be adding to his weight gain. He came back clear. Dr Brian then put Jack on a medical calorie control diet.

I used the Best Doggone Diet app on my iphone to monitor Jack's food intake and made sure I wasn't over or under feeding him. The app did all the work for me.

We stopped allowing Jack in when we were eating and I gave him an apple and some carrots in the afternoon to tie him over. He reminded me at the same time everyday to get his apple and carrots. Still does!

Jack was too fat to walk.

We live in a rural setting and he couldn't do it. He would overheat and lie down and couldn't be moved. He would, however, chase a ball, take it, and stand in the creek so that I could get him and make him chase after it again. So I started at the cottage to make him swim.

Jack was so fat he didn't swim.

In the beginning he'd come out once, circle around us, and go back to shore. Soon, though, he was able to come out for longer periods of time. As he's black, and hard to see in the lake water, the kids call him affectionately the "water moccasin". All you can hear is him snorting water. Look out he's coming to rescue.

Today, Jack is enjoying life again!

He chases rabbits, squirrels and the tennis ball for hours. He loves to play in the snow.

An interesting side effect of his weight loss (or the new diet), is that he smells less. He used to enter a room and without looking up I knew he was there. I took him constantly to the groomers but could never get rid of the smell.

He is also losing less hair and his hair is shiny. His ears and breath smell less.

It's your turn!

Take a photo of your dog's waistline (and dig up some old "before" photos for comparison, if you have any!), and share your story about how you're keeping them fit. If you have a blog, blog it, if not, email me and get your story featured on Dawg Business.

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Join the Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign.

Jumat, 15 Februari 2013

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline: Joy and Noodle

Meet Joy and Noodle, the lucky owners of my dear friend, Dr. Shawn Finch.

Have you ever seen a vet's dog that was overweight? Me neither. Won't happen. Because nobody understands how important and beneficial keeping dogs slim is better than veterinarians.

Do veterinarians know something we don't?

We all know it, or at least we've heard it. But veterinarians live it. We can too.

Keeping them slim is one of the best things we can do for our dogs.

It's your turn!

Take a photo of your dog's waistline (and dig up some old "before" photos for comparison, if you have any!), and share your story about how you're keeping them fit. If you have a blog, blog it, if not, email me and get your story featured on Dawg Business.

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign Badge Code:

Join the Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign.

Jumat, 08 Februari 2013

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline: George

by Jane

When we got our pug we truly didn't know that he should have a waistline and we weren't prepared for a pug's all consuming obsession with eating.

We are so proud to say that our George is no longer a pudgy pug.

It's all thanks to the advice of some wonderful people who volunteer for Pugalug, Pug Rescue in Toronto, Canada.

George has successfully maintained his weight loss for five years now.

If a pug can do it any healthy dog can :)

It's your turn!

Take a photo of your dog's waistline (and dig up some old "before" photos for comparison, if you have any!), and share your story about how you're keeping them fit. If you have a blog, blog it, if not, email me and get your story featured on Dawg Business.

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign Badge Code:

Join the Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign.

Jumat, 01 Februari 2013

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline: JD

A waistline looks good on boy dogs too!

Name: JD
Sex: male
Breed: Rottweiler
Age: 5

Keeping JD at an ideal weight was relatively easy. He's been healthy, and more importantly, we knew what we were doing and we didn't want to repeat the mistakes we made with Jasmine, not noticing that she was becoming heavier than she should have been.

We knew that a Rottweiler does not need to fill in.

Well, OK, hubby still feels that JD is too skinny. "So when do you figure he's TOO thin?" he asks. And I say, "When the vet tells me he's too skinny." JD has been maintaining about the same weight since he hit two years of age.

With JD we knew what we wanted to see in terms of his waistline and tummy tuck, and we knew that we wanted to feel his ribs.

It was easier because we only had to maintain good weight.

I do admit, that when he gets kibble (premium, grain-free), his portions look ridiculously tiny. Rehydrated freeze-dried portions look more like it's worth of getting the bowl dirty.

Of course, JD gets plenty of exercise, because being Jasmine's protector, and a play toy, is a full time job. Both our guys get plenty of home-made beef jerky treats. JD likes carrots too.

JD on the day he joined our family

It's your turn!

Take a photo of your dog's waistline (and dig up some old "before" photos for comparison, if you have any!), and share your story about how you're keeping them fit. If you have a blog, blog it, if not, email me and get your story featured on Dawg Business.

Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign Badge Code:

Join the Show Off Your Dog's Waistline Campaign.