The first stop at the vet: Get the dog on the scale.
Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, had her regular check-up at the vet’s yesterday afternoon.
I marched her up on the scale, and she sat pretty still, as far as big rescue mutts in the vet’s office go.
The nice lady behind the desk asked me the verdict, and I read out, “77 pounds.” Then we sat in the reception area to wait our turn with the good doggie doctor. Ellie B made nice with one small dog and snarled at a tandem that came in with another owner. My cool head and strong leash-yanking arm prevailed. These were of a certain breed that always sets my dog off. I do not know exactly what happened in her past to jump start this behavior.
Ellie B. post poking, pre-shots and final diagnosis.
Upon hearing her name called, Ellie B bounded into the examination room and gave Dr. Danboise a good, hearty lick to the face.
The vet laughed, and turned her attention to our happy 3-1/2 year old with her stethoscope and fingers and eyes and ears.
Dr. Danboise is thrilled with Ellie B.
My behavior, though …
I give her too many treats. I feed her too much of the high-caloric dog food my dear wife Karen and I purchase for this dog of ours, too.
The vet would like Ellie B to drop 10 or 15 pounds, so that her ribs can be felt when you rub your hand along her belly.
I must continue to measure Ellie B’s meals with this little baby, and she can’t eat as much as we’ve been feeding her.
Diagnosis: One and 1/2 cups of her dry dog food, twice a day. Stop with the people food, please and thank you. Dog treats, break them in half.
Walks, more.
That was lose pounds, Ellie B. Not go to the pound. Relax. Good girl.
Have you ever been told that your pet is overweight? Have you been able to get your pet to lose weight? Does your pet’s weight reflect your own weight?
Mark Bialczak 
Oh man, it’s so hard not to give into those big brown eyes when they stare at you as your dog watches you eat a meal. I think it is doubly hard when your dog is from a rescue pound as you tend to want to give them the best of everything and to try to make up for the bad start they got in life.
I’ve yet to figure out a way not to give in to the family pooches that now live with my mother, and she’s worse than I am for spoiling them! 🙂
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Yes, Heather, it is natural to spoil the dog too much. I have to break this cycle for her own good.
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I agree with Beth. Sweet Ellie B is a victim of love. Is that so wrong? Sure beats the alternative, neglect. But I do understand wanting to ensure she is part of the family for many healthy years to come.
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She’s digging the more diligent approach to walking, at least, Sandra!
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Poor Ellie I feel for her being on a diet. 😦
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She has walked well with me every day since and not complained yet about the reduction in food!
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I have a very finicky cat who is overweight and she does not eat wet food or treats at all. Only dry food and occasionally some dairy (milk, sour cream or ice cream). I have three lean, muscular cats all who love treats and soft food as well as dry, plus sometimes people food and dairy. Go figure. 🙂
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Just like people, Rachel. Go figure, indeed.
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Carrots are a healthy snack for doggies If she like them. I need to eat more of those too LOL
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When I throw her a baby carrot, it may stay there on the floor for two days sometimes. Sometimes, though, she’ll gobble it up right away. Thanks, OTUCM!
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She sure looks like a good weight to me, too. I agree with Cowboys and Crossbones! I would say she is not fat at all! You would be shocked at how fat we let our lab/german shep mix get, Toby was fed way too many treats and pieces of human food, like a bite of hamburger off the grill. I do think that after being not in charge of any dogs anymore, I would try to feed less ‘people’ food. But Ellie B. looks fantastic and you and Karen are great owners, too! Smiles, Robin
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Thank you, Robin. I want her to be healthy as she can be, is the thing.
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Ellie B looks like she’s healthy to me! Although, the first little fur ball love of my life, Nicodeamus was a cat that tipped the scales at 18 lbs….so I, too, was told by a vet to get my pet to lose some pounds. And over the course of a year on ‘diet’ food, he lost two pounds. Although he was kinda grouchy from there on out! 🙂
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I think she looks healthy put the vet should know best, so we will try to be better for her. I love the name Nicodeamus, by the way, and I can imagine him being a little grouch on his diet food. Oh, my. Ted and New Cat look lean enough to me, though, CBXB!
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Nicodeamus was such a cool cat, he HAD to have a cool name. And after he passed and I found Ted, I was bound and determined to change his name until I found out that he was a true Teddy Bear and just couldn’t do it. Now with New Cat, I’ve completely dropped the cool pet name ball!
