Dance With Me

Ok so I know I have talked about it before but chubbiness kills! The obesity epidemic for us four-legged types is becoming a major headline. Most pet owners think that their pet is at an ideal weight. Truth is most of the time the owners are looking through rose colored spectacles. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention claim that approximately 20% of all cat and dog owners think their pet has a perfect body weight, when really their pet is obese!

So whats the big deal, we love to eat and we get great enjoyment out of eating! I am a Lab, I live to eat! Well what if a 12lb. Yorkshire Terrier was equivalent to a 218lb. human female? What if your 15lb. cat was equivalent to a 5'9" man weighing 254 lbs.? Check out this nifty comparison chart at the The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's site. They have lots of useful and interesting information but please remember, always consult your veterinarian about your pet's health care.

The bottom line is we and our human friends are growing sideways at an alarming rate! So many health conditions start to rear their ugly little heads when our waists start to expand. Diabetes is a huge one! Osteoarthritis, ouch! Kidney disease, oh my aching kidneys! The worst one in my eyes, shortened life expectancy. So you get by without a major in your face disease.... but all along, silently that extra weight is stealing your precious time!

People are always saying that it is unfair that our animals only live a short time compared to their own life expectancy. Well people and pet's, lets do it! Get out there, dance the dance, have some fun, get moving!

If Petunia can do it, trust me anyone can! She has officially lost 5 lbs.!!!! PETUNIA HAS REACHED HER GOAL WEIGHT!!!

With a little help from her friends (and some BIG help from Hill's Prescription RD diet) she has reached her ideal weight. We are so proud of her and the best part is the RD diet is formulated to make her feel like she isn't getting cheated out of a big meal!
Good Work Petunia! Now let's get out there and keep it off!!! Dance anyone?


Tata for now

Friends...... I have met so many. Some big, some small, even some without legs. One cool ride!

Petunia is my best friend.... she thinks Iris's are stupid! She has been very grumpy lately. When I try and get her to play she bites me in my jowl. It really hurts. Mom says she needs a checkup, that maybe her grumpiness is because she isn't feeling well. I think she was born that way.....

She has also gained some weight. Mom says she gets fat on air. I happen to know she sneaks the cat and my food when no one is looking. I'm scared of her so I don't tell. I try to explain to her that she is decreasing her life span by being overweight. Recent studies show that 30 to 40 percent of U.S. pets are overweight and 25 percent are obese. Obesity is one of the most common medical conditions for dogs and cats. Extra weight stresses legs and feet, and can cause other complications such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. Trust me, the last thing anyone in this house wants to do is have to treat Petunia on a daily basis.... grumpy.

Diet is so important for so many reasons. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to bladder stones, because genetically they produce higher levels of the mineral substances and waste products that make up the crystals that ultimately form the stone. Stones (uroliths) are more common in small breed dogs then large breed. this stone was discovered and removed from a very small Yorkshire Terrier, it is HUGE!.

Stones can become so large that they completely fill the bladder. Some common signs of stones in the bladder can be frequent urination (there is no room for urine, it's all STONE), sometimes with blood (the stones irritate the bladder wall rubbing against it),  straining to urinate, and general weakness. Diagnosing uroliths involves looking microscopically at a urine sample, identifying crystals and bacteria, radiographs, and even an ultrasound. Treatment involves either a dissolving diet that helps breakdown the stone, or surgery. Stones can come back so the vets will send the stone off for analysis, find out what makes up the stone, then recommend a diet to help prevent them from ever forming again.

Remember, diet is everything! You are what you eat (Petunia!) So many conditions can be prevented by eating the right stuff. This is Foxy, my little buddy. He barks a lot but never tries to bite me. Foxy and I hang alot when his owner is away. I like him. Well enjoy these nice warm days and TaTa for now!