Sit! Stay! Diet!

When I decided to share my struggle--and my dog's struggle--of losing weight, I knew that many pet owners would relate. The American Medical Association reports that 65% of U.S. adults are overweight, and the American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that more than 40% of our dogs are overweight. So, if you like me and think that exercise is a four letter word and ice cream is a perfectly acceptable breakfast, then it stands to reason that our pets will be putting on a few extra pounds along with us.

At the time I wrote my book about dieting with my dog (Update: the manuscript is complete and with my agent. Hopefully she'll find the right publisher soon!) I'd lost 40 lbs and my spaniel Kelly (that's her, tugging on the leash. Think she wants a walk?) lost 6 lbs. We both kept it off for more than a year. Now, however, we're trying to deal with a few pounds rebound weight. We're working harder than ever to get the weight off and keep it off.

Here are some tips for getting back on track:

FOR YOU:
1. Keep track of what you're eating. A food journal helps maintain accountability.

2. Change your exercise routine. If you're bored with the treadmill, try pilates or a Zumba class. I just added Wii Fit to my routine.

3. Make just one change. Maybe you could drink more water or add 15 minutes to your exercise
routine.

FOR YOUR DOG:
1. Make sure you're not back in the habit of offering table scraps.

2. Change the route that you take when walking together. New smells are exciting!

3. Make just one change. You could try a new snack (Kelly likes raw baby carrots) or add some special play time to the routine.

And don't forget, reward yourself, and your dog, for good progress!

What about you? Do you have any (human and canine) diet tips? What are some healthy snacks you (and your dog) like to eat? And cat owners, I know some cats tend to get lethargic and pack on a few extra pounds. Do you have any tricks that help?

Monday Pet Roundup

Hi and welcome to Monday pet roundup!

* One day I went to the Game Farm and saw an elephant with stick figure pictures and tic tac toe boards painted on its side. I can't express how incredibly sad that made me feel. And now some people are painting their dogs. Seriously? It may be harmless. It might even be clever. But I still feel sad. Am I off base here?

* Probably a result of the interest in Great Danes inspired by the movie Marmaduke, CBS News shares this video report about raising large dogs.

* A friend of mine's cat suddenly stopped eating. The cat had surgery and returned home with a feeding tube in its neck which my friend had to use to administer liquid food to the cat for three weeks. The treatment cost more than a thousand dollars. Another friend took loans to pay thousands of dollars for rods in her dog's hips and legs after a serious car accident. Pet care, especially out of the ordinary care, is expensive. This AP-Petside poll took a look at how pet parents deal with the cost of pet care.

* Love this post from Dogster about labs patrolling and protecting at the US Open. Especially because my last dog was a sweet yellow lab, Hudson.

*What kind of cologne should you wear to the zoo? Maybe the real question is, what kind of cologne should you NOT wear to the zoo. Apparently the big cats are obsessed with Calvin Klein's Obsession.

* Dancing Dog Blog reports a pet food recall for Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Chicken Dog Food.

* Neat product review on Pet Connection Blog of the cool pet mat.

What about you? How are you and your pet enjoying the summer?