obesity......

Belly Up (stumbleupon.com)

Obesity is the biggest health issue facing dogs and cats. According to the folks at Association for Pet Obesity Prevention 54% of the Nation's pets are overweight and owners are in denial!

(http://www.sodahead.com)
So some of you may say "who cares, my pet loves to eat and sleep and he is just doing fine"! Well guess what, we love to do other things then just getting fat and sleeping. We love chasing balls and walks in the park, and just between me and you, if my mom didn't walk me and run me every day she would be a BIG MAMA!

As our weight increases many of us will develop problems with our legs and backs. Since most of the weight is distributed in our belly section, think of how much stress that is just hanging down under us. Some of us, like our two legged partners will develop diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney problems to name a few weight related complications. Worse of all, decreased life expectancy! 

Come on people, we don't have eighty or ninety years to play with like all of you. The average lifespan of a dog my size is approximately 10 years! I want every one of those to be filled with long walks, ball chasing and Petunia tackling! I need to stay healthy!

my brother and snowballs.......

has perfect aim

At Stonecliff Animal Clinic of New Hampshire they recommend that you bring your pet in as often as you like to weigh them on their scales. The staff there has lots of ideas and weight loss tricks to help get your pet back on the healthy road. For those pets that need a little more incentive for losing the first few pounds, SACNH has some great weight loss diets that help begin the process without your pet feeling like they are getting jipped in their food bowl.

Remember, when we get fat we don't enjoy life! Let's get out their people! Stay tuned, rumor has it that Upper Valley Humane Society is having a fundraiser called "Walk on the Wildside". This event will take place on May 20th at 10am on the Green in Lebanon. Choose a 1 or 4 mile loop on the Rail Trail and help raise funds to support their shelter. Hope to see you all there, I WILL BE!

the importance of exercise

Winter Walks

My dad does a lot of work with the Upper Valley Humane Society and a bunch of other rescue organizations. Wow, I had no idea how lucky I am to be apart of a family that loves me so much. I read in a dog magazine (it had a picture of a lab on the front so I couldn't resist looking), that the number one reason Labrador Retrievers end up at the humane society is because they have so much energy.

Love to steal my mom's mittens when we are out walking, oh she gets so mad

First we start out cute and little, then we start growing and growing and growing! Pretty soon we are large and FULL of energy. Without frequent exercise every day we become neurotic "nut cases" as my mom so affectionately refers to me. On those rare days we don't go for our long walks, watch out. I think my mom finds it  cute when I steal her mittens right out of her hand while we are out walking. She isn't quite as impressed on those "inside days" when I hide her socks, shoes, scarves, you get the idea.

For those of you who have had the honor of meeting me, see, I can sit and behave, sometimes!

Bottom line, get us out. A little exercise can go a long way. Long walks in the country, short walks in the city, and don't forget about the indoor dog park at SAVES on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The schedule can be viewed at Stonecliff Animal Clinic of New Hampshire's website for times. Remember the last hour of each of these play days is reserved for small dogs. Get out a burn some of that energy off, don't sit around gathering moss.
Ta ta for now!!