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Oh, I would say New Cat is a pretty cool name, CBXB!
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Ah, thanks Mark!
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What!!!! She looks PERFECT to me! 😦 Damn body charts. I feel for you Ellie B.
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Dogs have them just like us, Colleen. Ellie B and dad both eating a big less these days …
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I suppose I would like to find my ribs again. Sigh.
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When I find my ribs they have a side of cole slaw and cornbread. Double sigh.
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I hear ya’ brother! 😉
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Oscar has spent his life being slightly over weight. He’s a pug with nice long legs, so he wears his weight well. Poor pup. I’ve tried changing his food, but his eyes convience me to change back. He’s just not happy on a diet. Extra walks keeps him from a few pounds off. A nice balance, I think.
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Yes, but I feel so bad every vet visit as Ellie B’s weight keeps rising. I shall try harder, Audrey.
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I know…it’s so hard. Rough thinking about the added stress to their bodies.
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My dog is 20 pounds overweight and it irritates her arthritis. She is elder though and her general health is complicated, so it’s tough making her comply with all of the vet suggestions. Hard to find the balance between making both her physical and mental health harmonious.
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That is a tough one, PLGCM. Dogs want to eat and be content.
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aw, poor ellie, she’s just a victim of being loved a lot, not a bad thing i think. and vice versa for you.
yes, i had an incident with my cat at the vet once and i laugh to think of it now when i look back at their ‘prescription.’ maybe another blog idea? )
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There you go, Beth. I want to read about it!
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OH, Mark, you have me laughing! I just came from our Vet’s office with an emergency. Rusty it seems got bit and his entire left back leg is like a balloon. At least we think it is a bite. (sigh) Anyways, why must your poor dog have his ribs showing? Good grief! If he is happy a little overweight, so what? Must we all be in a perfect weight range according to what this world says? My advice? He’s happy eating the way he is. Walk him more, Mark. That way you might drop a pound or two. Just sayin’. (wink) Love, Amy
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I know, Amy. The vet just wants our not-so-little girl to have a long and healthy doggie life. I hope your Rusty is OK!
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Yet, if you cannot enjoy life, what is the point in living? I hope my Rusty is OK too. I’ll know more in about 24 hours. xx Amy
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I had to come back here after seeing your post today, Amy, to send our wishes for Rusty’s quick recovery from that nasty paw puncture wound after his trip to his regular vet today. We’re thinking about you guys in Syracuse.
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Mark, we are doing everything we can for him. We are combining alopathic medicine (Vet medicine) with Homeopathy. His paw began to turn necrotic (purple and black) which is an extremely bad sign. I balled my eyes out and was so angry with vet from yesterday for not adressing this right. But, when we got home from our regular vet today, my hubs went to work to find the exact Homeopathy. Within ONE hour of the first dose, the swelling started going down and the discoloring is fading too. I am in tears, because if this did not work, and he kept getting worse, we would have had to put him down. The other solution was to have his leg amputated, and this cat live with 3 legs is out of the question. He has ants in his pants. No. You have NO idea what I have been through the past 48 hours. BLESS you for caring!!! I mean that Mark! And, FYI, I live near Buffalo! How about that!!! (((HUGS))) Amy
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I hope the recover for Rusty continues, Amy! My almost neighbor. Keep me posted.
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Mark. God IS good! And the knowledge we have, plus the Labor of Love hubs and I gave for over 2 days. We went in to see our Vet this morning, and she could NOT believe the improvement in Rusty in just 24 hours. We saved his leg, Mark. We saved it! God heard my screams, my Heart, and ALL who prayed for Rusty. I am putting up a post tomorrow to celebrate Rusty, my almost neighbor! (smile) Love, Amy
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That is the very best news, Amy. Fantastic. Rusty will still be himself, roaming and happy. Now let’s keep him away from that rusted pile of metal in your neighbor’s yard. I am so happy all the positivity and prayer worked, my friend.
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And a lot of hard work, Mark. I am SO grateful my husband has studied Homeopathy and knows what he is doing. I have a post up stating the latest and GREAT news of the day. Good grief, I am SOOOOOO tired. Whew!!! xx Amy
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Mark, thank YOU for your prayers. I couldn’t have done this without you. Love, Amy
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Ellie B looks wonderful! I am a permissive guardian to our doggies too–especially with the human food treats! More walks are a good thing though–we have fun with ours.
