On my recent vacation I left my own pets at home and spent a week on the other side of the country, nearly biting my tongue clean through while trying to keep from lecturing a friend there on how to better take care of her dog.
Which just proves, I suppose, that you never can really take a vacation from being an advice columnist.
That the friend loves her dog, I do not question. But she has a blind spot when it comes to a certain aspect of caring for her pet, one shared by so many people that veterinarians see the problem -– and the inevitable, sad results of that problem –- in their practices every day. The problem her dog and so many other pets share is one that contributes to all kinds of disease, leads to premature aging and death, and diminishes the quality of an animal's life every day.
That problem? My friend's dog is fat.
And not a little bit fat, either. This sweet middle-aged dog is so large that she can't stand for more than a few minutes without collapsing in exhaustion, and can't take a walk on the beach without getting so overheated she has to flop into the surf to cool off.
"People tell me my dog is fat -– as if they're telling me something I don't know," said the friend, when I finally decided to suggest gently that her dog needed to lose 30 or 40 pounds. "But I believe that if she got to choose between being thin and being full, she'd rather be full."
Well, maybe. But the choice of whether or not a pet is obese isn't made by the animal, but rather by the person taking care of that animal. Pets aren't in control of what they eat. We are. And too many of us are doing a horrible job when it comes to feeding our pets.
We are killing our pets with generosity when it comes to food.
Obesity in pets causes a lot of the same problems it does in people. An overweight pet is prone to a host of health problems, including diabetes, joint, ligament and tendon difficulties, breathing and heart challenges. Not to mention the reduced quality of life many of these animals suffer -– and in the case of pets as large as my friend's dog, "suffer" is exactly the right word.
If your pet is overweight, the best place to start correcting the situation is with a trip to your veterinarian. You'll want to make sure your pet doesn't have any health problems that might make feeding or lifestyle changes difficult or dangerous. After you get the go-ahead from your veterinarian, getting your pet to lose weight works the same way as it does with people: less food, more activity, with an eye to a very gradual but steady reduction in pounds.
Some other tips: Get out of the habit of constantly handing food to your pet, whether from your own dish or from a box of treats. Never give food to a begging pet, since it just reinforces that annoying behavior. When you need to give a treat, such as to reward good behavior while training, use the smallest size possible by breaking off a tiny bit instead of feeding a whole treat. You can also substitute pieces of rice cakes or carrot sticks for the occasional dog treat.
Figure out a way to get your pet to be more active, such as with a daily walk or game of fetch. For cats, buy a "fishing pole" toy and play with your pet every night.
Above all, don't ignore the problem. Keeping your pet's weight down is not only good for your pet's health and quality of life, but it's also one of the most effective strategies for saving money on veterinary care.
This is one column I'll be sending to a friend. If you have a friend who also needs to read it, please do the same.
PETS ON THE WEB
Beth Adelman is one of the best editors in the pet-care world, with a career that includes editing the American Kennel Club's magazine, as well as the much-missed Cats magazine. A couple of years ago, she started a wonderful online magazine for cat lovers, The Daily Cat (www.dailycat.com), which is filled with a perfect balance of articles on health and behavior, as well as those on the pleasure of sharing life with a cat.
And now, good news for dog lovers: Adelman is now also editing a Web site for them, The Dog Daily (www.dogdaily.com). While there's not much on the dog site yet, a look at the cat site suggests The Dog Daily will be worth watching in the months to come.
THE SCOOP
Every summer I get questions from people who are wondering if their longhaired pets would be happier shaved down. In most cases, clipping a longhaired pet for summer isn't necessary -– as long as your pet is protected from the heat, he'll be perfectly fine with a long coat. A couple of exceptions are worth noting, however.
If your pet's coat is badly matted, it's usually easier on both you and your pet to shave him down rather than try to comb out the tangles. As the coat grows back in, regular brushing can keep the problem from recurring.
You might also consider clipping your dog's long coat if he spends a lot of time in wild areas. Turning a longhaired dog into a shorthaired one makes it more difficult for burrs to attach themselves, and easier for you to spot and remove any ticks your dog picks up along the way.
QUESTIONS FROM THE PACK
Q: I recently had a bad mishap when I was taking my golden retriever, Bailey, out to relieve herself. When she was done, I decided to hold the retractable leash between my knees and bend over to scoop. Before I could react, she took off after a cat, with the leash pulling through the back of my bare legs at lightning speed. I fell over backward, sandwiching the speeding line between the backs of my knees.
I put ice compresses on my legs for days. Even now, 10 days later, the long gashlike scabs are barely formed, and I can't walk up or down stairs comfortably because of the skin bending behind my knees.
I felt silly to have had such an accident, so I looked up "retractable leash injury" online and found that you had written about it. I feel a bit better now, but compelled to say that I am going to switch to a normal leash from now on! -- C.L., via e-mail
A: Reel-type retractable leashes are popular and useful, but they do come with a degree of risk. The manufacturers are well aware of the dangers of improper use, and you'll find warnings on both the product packaging and the informational Web site of the popular Flexi brand (www.flexiusa.com).
For safety's sake, don't use a reel-type leash with a dog who isn't perfectly reliable on a leash. (Since these leashes encourage pulling, it's unlikely you'll be able to train a dog to walk on leash properly while using them.) You should also take a few minutes to review the safety information before snapping one of these leashes to the collar of even the most reliable dog, especially if your dog is a strong one.
Q: This is about alternative types of litter boxes. I have an extremely large cat, Sparky, who weighs 28 pounds. He is so big that ordinary cat boxes were too small for him. The poor old boy would think that he'd dug the perfect hole to go in, but alas, his rear end was hanging over the edge of the box.
My solution: I bought a large plastic tray that's used to mix mortar and is sold at home improvement stores. The trays have rounded corners so the litter is easy to get out and doesn't stick in the corners like regular cat boxes. Also, because they are slightly higher than regular litter boxes, the cat doesn't seem to track out as much litter. Will you add this to your list of litter-box suggestions? –- J.D.S., via e-mail
A: When you combine yours with the recent suggestion I received of using a water-heater pan under parrot areas for easy cleanup, it seems you can find some really great pet-care supplies at the local home-improvement store.
I applaud your inventiveness in seeing potential for mess containment in these mortar-mixing trays, and I'm happy to pass along the information.
A gentle suggestion, though: See your veterinarian for help in trimming Sparky down some. With most cats running about nine pounds, I'm guessing your cat's weight isn't all a result of being "big boned."
Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to writetogina(at)spadafori.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.
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