This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but 'Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure' only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
Keeping in shape and making sure I am at my optimal #PerfectWeight is a top priority for me and Mommy at all times. Healthy weight for your pet adds to a better quality of life and a possible higher life expectancy, and that is very important. A healthy pet is a happy pet!
We agree with our friends at Hill's Pet, makers of Hill's Science Diet, that consistency is a key factor in a pet's life. We need and crave routine! And that routine should not be changed if something changes around us. So, if Mommy has to go away and I am watched by a family member, they still feed me at the same time each day. Even when we are away on vacation or on a business trip together, we do not deviate from the food we eat, our feeding routine or our schedule. Let me give you an example...
Our family went on a big beach trip this year and we travelled for two days to get there. In addition to my doggie camera, extra harnesses, lots of duckies and a couple of hats, Mommy made additional preparations for how us girls would be fed while on the road. In preparation for the trip, all our food was prepared/packed special beforehand specifically for the travelling portion of the trip. We packed a "doggy bag" contained the needed bowls, measuring scoops, etc that were needed for each meal for each dog (there's four of us girl dogs).
We are little dogs that love to eat, so we get four mini meals a day that (when you include our allowed treats) add up to our total food intake for the day. Mommy and Grammy both have alarms on their cell phones programmed in to our feeding times. Grampy kept watch for the closest places we could stop and Auntie headed up the food distribution with Mommy at each meal time. We never missed a meal time on the road!
It was also important that we not miss potty breaks and daily exercise. That was easily remedied on the road by stopping at rest areas with pet friendly sections, and of course staying at pet friendly hotels allowed us the chance to run free in designated areas.
**Always remember that a measurement of food is not a random scoop of loose food. Always refer to either your vet's instructions or the instructions on the food bag/can/container for the proper amount of food to give your pet to ensure they are not getting either too much food or too little food.**
Once at the beach house, it was "business as usual" for us pups. We figured out where the kitchen was pretty fast, so when we heard our food alarm go off, all four of us would come barreling in to stand and wait for our meals. Here we are looking all cute and "doe-eyed" for Mommy while she prepared our lunch.
Mommy sneaks us one little lick of her fingers on occasion when preparing meals. It's hardly anything, but makes us feel special. Some people give a lot of treats to make a dog feel special, but too much can add up to an unhealthy weight. Mommy always thinks on the fact that more than 50% of pets today are overweight to some degree, so she is very careful what she gives me.
While staying in the hotel and while staying at the beach, we went to bed at the normal time, got up at the same time, and always made time to play inside or outside or go exploring (my personal favorite)...all in an effort to keep our routine as normal as possible. While it might sound like a lot of extra effort, if it is part of your everyday routine, making a few adjustments for vacation or other changes shouldn't be a big deal. Here are some ways you can keep a consistent and fun routine for your pet:
1. Set An Alarm!
Set the feeding time(s) for your pets on your watch or cell phone to ensure you don't miss a feeding time no matter what your daily activity schedule might entail.
2. Download the Hill's Perfect Weight 10-Week Challenge Calendar:
You can track your pet's weight, take notes, and post photos. It includes information on how to introduce the Hill's Perfect Weight pet food into your dog's diet.
3. Check out the cool Hill's "Tips and Tools" page that has excellent information on various kinds of exercises for your cat or dog, including levels of effort from light to 'resistance' and 'enhanced' plus fun things like 'ab' workouts for your cat! 4. Visit the petMD 'Healthy Weight Tool' Online - helpful question and answer tool to see where your pet might be weight-wise.
Just remember that a healthy pet is a happy pet. But take any kind of a new exercise or weight loss plan slow and steady for both you and your pet. If your pet has any kind of a weight issue, especially a little dog like me and my sisters, Hills has an excellent new Adult Perfect Weight for Small and Toy Breeds that could help. It can be purchased at Pet360 or at your veterinarian's office. ENTER TO WIN!!
I have some exciting news to share...For families that need a little help kick starting their pet’s weight loss, Hill’s Science Diet has a sweepstakes going on where you can enter to win 10 Weeks of Perfect Weight pet food! Enter the sweepstakes today http://blogp.ws/1Ded0VZ for your chance to win friends. Don't wait another minute...go enter now!
This post is sponsored
by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science
Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turn Around, but 'Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure' only shares
information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is
not responsible for the content of this article.
