Is your Pooch Fat? Has your Kitty Developed a Paunch?

Pet obesity is on the rise. Not just in the United States but in other countries such as Britain. The evidence is clear: like their human caretakers cats and dogs are becoming more and more rotund. According to Hills clinical evidence reports, over 50% of dogs in the UK are overweight. In the United States the numbers are lower: approximately 25% of the U.S. pet population is either overweight or obese. Interestingly enough, Hills research reports that 76% of pet owners think their pooches or kitties are at a healthy weight.

One in every four pet owners admit to never exercising themselves or their dogs. This coupled with the fact that pets often become surrogate children lends itself to over-pampered pooches and kitties. Extra helpings of food, or the wrong type of food, can quickly pack on the weight. A cat’s or dog’s life expectancy is already short. Added fat around the heart and vital organs will only reduce its lifespan. Not only that, but the quality of life will be curtailed by stress on heart, liver, and joints. Indeed, several diseases specific to diet are associated with obesity. Consider the risk: diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, respiratory problems, lowered immunity, and arthritis.

Humans tend to think of food as a source of love. It’s so easy to hand out a treat or a piece of food from your plate. The appreciative grin on your dog’s face is reward in itself. The purr of your cat lets you know that you are amazing! Yet, feeding your pets additional snacks is damaging. One dog biscuit or one cat treat is the equivalent of a small meal. Let’s face it, most pet owners feed their pets snacks throughout the day. Feeding your pet quality snacks is not the problem. But if you are like many pet owners, a potato chip here and there, a French fry, a piece of burger, or in the case of a cat, a slice of salmon, can quickly become the road to weight gain; particularly when this snacking habit is combined with lack of exercise.

Despite words of admonition from veterinarians and health conscious holistic practitioners there is a myriad of internet mis-information that glorifies fat pets. The rolly-polly pet is portrayed as cute and cuddly. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is nothing cute or cuddly about killing a pet with food. It is a slow death that will eventually result in large veterinarian bills and a poor-quality life for the animal.

Fortunately for owners who take their pets’ health seriously there are solutions. Exercise as well as reduced calories can effectively erase the extra pounds. Additionally, when pooches and their pet parents exercise together their bond is strengthened. There are many types of exercise that are fun for both the pet and his human: walks, hikes, swimming, games of fetch, and jogging. Just 30 minutes a day can make a huge difference in your dog’s weight control.

Unfortunately, cats do not go jogging or walking with their humans. However, there are methods of stimulating cats to exercise. Cat “fisher” toys are poles with a feathered “bait” hanging on the end. These are very successful in luring cats into their natural hunter mode. Dangling a feather, or a string, in front of your cat will quickly engage him into running and leaping over furniture. Do this several times a day and you will discover how fun it is for yourself and at the same time it’ll be great exercise for kitty.

Obviously a pet parent will need to be cruel to be kind. That is, you will have to withhold those extra helpings of food, snacks, and treats. It’s the only solution. Keep in mind that this is actually going to give your dog an extra two to three years of good quality life with you. A cat’s lifespan can be increased by up to five years! And in the long run, isn’t having your beloved pet around longer, more important than the instant gratification they receive from a tasty morsel?

About the author:

Gyvel Young is a journalist, published author, and a certified canine nutritionist.

Dog Flu? Is your Pooch at Risk?

It’s known as canine influenza virus and it’s causing quite a stir among dog owners. The dog flu, known as H3N8, does not affect humans. It is however quickly spread from dog to dog. Originally this virus affected only horses, or so it was thought, until a pack of greyhounds turned up with it in 2004.

The outbreak on the East Coast and Colorado has caused alarm among pooch pet parents. And that is understandable, after all , who wants to see their beloved Fido go through the misery of the flu? The good news is there is a vaccine that was approved in May. It doesn’t prevent your furry canine from getting the flu but it does reduce the severity of the symptoms. This vaccine is administered in shots given two weeks apart.

But is it really necessary to vaccinate your dog or to be concerned? Apparently not if you live in Texas. The doggy flu has not hit Texas—yet.

Dogs who are at high risk for this flu are dogs who are enrolled in doggy day care or who are boarded at the kennel. Dogs who travel extensively are also at risk.

The good news is that if your dog is the typical household dog who goes for walks around the neighborhood and who rarely has social contact with strange dogs the risk of contracting dog flu is very low.

What are the symptoms of doggy flu? The same as any human flu: runny nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, and fever. Your veterinarian can do a test to see if your dog has the H3N8 virus.

Amazing results within a short time!

Have you ever dealt with a little leash puller? I have! My dog Shonee thinks she is sled dog, pulling me hither and yon, sometimes she almost drags me. Her chest would be so low to the ground that it was actually scraping along it.

The problem with leash training her is that I do not agree with the technique that enforces jerking and yanking with the leash. This method certainly will not foster a positive relationship between pet parent and dog. Besides, it can damage your dog’s neck and spine. So, I was overjoyed when I stumbled upon Turid Rugaas. With over 30 years of proven dog behavior under her belt and the ability to read and direct dogs of all types she has mastered most of the difficult challenges people face with their canine companions. Of course, Turid also hails from my homeland of Scandinavia and that makes her “Number One” in my book.

Turid’s method is so simple and it completely eliminates any stress for both the pet parent and the dog. Basically it involves your making a unique noise with your mouth. Think of the sound someone might make to a horse when they want the horse to move forward. A clicking sound with the tongue or a smacking sound. It doesn’t matter what sound you make as long as you only make that sound when you want the dog to move towards you.

The first step is to “prime” the dog to this sound. This involves a handy bag of treats. Stand close to your dog, make the sound and when your dog turns to look at you give the dog a treat. Repeat this as many times as you want for a few minutes (puppies might take longer to “get” it). Now step a little further away and make the sound. Your dog should move towards you, when he reaches you give him a treat. Repeat this for a few minutes a day until your dog begins to associate that noise with you and a TREAT!

Next add the leash and begin in an area with few distractions. Walk the dog as you normally would, the moment your dog begins pulling, stop. Do NOT move. Instead make your unique noise. Your dog will move towards you and when he does you will need to turn around and move forward so that your dog is actually following you, as he comes up along side of you give him a treat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

The direction behind this is create an environment of positive reinforcement for following you. It WILL work and with much less hassle and stress to you and your dog than other methods of training that involve sharp jerks on the leash. Turid’s little book entitled, My Dog Pulls, What do I do? can be purchased also and I highly recommend it. Or you can visit Turid’s web site, I have placed a link directly to the method of training that Turid recommends: loose leash walking.

You will be happily surprised (as was I) at how quickly your dog will respond to this type of training. Shonee actually stops herself when the leash becomes taut and returns to me! It is amazing! For the most part she now walks nicely on the leash, she may not heel or walk exactly beside me but the leash is slack and my arms are not being jerked out of their sockets.

Naturally, my pups will be a “work in progress” but I am delighted with this method. I am now using it on an 8 month old puppy that I am fostering. She is now walking very nicely on the leash and it is such a delight to see how quickly she progressed from an extreme puller to a nice walker.

Here is a video of Turid demonstrating how to help your dog stop pulling. As Turid states this will take time and patience (particularly if you have a puppy) but it will work. Just stick with it.

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