Posted by Alicia Leeds on Mon, Apr 06, 2009 @ 11:39 AM
Monroe, my six year old shih-tzu poodle ate something that didn't agree with her yesterday and kept me up all night licking her face and sneezing, panting heavily as she sat on my chest and stared into my eyes, hounding me. It was after 3am by the time she fell asleep and we were at the vet by 9, so I am tired today. I know I'm tired because I keep thinking that a muffin would help.
"Monroe has to lose weight", said Dr F, "she has put on 20% of her body weight in past year."
How can that be? We have not changed her diet. We exercise. (I find myself getting defensive, have I been a bad mom?) Yes, by all means, run the thyroid test, hypothryoid...mmm hmm...
"Little dogs are prone to weight gain as they age but the consequences are heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis..."
Her voice is trailing off. I know. I know. I know all this. Still..."her metabolism has probably slowed down..."
yes- that's it her metabolism...
"she should be taking in 290 calories per day..."
290?! that's it? well that's not enough, Monroe is active and she's big boned - and that's when I knew. Big boned? I am dog mom in denial face to face with the fact thatI feed her too much and give her too many treats. A treat when I leave for work, a treat when she gets out of the bath tub, a treat for dessert when she finishes all her dinner...
I can't say I didn't notice but I blamed it on her haircut - (does this fur make me look fat?)
I'm embarrassed. I coach weight management for a living and I have a pudgy pooch.
I call my sister. She says she just put a post on Twitter saying that if your dog is overweight, you are not exercising enough. Face to face with the truth - ugh! A muffin would really help.
Yep, this has been a tough winter and there have been many days Monroe and I have looked out from our cozy condo and decided not to go out there. (Yes she did help me decide!) I have to admit it.
Monroe and I come home and I take out the measuring cups. 1/2 cup of Purina for her and 1 cup of Kashi for me. Her bowl looks skimpy, mine does, too.
It's cold out, but we're going out for a second walk today, kid. Yep, both of us. If you can do it, I can do it. We've got a weigh in with Dr F next Monday.