As a proactive pet parent, Mommy is constantly working to keep me at my #PerfectWeight. She's not alone. I know many of you are trying to do the same for your pets. But how do you know what the #PerfectWeight is for your pet, especially when more than 50% of pets are overweight? And if your pet is in need of shedding a few pounds, how can you make it happen?
First thing you should do is talk to your vet. I can tell you from experience, a lot of factors go into what my perfect weight is, and each pet is different. The vet factored in my health, body structure, my breed, and activity level, and came up with my #perfect weight of 11.5-12 lbs.
If you and your veterinarian find that your pet needs to lose weight, my friends at Hills Pet have a great weight loss pet food called Hill's® Science Diet® Perfect Weight dog and cat food. Their 10 Week Turnaround Challenge will help get your pet on the path to their #perfectweight. They understand that pet weight loss is a struggle that can be hard to do on your own, so Hills Pet wants to help! But whether your pet needs to lose weight or just maintain their #PerfectWeight, there are some great tools available to help make it a success.
Back when I needed to lose a couple of pounds, the very first thing we started with was a healthy daily routine that Mommy and I follow each day. We use a daily calendar and each of my feeding times are scheduled out to the hour. Instead of getting one huge meal a day, Mommy breaks my meals up into four little meals, which is better for my metabolism and keeps my energy up throughout the day. She just divides my total food for the day by four and I get fed all through the day. I love it! I can even tell time and I start reminding Mommy at a quarter til when it's time to eat.
Hills Pet has a great 10 Week Challenge calendar that you can download and use. Here's a few ideas to get started with the calendar: 1. Track progress of weight loss 2. plan your weekly outings with your pet - list the location & set a time each week to go 3. List your feeding schedule like the one I have below. 4. Post photos of your pet & how he/she is doing before, during and after the 10 week challenge. 5. Celebrate victories! Document that new trick they learned or the extra pound they lost. Remember: Having a healthy routine and sticking to it is critical to the success of your pet. A Typical Day for Pixel = A Typical Week *NOTE: Times are approximate 7:30am - Wake up snuggles and cuddles with Mommy, then play tug of war or wrestle 8:30am - Breakfast together 9:00am - Work with Mommy 11:30am - First Lunch for Pixel 12:30pm - Exercise Break of a walk or playing fetch in the hallway 2:30pm - Second Lunch for Pixel 5:30pm - Mommy's off work - SERIOUS PLAYTIME (includes running for Pixel)! 6:30pm - Dinner for Pixel & Mommy Evening is free to go out together, play, groom, watch TV, cuddle, be together.
Exercise and physical activity is very important as part of your pet's routine. Every day Mommy and I take time together to make sure I exercise and play. It doesn't matter whether you are inside or outside, there are lots of fun activities, games, and activities you can do with your pet to stay active and help them keep fit. The Hills Pet site has a wonderful list of fun activities and interesting ways to make exercise more exciting and adventurous for both you and your pet. Some of them Mommy and I already do, like chasing each other around the house, and playing hide and seek and dog tag, but you'll love some of their other unique ideas too! I bet some of them you've not heard of before. Pixel's Favorite Doggie Activities: 1. Playing "Chase" with Mommy - either she chases me around the house while I'm holding a toy or I chase her while she's holding one of my favorite toys. 2. Going for a walk. 3. Go Fetch! Mommy can throw any toy down the hallway or across the back deck and I go running after it to bring it back to her. 4. Practicing and Learning Tricks - I love practicing my tried and true favorites, but I've just started learning two new ones, "Jump" and "Under" where I walk under Mommy's legs or a stick. Here's a video of me and Mommy playing and exercising outside. It's a fun way for me to maintain my #PerfectWeight and spend time with Mommy:
A Healthy Routine is More Than Just Exercise & Food:
Hills Pet agrees that activities like grooming, training, socialization, affection and cuddling your pet are all important for your pet's overall health and well being. For example, Mommy grooms me weekly. She brushes my hair almost every day, she washes my ears when they need it, she washes my paws when they get dirty outside, and every evening she washes my face with a warm soapy washcloth or warm unscented baby wipes because I tend to "wear" my supper on my whiskers and I get distressed because my mouth is dirty. Mommy and I love practicing my tricks together, plus we have cuddle sessions all the time. I'll role on my back pretty much anywhere for a belly rub and kisses!All of these things are a part of our overall routine to help me stay healthy, they are activities that I love and that helps me feel secure and happy.
