Chloe the friendly Black Labrador weight loss journey!

" I can run now! I can keep up with my pals!"

This is Chloe (left) on the 22 July 2009 enjoying her walk with my dogs, Toby ( Jack Russell X) and Tolly, (Golden Retriever).  ( My hubby’s parents dog)

Chloe has now lost 8.5kg!

Chloe started at 61kg.  We still have a long way go, but  at least now she’s enjoying life!   I know that Chloe is one of many dogs  in this situation, but if each of us could just help one dog how good would that be!

Read the following for her story…

"I just cant stop panting!"

May28 2009  5:51pm

I was asked to feed a friends dog while they went on a well deserved break as they work all the time! To cut a long story short her two dogs were alone 90% of the time.  I new Chloe the lab was over weight but I got a shock to how over weight she is.  61kg!! which she should be 30-35kg.  Anyway with lots of discussions with her owner we are working together to get her weight off! Sometimes we just need to speak out for the dogs!!

I put her on a strict diet and exercise (with the advice from a vet) and withing ten days Chloe lost 2kg.  Today Chloe was weighed again and she lost 500g! Fantastic!! The owner finally feels like she has help, which I was only to happy to help.  Now Chloe is getting regular exercise with her owner and Chloe walks with me and my two dogs, ‘Toby’, Laylah, oh and of course Chloe’s pal Boomer.  I found this web site because of the Worldwide Walk with the Woman’s Weekly.  Walking Chloe has given me a reason to keep walking.  When I first took Chloe for a walk she couldn’t even manage to jump in the car.  It took her almost five minutes to sit. Her fitness has improved out of site and she loves walking through the bush! Today she walked 2.8km, when we first started she just made 600m. Chloe and Boomer were in a good size yard, but not for all the time, they needed to get out and run! I know I have made a big difference to these dogs lives  it feels so good!!

Reply : Hannah2

61kg! that’s huge! poor pup!

have you thought about helping other dog owners with this? i’m sure a lot of other people (and their dogs) would benefit from it.

I think it would be cool if weight loss programs like Jenny Craig etc asked if you had a pet and then worked exercising your pet into your schedule. That would be good!

congrats too christyn on managing to change someone’s way of thinking. you probably added an extra few years to the dog’s life!

Reply: dogbuddy

wow!

you sure did help a lot with her dog!

cheers!

"I know I'm cute!" Chloe's mate! Little Boomer is about ten years old, but boy can he run! He would give a grey hound a run for his money!! Plenty of life left in this little fella!

My Relpy:

Thank you to hanna2 and dogbuddy! Its so good to have some support!  I just got back a few minutes ago from the vets with Chloe.  Chloe has lost the big frill of fat around her neck now and she is actually running!  I was bathing her yesterday and found a massive cist under her tale.  When I went back to the owners house she made an appointment straight away for Chloe at the vets.  (we were a bit worried it would be cancer) Anyway the vet lanced it and you should of seen the muck that come out of it! Yuk! The vet said that it had been there for a while, but we just couldnt see it because of all the fat.  Chloe was having problems with her ears and now because shes lost  alot of weight around her neck her ear condition is basically all gone.

This week I willl be reducing her volume of food (meat) and increasing the amount of soaked oats in her meal so that she still feels full.  I will post some photo’s of her soon.  I am a nurse, a busy mum etc so I will find the time.  I found out today that shes five years old and a pure breed lab.  Once Chloe looses the weight I have to find a great home for her. She needs lots of room to run around and some one to love her.  I am trying to keep a professional detachment from her but it is difficult. I would take her but I am also a qualified florist and my business is run from home.

The vet was so happy with her progress!  I nearly had a home for her but the person said it was going to be too much effort for them to continue her program.  If every person in the world put problems into the too hard basket nothing would get done!!

I can understand there concerns though.  I never thought I would love doing this so much.  To answer Hannahs question, “Yeah I’d love to do this full time” but where do i begin? And its not a job I can just quit on if I get tired of it! we are talking about loyal dogs that need love, attention and commitment.  I could help people make a plan like I did for Chloes owners.  Chloes owner would love to Keep  her but her life style has changed and she knows Chloe would be better off with another family. Now I am helping her do that.   Well I must go and put the heater on, its rather cold today.Oh Chloe was 61kg now shes 58kg in under a month!!

June 11 4:37pm

I weighed Chloe  and  she now weighs 57.2kg! That’s a loss of 3.8kg. I started  Chloe’s program on the  10Th May. So in a month shes lost almost 4kg.  I cant believe shes loosing the weight so so fast. I suppose shes gone from no exercise to walking everyday and her food intake has been halved. Today we walked about 3.6km and Chloe was running with the other dogs, although she still kept coming back close to me to make sure I was okay. Her coat is so shinny! Her owner has been taking her for walks after she gets home from work at night, even in the rain! Well I mus fly, things to do!!

June 27 12:26pm

AMAZING!! is all I can say! I took Chloe, Boomer, Toby and Laylah for a walk up the bush and Chloe was moving so much better and actually going off with the dogs where as she usually sticks pretty close to me.  I missed a weigh in as my husband  and I went on a well deserved break..  I took Chloe into the vets and she walked straight up to the scales and it read 55kg!!  The vet nurses couldn’t believe the difference in her! and they were as excited as I was!  I know Chloe has a long way to go, but already shes a different dog.  When we are up the bush and the dogs lag behind or go off a bit I just yell out “FORWARD” and they just go forward. They are so good!!  When we are getting to the end of our walk i shake the car keys and say “Find the car” and they just go straight to it.  The owner of Chloe is so happy! She was so excited when she found out she’s lost 6kg.  I went straight to the butcher after weighing her and bought her a nice big marrow bone! Well I must get ready for work!!!

Friday 31 July 2009

Here are some photos of my dogs  Toby, Laylah (Beagle), Tolly, Chloe and Boomer! on their walk…

Laylah just loves her walks! She could loose a few kg, but she's very fit!!

"I'm so happy!" Our $50.00 Jack Russell Toby is the most loyal, loving dog!