SELECTIONS from DOGS & BABIES | MAY 2008 | archives: last issue
HEAVY HOUNDS
Tips for helping your pup shed those extra pounds
by Alysa Slay
Americans are world-renowned for being overweight, but
that reputation doesn't just apply to humans. Veterinarians estimate that between 25 and 40 percent of U.S. dogs
are overweight or obese. For a 50-pound dog, just five to 10 pounds of extra weight can reduce the dog's life span by two years and increase the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory problems, orthopedic issues, heat stroke, exercise intolerance and make surgical procedures more risky.
So, is your dog fit or fat? Dr. Julie Mayer from Integrative Pet Care (2520 W. Armitage, 773-269-2964) says three views of your
dog should be taken: the aerial view from the top of your dog
(make sure your dog has a waist -- a girly figure), a side view where you should see an indentation in the space between the hind legs and the rib cage, and then a hands-on view. Using light pressure, close your eyes and run your hands across your dog's rib cage;
you should be able to feel and count each rib.
If your dog needs to shed something besides a little fur, Dr. Mayer suggests starting with cutting out or drastically reducing the number of treats you give your dog. Instead of commercially packaged treats, substitute fresh veggies like zucchini, cucumber, pumpkin, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower (warning: no onions, garlic or beets, as they can be dangerous). Or use your dog's
kibble as a training treat and just subtract the amount from his daily feed intake. Lean meats such as chicken breast or whole grain, low sugar cereals (such as Cheerios) are also considered low-calorie treats. If your dog cannot live without something special, Robin Phillips, owner of the hip new pet boutique Zulu (3919 N. Lincoln, 773-281-2009) suggests Plato Dog Treats or Solid
Gold Turkey Jerky. Both treats can be broken down into tiny pieces -- your dog does not need the whole piece to feel special.
Finally, remember to measure your dog's food with a measuring cup and know that you can adjust label-recommended feeding amounts based on your dog's breed, age and activity level. Counting calories and cutting back slowly in food intake are just as important for canine weight loss as they are for human weight loss.
Dr. Mayer identifies walking as the best single exercise for overweight dogs. If just starting out on an exercise routine, short multiple walks a day are key. Regardless of the degree to which
your dog is overweight, be sure to contact your vet to set up a supervised, custom weight-loss plan before beginning any regimen
with your pup. Some good starting points for information are animalspiritnetwork.com (Dr. Mayer offers a webinar titled "Healing Foods for Obesity"), petfit.com and stopcanineobesity.com.
Dave Eisendrath and Alysa Slay are co-owners and directors of Camp Dogwood in Ingelside, Ill. Long-time dog lovers, they have been making dogs and their owners happy with overnight camp experiences since 2000. Visit them at campdogwood.com
NO MORE SNOWSUITS, NO MORE BOOTS
No more subzero temperature abuse. So where to take the kiddies now that spring has sprung?
Yeesh, that was a rough winter. Rougher still for those of us with little ones running rampant along the heated hallways of our homes. It's high time to get outside and use that energy to explore. So what's in store?
Kick your month off right May 3 with Mayor Daley's Kites & Kids Festival (chicagokite.com/madakiandkis.html) on the lawn of the Museum of Science & Industry. Free kite kits are available, while personal kites are perfectly permissible. Kite-flying professionals (where do I
send my résumé?) will help get you off the ground, and once your child's neck is sufficiently strained, head over to the Kohl's StoryBus exhibit for arts and crafts and interactive storytelling.
Commencing that same day at venues across five Chicago neighborhoods is
the Children's Humanities Festival (chfestival.org), scheduled to run from May 3 through May 10 and billed as a multi-national celebration "as big as your imagination." Particularly intriguing is "Stretch," a show that brings 12 miles of elastic, dancers and musicians together for a big, pliable hoedown, after which audience members are invited to hop up on stage
and test tensile theories of elasticity for themselves (without the Blue Man Group-esque threat of public embarrassment).
Meanwhile, in neighborhoods across town all summer, the Park District will offer more than 100 free concerts and movies under the evening sky. As picnics are encouraged, this is a great excuse
to drink wine in the presence of your children and not seem unseemly. For movie times and locations, call 312-742-7529.
A full movie listing will be online at chicagoparkdistrict.com later in May.
For more suggestions, rain or shine, check out Kids in the Loop: Chicago Adventures for Kids and Their Grown-Ups by Anne Basye (which is available new or
used at Amazon.com; and the Book Cellar, 4736-38 N. Lincoln, will special order
these and other titles not currently in stock). Written in 1995, this book cries out for an updated edition -- but the best activities, like the most enduring landmarks, withstand the test of time. Now get out there and absorb some Vitamin D! -Mark Haggarty
This is a sampling from the section in the current magazine - to read it all, download a PDF or pick up a hard copy of UR Chicago
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