Weight Loss

Dog Blog Post #104: The Vet says Zachary, weighing in at a robust 73.5lbs, should actually be a svelte 65lb.

Oh dear.

It all started with a funny smell greeting my nose as I greeted the dogs when I arrived home after just four days in Carmel.

During those four little days, Zachary’s right ear managed to transform itself from pale pink Exhibit A to nearly red Exhibit B. Ouch!

Truth in advertising: Exhibit A is actually a current photo of Zachary’s healthy left ear, standing in for the way his right ear most likely looked before I left.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

So, off to the vet we went and one hour, $200, and a bottle of little blue pills later, I had (hopefully) a cure for a yeast infection, Zachary had his Kennel Cough shot (I managed to piggy-back his yearly appointment onto this one), an ear full of greasy anti-yeast goo (which is draining out all over the house) plus an admonition to loose 8lbs.

Well, technically, I guess I’m the one that got the admonition. Zachary just got a bunch of cookies from the Vet and the Vet Techs because, “He’s so darn cute!”

(Irony, anyone?)

Upon arriving home and delivering the news, “Blah blah blah ***EIGHT POUNDS*** blah blah blah,” we compared notes:

The dogs eat three meals of Eukanuba kibble each day plus 1 hardboiled egg and some white meat chicken. Hubby usually feeds breakfast and lunch while I get dinner. Son fills in as needed. Using a 1/3c measure, I was giving two level scoops, son was giving three level scoops, while hubby was doling out a whopping three heaping (or so) scoops per dog per meal.

I’d point fingers and look all high n mighty, except my ability to withstand the boys’ sad eyes when I sit near the cookie jar is non-existent (and they know it) plus I’m the purveyor of training treats – and we’ve been “hitting the books” hard of late.

Anyone seen a waist around here?

Therefore, let it be known that the dogs (plural - as I have no doubt that Beau would fare no better on the scales) are officially on a diet. For the moment, we are going with lopping 2/3c off their daily rations. That is, everyone will now feed two level 1/3c scoops per meal.

I will try to post weekly pictures and trot Zachary down to the Vets every other week for a weigh-in.

I would do it weekly, but he can’t afford the calories.

May 2009 - For comparison purposes