I have lost count at the amount of times someone has told me that Oscar is fat. I have heard it from complete strangers at the dog park and even from my friends and family. There are two things about Oscar that I never ever want to hear, one being, Oscar is rather fat and two, Oscar is looking old these days. It’s simple, keep those two opinions to yourself!

Oscar has been misunderstood for most of his life given his unique body shape and frame. He is a basset hound cross English bulldog and has unique features from both breeds. His short legs make his stocky body look even stockier and his extra skin and wrinkles give people the impression he needs to lose weight. Now I am not deluded when it comes to Oscar and his weight. His health has always been extremely important to me. When he was around five years old, shortly after he was neutered, we had to put him on a diet for a couple of months to help him shed a few extra kilos he had suddenly picked up. That was a once off and I have always carefully controlled all his meals including treats and any extras he gets! Believe me he is by no means deprived of treats and yummy extras, I simply feed them in moderation and always opt for healthy treats and snacks for him.

The food we used to help Oscar shed some weight was Hill’s Prescription Restricted Diet. Our vet recommended using this diet as opposed to just cutting down on the amount that he was being fed.The Hill’s R/D is a careful formula that makes sure your pooch still gets the correct vitamins and minerals while being low in calories. Within two weeks both myself and our vet noticed a difference in Oscar! We only fed him the R/D food until he reached his goal weight then returned to his usual food and still to this day he has kept that weight off! A fantastic achievement in my eyes. Since that was many moons ago, Hill’s has in-fact restored and improved their weight loss product which is now called Hill’s Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. It is still part of the Prescription Diet range and comes in Metabolic + Mobility diet, Mini Metabolic and treats too. ps this food works fantastic for your feline loves too!!

With Zara having only just turned a year old in August, she still has plenty of growing to do especially being a large breed pup. Her meals are also carefully monitored and measured out in exactly the right quantities. Her treats and extras are also carefully controlled and something healthy is always on offer. She has a larger than life appetite and if she doesn’t have something to nibble on between her breakfast and dinner she tends to get a bit mischievous (read my Kong filler post for yummy mid-day snack ideas). It is important for your pup to be fed the best quality food that you can afford! You want them to get the best out of life.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition suggests you look out for these key signs of obesity-

Signs of Obesity

• See your vet regularly to accurately measure and monitor your pet’s weight.

• Look at your pet – if it is significantly overweight it should be obvious, although long-haired dogs and cats may ‘hide’ fat better.

• The rib test – when you stroke your pet’s side you should be able to easily feel the ribs underneath the skin.

• The waist view – when you look at your dog from above it should have a distinctive waist in front of his hips.

• Side view – look for a scooped abdominal tuck up towards the hind legs. Overweight pets have a flat to bulging tummy profile.

• Neck and tail base – look for fatty deposits around the tail base and neck. Pets at ideal weight have clear muscle definition and a smooth contour with tail base bones that can be easily felt.

• Overweight pets are more prone to shortness of breath, overheating and stiffness.

• Check for skin irritations or a scruffy coat due to difficulty in grooming.

While diet is a very important part of maintaining a healthy weight for your pet, exercise is just as important. Here are a few snacks and games you can use to help keep your pups happy and healthy.

Healthy snack ideas: We all love snacks, and so do our pups! It is so important that you give your pup the right snack.

Chick peas:  Both Oscar and Zara LOVE chick peas. I don’t even have to do anything with them other than open the tin, drain and rinse them, then pop them into an airtight container or Zip-Lock bag and keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days (they never last that long in our house). These make excellent training treats too!!

Carrots: This one I particularly love giving to Zara because it also keeps her entertained for a while. I give her the entire carrot to enjoy. Just be sure to have your pup eat it outside because it tends to make a bit of a mess.

Biltong: A firm South African favourite human treat and pups love it too. Just be careful with the spices and salt content (everyone has their own recipe) so be sure to use plain and simple biltong or biltong sticks.

Cucumber: Zara loves her cucumber slices and will eat cucumber all day if she could. You can cut it into chunks and put into a treat ball as an interactive toy with a healthy treat or simply give your pup the entire cucumber to enjoy.

Strawberries and blueberries: Both berry varieties make excellent snacks. Fuss pot Oscar will only eat a frozen blueberry and don’t even think about giving him a strawberry! I love using frozen blueberries in treat balls for both Oscar and Zara to play with.

Fun and games: Keeping fit and active is not only a health benefit for us humans. Our pups thrive when they are fit and healthy too. Having fun and exercising with your pup is another great way to increase that special bond you have.

Fetch: fetch is ancient game that will never grow old or out of fashion. We love this game in our house-except Oscar of course! We like to change things up, sometimes it’s a teddy, a frisbee, a ball or squeaker toy. Anything will do for this high energy game.

Tuggy: Tuggy is a great one that seems to tire Zara quickly. She puts so much force and energy into making sure she is the strongest in this game. This is a great game to build endurance.

Swimming: With summer just beginning for us, swimming is a super fun way for both you and your pup to stay fit. Swimming lengths chasing floating balls and sticks is great fun. Try have a doggy paddle race against your pup, you’ll soon see just how difficult it is and how much energy you use 🙂

Find it: This game is a real favourite for both Oscar and Zara. I use the healthy snacks mentioned above, run around the house and garden placing them in strategic hiding spots then let the pups out to find their treasure. It is a great game to get your pups excited.

October is National Pet Obesity Awareness month and together with Hill’s Pet Nutrition South Africa, we urge you to take your pets for a weight check. Rather than putting your pet at the risk of obesity-related diseases, love them enough to take them for a quick weigh-in. You can find a participating vet practice on www.PetSlimmer.co.za. It’s simple and free.

Links / URLS

www.PetSlimmer.co.za

#PetObesityMonth #HillsMetabolic #HillsPetSlimmer

Twitter: @HillsPetSA

Facebook: @HillsPetZA

Instagram: @HillsPetFoodSA

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HillsSouthAfrica

Thank you for reading.

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