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Isn’t it so hard not to share, Phil? Goodness, dogs have that look.
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I hope Ellie B was not too offended by the doc’s mention of her weight. 🙂 Wishing you and Ellie B a most wonderful day.
Diana xo
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Ellie B was most offended by the two shots she had to get, Diana!
You have a most wonderful day in beautiful Calgary, too, my friend.
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Ah… very good! Youve just reminded me, I need to take Indi(ana Bones) for his annual check up too. Have not recieved a reminder from the vet yet…
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I love the name, Ali! Beautiful.
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Yep… blame the kids for that one! Your hound has a pretty impressive and original moniker too!
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And long. It started as Ellie, the name they gave her at the Humane Society. First we tacked on the ‘B’ because there was another Ellie at doggie day care. Then I added aka Dogamous Pyle because I liked the way it sounded and it fits her personality to a T. Your kids did a great job with Indi(ana Bones.)
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Dogamous Pyle is seriously cool… sounds like a character from a childrens story book!
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Oh, she’s a character all right, Ali! 🙂 This morning I had to break up a backyard fight between her and a gopher. The gopher was one-tenth her size but not backing down. Big teeth, though. I pulled the dog away by her collar and the gopher was chasing both of us! Right out of a story book, but not for children, I don’t think.
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I love that story! My Indi would probably run a mile…hes a big soft lump!
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Yes, yes, and yes, in response to your questions, Mark. I am glad the check-up went as well as it did, even though there needs to be a weight-down.
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We tend to feed our pets too freely, Ann. Humans!
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Oh, she’s so cute! I can relate. When we took Tonto in for his last visit, they said he was just over 50 lbs (which put him in the new pricier range of Sentinel pills) and lectured me also about how he needs to lose 10-15 lbs. Ellie looks fine to me! We only give Tonto half a cup 2 x day, and he’s still a tubby thing. Walked him yesterday, and he acted like the world was caving in. And he’s our YOUNG dog!
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Poor Tonto! I bet his look says, what’s this walk thing, Kimosabe?
Ellie B loves to walk, but at her sniffing pace, which isn’t exactly the calorie-burning strut.
I don’t think she looks pudgy, Kerbey, but whadda I know? I’m a bit pudgy according to doctor’s guidelines, too.
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Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing, Mark! It’s our sniffing pace…
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I meant about me, not you (to be clear)!
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And I meant about me, not you (to be clear)!
Of course, we both mean that, my friend, because the other is slim!
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oops demandes Mark
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C’est l’amore Mark!
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Welcome back, K!
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Hey … tu demands moi Mark … c
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Poor Ellie B!!!!
It feels as if it was me who hade to loose that weight….
Cross my fingers that Shell make it! 🙂
Mark, have a great tuesday!
/a
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Thank you, Anna, from me and the dear dog! She wants to eat all the food like always. Her sad eyes are on a diet, too.
You have a great week, my Stockholm friend!
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Oh, I feel so sorry for her…porr Little dog!
( give her something Little from me! 😉 )
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OK, Anna, very little. 🙂
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😉
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Why does it have to be so hard to resist? 😉
One of our tomcats was a little chubby – as he stole the other cats’ food. As we successfully prevented that, he started to gobble down his food, which made him puke shortly afterwards. Nobody can complain about his weight. There is only some head shaking about this bulimic tom…
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Cats are a different breed with their own food, for sure, Karen. We had a cat that would eat certain table food like a dog. And another cat who would jump up on the counter and toss down the table leftovers to the dog. Three-ring circus, it used to be. Now we are left with our one pudgy pet, who does not really look pudgy to me.
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Same with our tomcat. He wasn’t what you call pudgy at that time. I guess that a little more activities in the outdoors will easily take care of the odd pound.
This cat and dog co-operation is funny. Two cats do not in general co-operate that much. 😀
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My little Westie beasts are in good shape. Lots and lots of walking and NO people food ever. We’re in the country though so running around is much easier for my little guys to achieve than for you city folk, I know.
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Yes, country dogs do have it exercise more readily built into their lifestyle, SITB!
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Poor Dogamous Pyle. I hate going to doctors too. And then even when you behave yourself the doctor still tells you to eat less. Sigh.
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When the vet explained (again) the rib-feeling formula, I sighed to myself. So skinny, my dog needs to be.
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