Posts Tagged ‘low’
Dieting Is For The Dogs
Posted on: January 29, 2011
By Connie Janzen
Sure my dog is a little chunky. But I was a little more than surprised when the veterinarian told me that I needed to put my Lhasapoo on a diet. She needed to lose three pounds! That may not seem like much but on a 18 pound dog it’s a lot of weight.
I never did give her people food and snacking really wasn’t an issue. She is just a sedentary dog and is quite happy spending the majority of the day going from one napping place to the next. Occasionally she’d get a rare burst of energy and want to play fetch with a toy back and forth down the hallway, but other than that sleeping is one of her favorite things to do.
So at her doctors request here’s what we did:
* Changed her food to a low fat formula
* Measured out her daily food allotment to only ? of a cup a day
* Changed her treats to low fat, high protein treats and only gave then sparingly
* Cut back to a ? small dog bone in the morning instead of a whole treat
* Rewarded her with rawhide chews
* Increased her activity
* Gave her canned green beans if she was still hungry
In the six months between vet visits she met her goal, lost the required weight, and was looking really good…then the marks I put on the scoop I was using to measure out her food wore off. I began eyeballing the amount of food I was giving her.
I didn’t change anything else and I couldn’t have been off by more than a few pieces of kibble at each meal, but apparently those few pieces were enough for her to start putting the weight back on. I was so shocked when I saw the scale at her last vet visit and made them re-weigh her, twice, because there had to be an error. There was no way that she’d put the weight back on.
Well, now we’re starting over again.
The only problem is now she thinks that she’s never going to get enough food. I’ve had to switch to a larger size kibble to force her to chew her food instead of just inhaling it. As well, I’ve begun placing a soup can in the middle of her food bowl and then pouring the food around it so that it slows her down and makes her work a little harder when eating. (Recently I’ve found that you can actually purchase bowls with raised pegs in them that are specifically made to slow down fast eaters. But if you’re on a budget and don’t mind the homemade version, a soup can works just as well.)
Since the beginning of this journey, now any time I use the can opener, no matter what I’m opening, she thinks it’s green beans and that they’re for her. She’ll come running from wherever she’s been sleeping, start jumping up and down, so excited for her healthy treat. That I can live with.
Having her healthy, and making sure she has the best quality of life she can have, is not only my responsibility but my goal. For all the love she gives me it is the least that I can do to love her enough to see that she is healthy and happy.
Like it or not, dieting is for the dogs, but it’s for me too. If the scoop was in the other paw I’m sure I’d have lost a lot of weight by now too!
About the Author: Connie Janzen is a bonafide animal lover, a foster parent for the Humane Society, and the proud owner of Barkley Paws Pet Boutique. Your everything for your dog place to shop online – from pet strollers to dog treats. Great prices, personalized service, and fast shipping! Check it out today! If you can’t find what you’re wanting let her know and she’ll do her best to find it for you.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=419876&ca=Pets
Designer Dogs
Posted on: January 29, 2011
By Eric Hartwell
Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua ‘Tinkerbell’ may be solely responsible for bringing the term ‘toy dog’ to the attention of the world and the fascination with using one’s dog as an accessory to its owner’s outfit. Designers like Gucci and Burberry who have created haute couture fashion for dogs and high price tags for consumers exemplify the obsession with how a dog’s breed and style reflects upon an owner. The trend with designer dogs does not end there. In some of the latest breeding technology, dogs have been genetically created and crossbred for optimal behavior and looks. The Labradoodle, Yorkipoo, cockapoo and Schnoodle are the hottest dog breeds to walk the streets of 5th avenue, with or without high heels and sitting in designer handbags.
The Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle, was created to combine the intelligence, dainty bone structure, formal nature and allergy-and asthma-friendly, non-shedding aspects of the poodle with the favorable, fun-loving, fidelity of a lab. This mix has taken the dog world by storm with dog owners willing to shell out $2,500 USD for one of these animals. In the 1970’s, the Labradoodle was originally crossbred in Australia after requests for a low-allergy guide dog was needed for individuals with special needs, while providing a low-key and amiable companion. The popularity of Labradoodles has taken off wildly and has become the must-have dog in certain social circles.
Editor-in-Chief Allan Reznik of Dog Fancy and Dog World fame notes, “It’s indicative of a society that loves labels. Having a dog that is part spaniel and part poodle isn’t enough–it has to be a cockapoo.”
Many of these newly created hybrid dogs include the genes of a poodle to make new inventive breeds that don’t shed their fur. Yorkipoos, cockapoos and schnoodles are poodles mixed with Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels and Schnauzers, respectively. These hybrids do not always create a healthier dog than purebreds, which are notorious for their health problems due to inbreeding. This current craze of designer dog breeding has the possibility of going too far, bringing up issues of genetic selection and the natural order of things. But if there is demand, then supply will be provided and many amateur breeders are taking a crack at homegrown hybrids with some detrimental results. If a breeder were to match a Pug with a Pekingese the resulting breed could create a dog with eyes falling out of its head, as both breeds have exaggerated eyes and eye sockets as distinguishing traits in each breed. Smart genetic engineering on the part of breeders is imperative to creating a healthy, happy and hybrid dog of the future.
Toy dogs, like Tinkerbell of Paris Hilton fame, are also genetically created dogs and were developed specifically to be cute and charismatic companions. In our image-conscious and name brand consumer world, this writer harkens to say ‘what will they think of next?’ cross breeding elephants and monkeys, or chipmunks with snakes to create the perfect, over-the-top must-have animal of tomorrow? I’d say, they are barking up the wrong tree. Until genetic scientists create a dog that can toilet-train itself and use a human bathroom, it’s still a dog’s life for owners and mutts alike.
About the Author: Eric Hartwell is involved in The World’s Best Home Page – visit to share opinions on pet care.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=140761&ca=Pets
Pets Animals 