My Fat Dog: The Book

The Fundamentals Still Apply: No Grapes or Raisins

It is likely that in the past few weeks, you have considered feeding your dog organic food, cooking for him, or even going to a raw food diet.

And I wouldn't blame you.  It's scary out there.

While you are researching the safest possible nutrition, remember the fundamentals:  while your dog may seem to like eating everything, several types of nice natural food can be quite toxic to your dog.

Most especially including grapes and raisins, which have caused kidney failure, and even death, in some dogs.

More info about toxic "natural" substances can be found here.  Or call the ASPCA poison control center at 888) 426-4435.

Radical Dog Diet Tip: Move to Another Town

Okay, this isn't in my book, and it certainly only works for the short run, but...if all else fails with your dog's weight loss program, I have a suggestion:

Move to another town.

Our old home was, is, the capital of "Pizza on the Ground."  And Faith is the Queen of Pizza Scarfers.

New town? We haven't spotted a pizza slice on the pavement in three days.  Pluswhich, as they say in my home town, Faith hasn't made any treat buddies in the local establishments yet. No "Mark of the Three, No, Four, No Five Treats."  No Russ the Beloved Former Dog Trainer who Makes Faith Work  For Her Biscuit.

I'm not serious about moving if your dog doesn't lose weight easily (in AA they call it it doing a geographic), but what you COULD do is modify your dog's walk if you do tend to pass, um, food-centric areas of your town.

Quiz Answers #1

The average calorie count of medium Milk Bone is_______?

40 calories.

The average calorie count of a medium baby carrot is____?

3 calories.

The average calorie count of a slice of pizza is ____?

259 calories.

My dog should be receiving only ___% of his calories from snacks.

Your dog should only be receiving 10 percent AT most of his calories from snacks.  For a 20 pound dog (who needs,on average, about 690 calories a day), that's 69 calories--or 1-1/2 medium Milkbones.

Or 23 baby carrots.

Or about a quarter of that piece of pizza you were about to feed Fido because he looked so cute.

You do the math.

Snack Quiz

The average calorie count of medium Milk Bone is_______?

The average calorie count of a medium baby carrot is____?

The average calorie count of a slice of pizza is ____?

My dog should be receiving only ___% of his calories from snacks.

Tune in tomorrow for the answers....or post them below!

So Put Up Your Frosty Paws and Set a Spell

Yes, it's true: Frosty Paws, the quasi-ice cream for dogs, has a new flavor:  peanut butter!  This article here explains why Frosty Paws are preferable to good old ice cream: many dogs are lactose intolerant.  I have to admit I was a little dubious about this one, until, of course, I saw my dog gobble Frosty Paws down at a beach front ice cream parlor.