Wednesday 10 September 2014

A dog's life when your dog is over weight.


All those that follow Freya Rose Blossom on her CAT FLAP CAVALIER blog know Freya has been on a diet over the last month. At three years old her yearly check up's are something she attends and never misses. Ears, eyes.paws, HEART, joints, jabs and weigh in.
The weighing scales at our vets groaned as she clambered onto them last month. 12 kilo's was far to heavy for a Cavalier.  It's so easy to allow your dog to put on extra pounds. The hardest thing is trying to shed them again. There was no excusing her tubby tum because she looks fluffy with her Cavalier coat.


Explaining to the vet exactly what she ate during the day, all went well until we mentioned dental health teeth cleaning chews. The vet rolled his eye's, we held our breath wondering where we had gone wrong. After a good shake of his head and a tut, tut, we both came to the same conclusion that for Freya at least they are a big no, no.

The vet reinforced his view that giving her one dental chew was like feeding our beloved dog a MARS BAR every day. 

Even when cut up into quarters it's believed they are one of the culprits of her tubby issues. The other culprit/s, non other than ourselves for over feeding her with the occasional cheese snack and lick of ice cream. Not that there is anything drastically wrong with that I agree, but when your dog is starting to look very barrel like you realize it's time to act. Kindness by over feeding can kill.


Another of Freya's downfalls is her fondness for cat food. She can be a sneak thief if left to her own devices anywhere near the sniff of the cat food dish.
Over the last month cat food has been another big no, no.  She's quick, but we have been quicker to remove an unguarded cat food dish. Okay, I admit, twice we forgot, and true to form Freya snaffled every tasty morsel. We aren't just on about tinned or pouched cat food and cat cookies, Frankie de tabby lives high off the hog as any old 19 year old cat should, with roast chicken and poached fish. A fussy 19 year old cat is hard to please so as long as he eats it, he can have what he wants. Freya had a great time and snacked all day when no was one looking.


The month of a new feeding regime has worked. NO CAT FOOD, NO SUGAR FILLED DENTAL TEETH CLEANING CHEWS. Her daily allowance of Dr Wellbeloved light kibble is always weighed. No, I don't mean to advertize, but that is what she now eats. Any titbits she has during the day now come from her daily allowance of weighed kibble. 


We haven't been that mean that she has gone without her usual SMALL bone shaped cookies at night before she goes to bed.
One month on from her vet check up, she is lean and lighter and reached her target weight of 11 kilo's. So far, so good. Now to keep up the good work.


Freya can be found over at The CAT FLAP CAVALIER.


Meya, one of Freya's village doggie friends can be found wearing her new knitted Soggibottom sweater on her walks around the local park.You can find the pattern a few posts back on Soggibottom.
See you all very soon :-) X X X

16 comments:

stellaroselong said...

Freya you are doing so well on your new liveit...we don't like to say die-it....mom says she is noticing we are gaining to much weight also and she knows she is part of the problem.
stella rose

Lynda (Granny K) said...

Well done for keeping Freya's weight down. Lucy our Yorkie was diabetic for the last two years of her life because we spoiled her with treats. I had to give her an insulin injection each morning and she lost her sight eventually. xxxx

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Freya,, we wanted to tell you that your friend looks so lovely in her little sweater!! The color looks beautiful on her!
And good job on your diet! Your mom did a great job on that article- explaining all the reasons for when pounds are added on,.
Good job Freya,, you look so purfect!
love
tweedles

Beyond the Dog Dish said...

Well go you Miss Freya! Congrats - keep up the good work.

Unknown said...

We well done to you both but golly gosh we did not know that about the dental chews. Yikes we will take a look at the packet. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly

Chatty Crone said...

Maybe I should come there and be put on a diet. you look good.

Murphy said...

Maybe online Weight Watchers would be the way to go? How about 1-800-JENNY? If you get too hungry we can send you some cat food, uh, I mean vegetables.

Your Pals,

Murphy & Stanley
Mayorz For All Paws
Use Your Noodle & Vote For A Doodle!

Hailey and Zaphod and their Lady said...

Freda we know your sacrifices are hard but we want you to live a long and healthy life so good for you for sticking with the program. Ps lee loves cat food too!

WoolenSails said...

With all of her outings at the beach, I can't imagine her getting fat;) My dog was always getting into the cat food, they do love that.

Debbie

Ruby said...

Freya, I feel your pain gurl!!!!
Ma says that is what is next on track for me. No more biscuits, no more jerkys, etc. Only kibbles as treaties!
Oh, the HORROR of it all!!!!!
Butts, I've been stuck for a while now, and Ma says all our efforts aren't working, and it's time for drastic measures...whatevers.
I will join you in the torture that is that awful word...D.I.E.T.!!!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥

Mary Ann Tate said...

Freya...you look fabulous:)

Sue said...

Oh we've been away too long. Mom measures out our food too. We've tried hiding the little cups and spoons but she always has more.

Frankie, Morgan says that old age has some perks. She gets to eat whatever she wants most of the time and Mom has to guard her while she eats because we all want what she has.

Sue said...

My vet told me that my JR shouldn't have more than two of those dental stix a week, as they are so fattening.

Well done Freya for getting your slimmer figure.

Al said...

She's adorable - good luck with her dieting. Our dogs are a little older than yours, and I have to watch those dental treats.

How Sam Sees It said...

What a cute sweater!

My Mom needs to talk to your vet - her chihuahua is doing wonders in keeping the couch from floating away these days.

Monty and Harlow

Allie said...

Well done to Freya's team! You might remember how tubby my Hermione was - well, with me gone for 5 months, she's lost so much weight I'm worried about her. She apparently only chows down when I'm home!