Fat Pets
Last night was one of those nights where you flip through the channels on the television and come to a dead stop in disbelief. The title on the screen said "Fat Pets" on Animal Planet and I just had to stop and see what was in store.
As I watched in horror, there was one woman that was down-right arguing with the groomer that was washing her beloved Rottie. Having Rottweilers in my extended family, I know quite a bit about this dog breed but I couldn't help but sit there with my mouth hanging open as the groomer kept saying to the dog owner "Your fat dog..." Indeed, this poor pup was HUGE! (see picture to right) She is 230lbs and her belly hanging so low as she waddled side-to-side, gasping for air as she walked.
It made me think about how easy it is to overfeed pets in this world. So many people look at their dogs and cats as being an extension of there family - no less then their own children (although sometimes the pet ranks higher then the kids). They think they are doing right by treating their beloved canine companions with love through food... and more food... and more food... and so on. Even kids in this world should have their limits for the more weight they pack on, the greater their risk at a premature death.
Given that I was once a very heavy child and own two Labrador Retrievers, which are notorious eaters if allowed, I understand how families can go overboard with feeding. But the problem on this particular show was that the dog owner was arguing that her dog was not fat and that no one should tell her how much to feed her dog.
I wonder if some dog owners realize how much they don't love their dogs by causing them to be obese. I mean, slightly overweight is one thing but when your dog is gasping for air, has heart murmurs, and the vet tells you that if you don't help it lose weight it will be gone in a year, wouldn't that cause a human being to take notice that they are hurting and not loving their dogs? Sure, I would love to shower Dakota & Cheyenne with loads of yummy goodies but that wouldn't be love to me as I want them to have the healthiest and happiest life they can while they are here... hopefully for the next 50 years or so. *wink* (Ok, one can always hope!)
I really wish people would wake up and realize what they are doing. *shakes head* I could never do that to the Lab Brats and I am sure I love them as much as this lady loved her Rott - if not more.
Labels: Lab Health
posted by Shannon at
7:30 AM
7 Comments:
OMG, the picture of that poor Rottie makes me physically ill. The quality of life...or lack there of is just heartbreaking. :(
How can that dog's owner do that to an innocent dog?? knowing Paul he probably would have wanted to do something that i cannot mention on here.
We saw the show too and our mouths were hanging open, just like you.
At the end of the show, we were glad to see the other pets had lost some weight and were on their way to healthier lives, but we felt sad that the lady who owned Bo (the one you were talking about) didn't do anything about it and still gave her lots of food.
Shannon,
Do you know where that picture came from? The reason I ask is because the day that I took Lambert to the vets there was a rott that looked just like that. I thought she was pregnant so I asked and the owner said no she is just fat. She was having a hard time breathing etc. Its odd that the dogs look exactly the same.
Tanya - they were overseas - somewhere in the UK. I believe the whole show was about how much people over there have fat pets compared to other areas of the world.
I am sure it is possible that you found another Rott that was that fat. Sad but true, I doubt that UK Rottie was the only one of her kind.
~Shannon
Very sad. There is definetly a psychiatric issue going on with the owner of the dog. I watch my Cody closely-sometimes all of the sudden one day he looks heavy and I need to back off on the treats.
That is "loving" your pet a little too much, me thinks.
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