Weighty Matters

Gracie weighs 20 pounds.  I knew she had put on a little weight over the winter; don’t we all?  My suspicions were confirmed during a recent trip to PetSmart.  They have a clinic in the back of the store.  Beside the counter is a scale which the staff let me use. 

While it was difficult to get a precise weight, the average was about 20 pounds.  Gracie weighed 16 pounds when she joined our little furry family almost four years ago.  I prefer her weight to be in the 17 to 18 pound range.

Obesity is a problem for everyone in this country.  We all need to keep a close eye on our weight so that we can live long, active lives.  Unfortunately, our pets are only here for a short time.  Don’t you want to spend as many years with them as you can?

I would like for Gracie to lose two pounds.  That may not sound like a lot of weight.  It is 10 percent of her body weight.  Imagine how much weight you would lose if you lost 10 percent!

How will I accomplish this?  For starters, I have reduced the size of the treats I make her.  They are now about one-third of the original size.  I am also reducing her wet food intake.  I suspect the new “grain free” food has some extra fillers that are fattening.  The pounds seem to creep on after she began eating grain-free wet food.

The next step is the hardest:  exercise.  This was not an issue until recently.  The zap from the electric fence has left Gracie totally frazzled.  She still refuses to take the usual route for our walkies, preferring to stay on our property.  It is not enough exercise for her.  In the coming weeks, I will try harder to help her overcome her fear so we can resume our long walkies.

Yes, it is hard to help your pet lose weight.  It is not easy for us humans to do it.  We must try, though.  While I am helping Gracie get more exercise, I will help myself in the process.  I want to be here for every moment of Gracie’s life too. 

If you have been a little slack with your or your pet’s health, take this opportunity to put on your sneakers and go for a walk.  You do not have to take a 10-mile walk.  Just start with a few steps.   You can do it!

Rescue Mommy