On Friday I went to the vet for my annual check-up. The doctor listened to my heart, looked in my ears and mouth, then stuck something up my butt. I didn't mind the looking or the listening, but I wasn't a huge fan of the sticking-up-the-butt part.When it was over I got a cookie and a lecture. Actually my human got the lecture, but it was about me. Or parts of me anyway. The doctor said we need to keep a close eye on two things: my teeth and my weight.
I don't know about you, but I hate toothbrushes. I mean, they're fun to chew on but the whole brushing thing kinda sucks. Those little finger-brushy things are even worse because they're not even good for chewing on. So I try to discourage my human from going near my teeth by squirming a lot whenever she tries. The vet said she needs to try harder.
As for my weight... At 25.1 pounds, the doctor said I'm starting to look a little tubular. Tubular? My human explained that 'tubular' is the same as tube-y, which is what she calls dogs who don't have waists. She says when a dog is shaped like a tube, it means they need to eat less.
Eat less??? Me?
No Popeyes? No pie? No cheetos??? No way. Life would not be the same with less food in it. I begged my human not to take my food away and asked if there's something else we can do to make me less tubey.
Exercise, she said. If you won't eat less, you have to move more.
Well, DUH. I'd so rather move more than eat less! I haven't gotten any of my Christmas goodies yet, so my human said I could wait until the New Year to start my new exercise routine. She says that's when lots of people start walking off their tubey-ness.
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We aren't big fans of getting our teeth brushed either - that is probably why Brutus had to have several teeth pulled last year and mom has to schedule soon to get some teeth pulled. She did find that we like the nyla bones and she hopes that those will help.
The vet has had that same talk with mom & dad about our weight too. Brutus used to weigh 35 pounds but is now down to about 25 which the vet said is a good size for him :)
Pugs & Kisses,
Yoda & Brutus
Puglet, my vet is also very, very picky about weight. He says my breed in particular tends to become "coffee table dogs". That's when you become very round with a flat back and skinny legs.
The animal hospital I go to is full of watch your weight posters and all the bad stuff that will happen if you don't. Did you know that keeping a healthy weight can add two extra years to a dog's life?
My human says that one poster alone makes it easy to deny my saddest, whiniest beagle attempts to get extra food in my mouth.
Hi Puglet! I went to the doctor last Wednesday. Stop over and read my post about it when you get a chance.
I actually lost weight and my doctor was thrilled. She always lectures Mom about my weight. I'm with you - life is not worth living if I can't have my goodies.
As for the tooth brushing, not happening. Mom knows she should have started this when I was a baby but she didn't know she needed to. My teeth are bad and I've had a couple pulled but now I'm old and I can't 'go under'. Don't let your teeth get bad because that leads to overall bad health.
Live it up Puglet because come 1/1/10 your new lifestyle program begins!
Stubby xoxo
Puglet, why did your mom let them weigh you with your leash on? I bet it weighs at least 5 pounds! I would demand a recount.
I feel your pain. Really I do! No matter what I do I can't get seem to find my waistline. Mom always tells Dr. Stephens I'm on a diet and the last time we were there he asked her if I was on the 'Twinkie' diet... As if!
You look wonderful Puglet. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Kisses,
Stella
Oh Puglet. My humans call me tubby puggy. Unfortunately as of 12/17 I'm not a puppy anymore which means I won't get as many treats. It's common for us pugs to become tubby. We should start a biggest loser club for pugs. We're all in this together right?
Dear Puglet, My picky vet said 15.5 is too much and I'm ideal at 15. WHAT?! No matter what, vets are picky, picky, picky. You look great but think- more exercise could mean more park outtings...? Happy Holidays Puglet! Pug Hugs, Las Vegas Lola
My little pug gets half a cup a day of her kibble. I keep the snacks to a minimum: plain non-fat yogurt, organic baby carrots. Yes, I know it makes me sound like diet nazi but your baby will be so much happier if they're not a porker. My other much adored pug got (almost) everything she wanted and her health paid the price (passed away in 2007). Do yourselves a favor and get out and walk more! You'll all be glad you did :)
I'm always getting the tube talk, my Momma calls me meatball. Whatever as long as she hands over a meatball every now and then for me to eat!
Sequoia
oh puglet, i've been in that situation. a few years ago mom took me to the vet and they said the same thing: less kibbles and treats or move more. my mom has gimpy feet (not as bad as a gimpy brain but she can't walk very well) but she came up with a solution that worked for us both. i know she cut down on the kibbles but after a while i didn't notice but she bought this little thing to make me move more. Click on my name to see a video of it
Oh Man, I totally hate the toothbrush! I don't even mind getting my nails clipped as much as I hate the toothbrush. Good luck to ya man, and maybe you can burn off some extra calories by running when you see the toothbrush!
Hi Puglet,
I also went to the vet a few weeks ago and my mom got "yelled at" cuz i gained 4lbs! Now I am up to a whopping 26 and I should be about 20! The vet was really giving her the business and finally my mom said, "Dr. Hennessy, with all due respect, i have never seen a svelt pug". I thought "what?!? I look fabulous!" Anyway, now i am reduced to apples and shredded wheat, without the icing! She slips me a bite here and there. She keeps telling me that i will be with her longer if i dont cheat too much. Hang in there and ask your human to try the shredded wheat thing. They're not half bad! your firend, maggie
Me too Puglet, I have to loose weight. I was 24.4 in March & the vet is ok w/that weight, but the Wii says I weigh 26 now which didn't make mom happy. She has cut down on my food & snacks & is giving me more baby carrots (which I love & are good for cleaning teeth)& more walkies. Tell your mom to buy you carrots. We can't do too much exercising this week because we got 2 feet of snow!!!
Frodo
I think you are so handsome, Puglet! You don't have to be 'wimpy wimpy wimpy' to be good-looking! I last weighed in at 19 pounds, but I'm a little short, too. More walks would totally be better than less food, so grad that leash and hit the pavement! January 1 sounds like a good day to start- new year, new you!
I hope Santa is good to you on Friday!
Lafayette Lola
Don't worry Puglet,it is all part of growing up Pug. We got the same lecture when we were your age too. We changed to Royal Canin weight care (the one with a pug on the bag; I guess we pugs tend to get tubey). Anyway the vet doesn't lecture us anymore...about our weight, our teeth is another story. All we can say is run & hide in a tight corner. Dogs with tiny mouths are not supposed to get their teeth brushed, is how we see it. Our human will not give up on it though & it has become a battle of wills.
Good luck with the brushing & the weight.
love, Yoda, Zoey & Phoebe
Hi Puglet,
I'm telling you we have found the answer to the whole tooth brushing thing. All of the pugs in our family (5 now) have had at least 2 teeth removed but at m last checkup the Vet man said my teeth looked really good (for a Pug). BULLY STICKS!!!!!!! We always have them laying around and since we chew on them ALL the time it helps to keep our teeth clean. I don't really care about that part but my humans say it good. That's fine with us as long as they keep givin' us Bully Sticks and they don't try to brush our teeth. I won't even let the humans LOOK at my teeth, only the Vet and he better be quick about it too.
Buford T. Justice, Bambi, Peggy, Per-Li-Mae and Lacy Pug
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