My Name is TaraBear and I'm a Chubby Doodle

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 Don't let this happen to your doodle!

Last time you saw Tara she was partying hard on her 4th birthday. Well all that has come to a quick end. Yesterday I posted a video in the Grooming Group for a DK'er who was concerned about her doodle's weight. After watching it I gave Tara the exam. OMCD! (Oh My Cubby Doodle!) I'm guessing she is about 2 pounds overweight which is quite a bit for a 20 pounder. The equivalent of your 100 pound doodle being 10 pounds over. She has lost her hourglass figure and her ribs have disappeared.  So the diet started yesterday, right in time for the Holidays! :(

Here's the video (please ignore all references to Purina!!):

Then I received a Newsletter from Tara's vet today which contained this article (excerpts as I removed the parts about having your vet advise you about diets and food :) stressing the importance of proper weight for our dogs. Also giving me a jab for killing Tara with too much food!!!!  So "we" at least the "me" part of  "we" are determined to find Tara's ribs and get her hourglass figure back. Tara on the other hand is threatening to rehome herself! I see I have my work cut out for me!!

 

Obesity in Dogs

Is Your Dog Overweight?

Obesity is on the rise, and not just for humans. Dogs are increasingly overweight and even obese. In the United States, an estimated 43 million dogs are overweight or obese - that’s over half of all dogs! And it is not just dogs in the United States that need to lose a few pounds - canine obesity is also a problem in Canada, Europe, Australia and other countries worldwide.

Canine obesity increases the risk for osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory problems, kidney disease, some types of cancer, and cranial cruciate ligament injury. Thanks to these increased health problems, overweight dogs face a decreased life expectancy of up to 2.5 years.

Even if your dog is just a couple pounds over his ideal weight, those few pounds could make a big difference to your dog's health. For example, a 7lb Pomeranian is considered to be a “healthy” weight and the equivalent of a 145lb, 5’ 4” human female. An extra five pounds on the Pomeranian, however, is the equivalent to a 249lb female, which is more than 100lbs over the female’s ideal body weight. Just a few extra pounds really will make a big difference for your dog’s health.

Why are so many dogs overweight? Unfortunately, some pet owners are literally killing their dogs with too much food and too many treats! For example, only one ounce of cheese for a 20 pound dog is the equivalent of 1.5 hamburgers for the average woman! While dog owners may never intentionally mean to hurt their pet, overfeeding, lack of exercise, and poor dietary choices have led to a pet obesity crisis.

A lack of outdoor exercise is also a problem. Busy pet owners who work long hours simply don’t have the time to take their dog for longs walks, runs or play fetch. Together, too much food and a lack of exercise is the perfect recipe for dog obesity.

Early intervention will help overweight dogs get healthy. 

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

: )

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

And I'm beginning to think I'm in a foreign country! OYE!

I used to say that Tara was "fluffy" and that worked right up until I gave her that  super short cut! Tell Vern he better hurry because Lisa and Daisy are on their way right now to rescue her from my evil ways!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And don't forget Vern! Laurie said she might send Vern to "collect the pudgy fatas sweetie", lol!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

She really is jeopardizing our alliance by referring to my chubby, porky baby as a "pudgy fatas".Laurie, we need to talk!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Maybe that's just another Yiddish term I never heard of.

[Stephanie and Jellybean]

Jelly belly is fat. My housekeeper told me. I didn't believe her. So when I brought jellybean into the vet on Saturday for seasonal allergies, they weighed her. Seems she gained 10 lbs since July. Which puts her 13lbs over what they want her to weigh. So she has the cone of shame on AND she's on a diet. Not a good week for Jellybean

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Poor Jellybean!!OMD! Well, you've come to the right place for weight loss and diet control support! I'm a little worried because Tara usually loses weight over the summer and puts it on during the winter but this year she is heading into winter with the chub extra weight!  Just remember GREEN BEANS!!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna was overweight for a little while - we've learned to control her portions VERY carefully and limit the amount of treats she gets.  Most of the time the only treats she gets are fresh fruits and veggies, which she can't get that many calories out of, but she loves them so it's fine!

Little TaraBear will be fine!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for your encouragement! I found recently that Tara loves Asparagus so it's going to be added to her menu along with the beans! I wish she liked fruits and veggies more than she does. As an infant she loved raw carrots now she treats them with disdain. :(

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Probably just as well that she doesn't like carrots any more.  They are higher in sugar than other veggies.  The  green ones are probably the best!  When we ran out of green beans we gave Gracie cooked broccoli and she was OK with it.  Even fruits have sugar and I really am not sure how a dog's system handles sugars.  I would not want to give much of anything that converts to sugar or is high in sugar.  Berries are the best of the fruits!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Vegetables have sugar, too. All plant foods (carbohydrates) are broken down into sugar and fiber during the digestive process. The difference is the type and amount of the sugars.Fruits sugars are often simple sugars that are absorbed more quickyl; complex sugars take longer to enter the blood stream.

Here's some info: http://www.livestrong.com/article/276234-sugar-in-fruits-vegetables/

And here's a chart with the sugar content in various vegetables:

http://nosurrenderweightloss.com/sugar-in-vegetables-chart

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Yes, I understand the charts which are very good for everyone to keep handy.  I have them posted in my kitchen because there is diabetes in my family.  I was just trying to keep it simple when I said no carrots since that was a favorite of Tara's when she was a baby and there are better choices out there.  I hope everyone opens the link and reads the charts.  Thanks Karen for posting them.