Dirty Dogs and Meow Newsletter

"Is Your Pet Too Pudgy?"

One of the most costly mistakes we can make with our pets is allowing them to become overweight. With their four-legged stature, extra weight takes a harder toll on them than it does with humans, who carry their weight vertically. Pound for pound, extra weight on our pets puts a heavier burden on their joints and organs.

Senior pets are at extra risk, as their metabolism slows down and their bodies' cells are less able to replicate quickly and properly. Often, their digestion is impaired, and food is metabolized less efficiently, which can cause a host of problems, from weight gain to allergic reactions stemming from "leaky gut syndrome."

As occurs with people, our pets store toxins in fat cells, which creates an overload on their bodies, making many organ systems function less well than in pets at a healthy weight. Toxin build-up can set the stage for serious health problems, and make existing health concerns worse.

The best thing we can do to help our pets maintain a healthy weight is to evaluate their food and treat intake, and limit the quantity in accordance with their size and activity level. Providing high quality food is vital, as is keeping in check the carbohydrate content of food and treats they consume. Natural weight control food may be appropriate, and a natural weight control supplement may help as well.

If you think your pet may be overweight, talk to your veterinarian about options to help your pet slim down.

MOE'S FRIEND OF THE WEEK

Moe can bearly contain his happiness with so much love @ Dirty Dogs

Stop by the store and take your picture with Moe you can be the next featured friend.

DOG-e-STYLE SALON
Grooming by our Pet Stylist

Stylist Kathy Hopper
is available to groom your pet.

Appointment are recommended. call
858 259 DOGS(3647)
stylist on location
Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

THE SCOOP

Experts advise
Pass on a Christmas puppy

The Christmas puppy is the gift that never seems to fall in popularity. But there are reasons why shelters, rescue groups and responsible breeders are uniform in their advice to think twice about a Christmas puppy. Here are the reasons why:

Holiday stress. Puppies are not toys. They are animals who need a lot of attention. Who has time for a pup during the holidays, that stressful season of socializing and shopping? With a houseful of guests and a holiday dinner to prepare, who will make sure the puppy isn't being mauled by overly enthusiastic children and guests?

Bad timing. Try house-training a puppy when it's cold and stormy. And what about the rest of the training? The first few months of a dog's life are crucial: Bad habits are far easier to prevent than they are to break later, and ongoing socialization is critical. Will you really feel like training and socializing your pup when the holidays are over, the days are short and the kids are back in school?

Poor selection. Many reputable breeders and shelters will not cooperate with your Christmas puppy desire. That means if you're looking for a puppy, you may be choosing from sellers who don't know or care enough to offer healthy, well-socialized puppies.

Dogs can be great for children, and children can be great with dogs. A better bet would be to wait until late spring or summer to find the perfect pup from a shelter or reputable breeder. When the days are longer and the weather is better, it's easier to train and socialize a pup.

THE DOG PARK

Now... there is nothing as much fun for a dog as to run around off-leash, and play together (dog & Human) in a nice park at Torrey Hills Center