We all know we should exercise and eat right to live longer and healthier but how many of us do the same for our pets?  I am always surprised when we see clients at the clinic who are in relatively good shape who obviously work out (an aerobics instructor client comes to mind) with a soft as marshmallows overweight dog.  Are we doing them justice by letting them eat the scraps off the dinner plate night after night?  Oh, we tell ourselves that it's o.k. because it's just this or that.  But it all adds up to extra (usually unneeded) calories and as the years go by, added pounds.  Am I striking an all too familiar chord with most of you?  I'll be the first one to admit I am guilty (and so is my husband) or giving our dogs extra goodies after dinner.  We both know it's not the right thing to do but then they look at you with those EYES and DROOL . . . . . What else can you do but give them just a LITTLE something?

What should we be doing to help our pets become fit and trim?  Well, for starters we know the table food has got to go!  Another option that would satisfy our urge to spoil the dog (after all, when have a dog if you can't spoil it!) is to give HEALTHY table food such as veggies, fruits and rice.  Yes, most dogs can and will develop a taste for things like that if they think you are eating it too!  An awful lot of dogs only try new foods because if you're eating it, it's got to be good!  Veggies like carrots (my dogs loved them partially cooked and frozen), broccoli, celery, you name it.  Figure out what your dog likes best and buy packages of frozen veggies for easy giving.  Try freezing low salt and fat free chicken or beef broth using an ice tray.  It tastes great but NO calories!

Exercise should be approached slowly and with the out of shape dog it is better to start exercise only every other day for a while until the dog begins to build stamina and shows it is ready to go to daily exercise.  This could be as easy as you throwing a squeaky toy or tennis ball in the back yard.  If your doing won't retrieve or worse, won't bring it back (a favorite game for a lot of dogs) then fetch really isn't an option.  Keep away can be fun for the dog if you are willing to chase the dog around the yard long enough for the dog to get some aerobic exercise.  Usually this just promotes other basic obedience problems and I wouldn't recommend it.  Instead, try walking the dog every morning before work on in the evening after work.  If you say you don't have the time or energy to do any of those things, consider paying a neighborhood kid to come over every other day or so and walk the dog or throw the ball.

Your efforts will be rewarded by a more active dog who is brighter and happier and LONG LIVED.

(Note:   Anna Lord, wife of Dr. Jeff Lord, DVM, is an experienced staff member of the Nacogdoches Road Veterinary Hospital.  Anna has been helping clients and hospital staff members understand their pets by sharing her extensive knowledge of pet behavior for over 10 years.  She is an accomplished dog trainer, having trained two Labrador Retrievers to the level of Master Hunter titles.)
 
 

If you have questions or wish to find out more about The Central Coast Peregrine Pathfinders or about volkssports, please e-mail Bill Uttenweiler.