A couple of things I forgot about yesterday's vet appointment:
First, Thirteen's weight was way down. 2 whole pounds less than the previous visit, 10 days ago. They told me that they suspect problems with the scale, which is a relief. If I thought Thirteen was really losing weight that fast I'd be in a panic.
She's been averaging a 1/4 pound loss per week, which seems reasonable for her size. Last week I increased her food a little bit because we went on so many walks, and she seemed hungrier than usual. I think she does look a little slimmer -- there's a teeny tiny visible waist indentation, and I can feel her spine more easily than before -- but she has a ways to go before the vet would call her a healthy size. I deeply hate making her diet, but with all these joint problems we have to do it.
Jane on the other hand is so slim that I wish she would gain weight. Maybe my perceptions are warped by Thirteen's squidgy figure. To me Jane looks underweight, although everyone else says she looks just right. I increased Jane's food too because of the increased exercise, but she just isn't that interested in food. She'd much rather be out in the back yard trying to flush rodents out of the woodpile.
Jane gave me a scare after the appointment yesterday, just as we walked out the door. She was startled by a delivery truck pulling up, twisted away from me and pulled her collar right off. I averted disaster by yelling "Jane, get in the car! Let's go for a ride!" She ran right to the car and stood by the door until I got there. Whew! Good thing she loves car rides more than freedom.
2 Comments
Yes, I think you're perceptions are warped by Thirteen's squidgy figure! The ideal weight for dogs is actually quite skinny, especially if they are active. Her bones and joints will stay much healthier into old age that way.
I would call Jane moderately active. Not as fit as an agility dog, but with a 20 minute run every other day, and chasing a rabbit around the yard a couple of times a day, Jane's doing pretty well in terms of activity. I saw her chase the rabbit this morning. She might have caught it if it hadn't had Georg's broken down car to hide under.