Tahlula farts. A lot. When I asked my vet about why she is so gassy, he laughed, and said it was because she was a Rottweiler-it's what they do. We elevate her bowls, feed small meals, and she still farts probably 50 times a day. Fortunately, we've got a good sense of humor about it (We joke that she's our cuckoo clock-except instead of chirping, she's farting) but I've been concerned that it was a health problem.
But her gas has finally passed!!
OptaGest is a complete digestive supplement for cats and dogs, which can aid in the treatment of bad breath, gas, and intestinal discomfort. The plant based enzymes and Fructooligosacharides (FOS) work quickly to aid the good bacteria to keep the stomach balanced and healthy. Diet change, anxiety, and aging can all play a role in digestive problems. But here we have a powder, that my dogs will gladly eat with their regular food, that will help keep their digestive issues at bay. The gas and acid buildup that was causing toots and bad breath is gone, and my dogs and my home smell much nicer.
Initially, we started OptaGest (thanks to the folks at InClover for the samples) hoping that it would improve Lyger's old man breath, which it has. But, you can imagine how happy I am that there are far fewer farts. As an added bonus, Lyger has not had any of his irritable bowel symptoms since starting the supplement a few weeks back, and if he goes for a few more months without an incident, I'll likely contribute that to OptiGest as well.
Our Nulochallenge starts next week, and we've been trying out the web-based tools that will help me track my dogs' progress. I setup profiles for each pet, including starting weight, their ages, and body score. (The tools are free, all you have to do is setup a profile.)
The tools are pretty handy, such as the body score, visual tracking bar. Slide the bar, and the image gets "fatter" until you found where your dog fits in the Body Score range. Here's Tahlula's score, based on what she looks like from the side and above:
Once we start the program, we'll enter activity levels, track weight loss, and our milestones will appear as we gradually approach our weight goal. If you've ever used Weight Watchers online tools, it's surprisingly similar. The only feature I hope to see added is an option to take measurements, instead of weekly weigh ins, simply because it's hard lifting a big fat dog into the car for a weekly vet trip.
We placed our order for the dry foods. We'll be testing out the Lamb & Brown Rice formula (great for sensitive Shepherd tummies) and the Salmon & Brown Rice formula (which includes Tahlula's favorite-Tomatoes!) Because the food ships directly from the warehouse, no sitting on retail store shelves for months at a time. We can even setup an automated shipment, so we'll never run out.
There are wet foods and treats available too, but we're starting off with just one food switch for now. And, don't forget that Nulo offers cat foods too-you can follow the progress of cats like Disco. We'll post the list of all participating pets and their blogs next week.
Disclosure: Nulo has generously provided free product and other benefits in exchange for our participation in the Nu Campaign to fight pet obesity. We are happy to be a part of this awareness campaign, however, all of the opinions about the product are mine and not dictated in any way by the company.
I've been in denial about my dog's obesity for a long time now. Despite the fact that people have called Lyger "Twinkie" and someone once asked if he was pregnant, I thought it was just "fluffiness". And poor Tahlula was so emaciated (58 Lbs) when we adopted her, that it felt cruel to withold food from her. But her history (and breed) made her appetite that much more intense-and before long she'd eaten her way to 90 Lbs! People teased me about my fat dogs, yet I think I am still in denial about how bad it was.
Earlier this year, my vet's tech had an intervention. During a checkup, she told me that Lyger looked exceptionally healthy for a 10 year old-except he was overweight. Hearing it from a professional made it seem like a much more real problem. And it suddenly became clear to me: my pet's weight was putting pressure on their old arthritic hips, causing pain and lameness. In hindsight, the obesity was even a major factor in Tahlula's ACL tears a few years back.
So, we started feeding them the weight-loss formula kibble made by Kirtland (Costco). It was affordable, the dogs liked it, and it worked! Both dogs started to lose a little weight, and no one seemed famished.
Then, in the summer, when I dropped the dogs off for a week of boarding, the boarder was surprised by how much I was feeding-nearly 2 cups per meal. So even though they were on weight management food, it wasn't fully effective. So that was intervention #2-and it really worked!! Tahlula has even dropped enough weight that we were able to wean her off of her hip pain medications!!
Now, we're at intervention 3: Nulo. Nulo is partnering up with several bloggers, in an effort to better promote pet obesity awareness. Starting next week, my pups will start the 90-day Nulo trial.
So, as with any good weight management program, we have our before:
Lyger is at 60 Lbs. Tahlula is 80 Lbs.
Tomorrow, I'll explain a bit more about the how the Nulo program works, and the weight loss support features that are available to help pet parents.
“Disclosure: Nulo has generously provided free product and other benefits in exchange for our participation in the Nu Campaign to fight pet obesity. We are happy to be a part of this awareness campaign, however, all of the opinions about the product are mine and not dictated in any way by the company.”
The Mouse In The House cat toy looks like it would be a pre-schooler's toy, but it's actually a motorized toy that your cat plays with while home alone. You or your cat can just push a button or set the timer to get the mouse running through the diorama living room.
The toy designers configured the mouse's motion to react if it's caught by your cat, so that it simulates a real mouse. The mouse is attached to a belt, so it can't be removed from the toy by your cat, but you can order replacement mice if he becomes too badly maimed.
CatToys.com is doing a fun giveaway. Donate $2, $5, or $10 to their fund for Lollipop Farm Humane Society, and they'll send you or a friend a catnip infused box, with a high quality treat and toy inside! You pick the goodies, and just pay shipping!
I just fell in love with these underwater darlings from A Cheerful Pet, available at Olive. The toys are handcrafted in Nepal, from boiled wool and natural dyes, and they have these very sweet facial expressions that are sure to make these toys a new favorite in your dog's collection.
Cats love few things more than cardboard scratchers, and sometimes they prefer vertical surfaces, which is what makes the Marmalade Wall Scratcher great. It can be wall mounted or used on the floor. Nicer still is that it's made from post-consumer materials, and is 100% recyclable.
I also love their cool cardboard furniture, just for cats. The Cheeky Chaise ($130) and the Sweet Lounge ($150) are both pet beds and scratchers. The more your cat scratches, the softer the cardboard becomes, making it a soft, cozy space for your cat to hang out.
Lovely modern furniture and more for Cats (and dogs) can be found at Olive.
A Georgia based crafter wanted to do something special for her cat:
"I sat down and crocheted a little sardine for our cat Rex, and stuffed it lovingly with catnip and felt. He loved it! He loved it so much, that one day I picked it up and squealed "Gross! It's all soggy. He's been chewing on it!" Thus, the name "soggy" was born. I soon had to make another Soggy Sardine (Soggy Junior) for our other cats, and they can't get enough of them."
But what started out as a little something just for Rex is now a hit with kitties nationwide. Her Etsy shop carries Soggy Sardines by the pairs ($7) ready to be chewed and batted by your happy kitty.
CatALoops are a completely unique cat toy, based on the age old principal of cats loving milk jug rings. Artist and Crafter Lissa Lush uses wool and re-purposes the plastic bands from 6-packs to create a durable toy that bounces and rolls like your cat's favorite toy. And, they're packaged with organic catnip, so they're even more enticing!