Hills Science Diet Perfect Weight Dog and Cat Food is available for adults. And in their latest news, Hills Pet has created breakthrough nutrition formulated to achieve & maintain a healthy weight & improve quality of life in small & toy breed dogs like me: Hill's® Science Diet® Small and Toy Breed Formula. With it's breakthrough blend of natural ingredients and prebiotic fibers for gentle digestion, it is made for the sensitive systems of smaller dogs. And if I know anything about the taste, it'll surely be a hit with your dog! So, if you think your dog is in need of a pet weight loss program, talk with your vet about the Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight 10-Week Turnaround Challenge. You can find Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight at your veterinarian's office or order it online at Pet360 with an additional discount if you Autoship. Don't wait until there's a weight issue. You can start creating a Healthy Routine with YOUR pet today. Download the calendar, try some of the ideas I suggested, and have fun! Do you have some healthy routine activities that you do with your pet already? I'd love to hear about them!
This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but 'Pixel Blue Eyes: Her Tails of Adventure' blog only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
"Being a pet parent is one of the greatest joys in the entire world!" Mommy said that to me just this morning when we were having our special morning time before breakfast. There is so much love shared between a pet and their human. I know Mommy wants to spoil me like crazy, but I also know she wants what is best for me, so I can imagine that being a pet parent can also be a challenge, as she balances her need to spoil me with doing what is best for me. Keeping me at a perfect weight is one of the greatest and most loving things she does for me. It's also one of her biggest challenges. Thankfully she, and many other pet parents, don't have to tackle that challenge alone.
Many pet parents may ask, "Is my precious little one overweight?". I've shared with you in the past that I had a bit of a weight issue a few years ago when I was 2.5 pounds over my ideal weight. Now, that may not sound like much, but 5 lbs on a small dog is like 30 lbs on a human, so I was carrying the equivalent of 15 extra pounds on me. Watch this "Is your pet overweight" video by Dr. Ashley Gallagher:
It turns out that over 50% of all pets are overweight. Excess weight can cause many issues for pets, but it's difficult to shed those extra pounds, whether you are human or canine. It is very important to address a weight issue as soon as possible. Talk to your veterinarian and set up a plan to help your pet shed the pounds. There are things you can do, tools you can use, and products that can help overweight pets. The most important thing to do is to make an appointment to have your pet(s) evaluated by your veterinarian. They can best identify a plan of action for your pet.
If your pet is overweight, your vet might suggest the Hill's® Science Diet® Perfect Weight pet food. Yes, my friends at Hills have done it again! They are always concerned about pets being at a healthy weight, and continually strive to create pet foods that help pets successfully lose weight. Hills strives to work in partnership with pet parents to get their dogs and cats to a healthy weight so their pets live longer, healthier, happier lives. I'm super excited about their breakthrough nutrition formulated to achieve & maintain a healthy weight & improve quality of life in small & toy breed dogs like me: Hill's® Science Diet® Small and Toy Breed Formula. You can read all about it here: http://www.hillspet.com/products/sd-canine-adultperfect-weight-small-and-toy-dry.html. 70% of cats and dogs who used Science Diet Perfect Weight lost weight within 10 weeks.
Tips and tools to help you and your pet succeed in achieving and keeping a perfect weight:
1. Always measure out your pet's food each time you feed them. Find out what the total amount of food is they can have for the day, then split it out to the number of meals you want them to have for that day. For example, I have to take medicine 4 times a day, so I get my total amount of food split into 4 meals. I LOVE getting all those mini meals from Mommy throughout the day.
2. Exercise your pet. Even in the dead of winter, your pet can still get exercise. We love to play in the snow, even if we get cold quickly. You could try incorporating several small indoor or outdoor play times, or small exercise/activity times throughout the day. Even 5 minutes of throwing the ball down the hall with your pet is excellent way to keep you both active, happy and a little healthier.
3. Learn a new trick together. It will keep both the mind AND the body active.
4. Check out your pet's weight using the petMD Healthy Weight Tool - Enter in some basic information to get the answer.
5. Discover just how negative an impact "people food" from your plate can be on your pet by visiting the Treat Translator Tool - You only think that "one tiny bite of cheese" isn't much.
Being a pet parent is both rewarding and challenging, but we're all here for each other. A healthy weight for your dog or cat is one of the most loving thing you can do for them. Achieving a perfect weight for your pet is possible. If you'd like to read some success stories of cats and dogs who have achieved their perfect weight with the Hills 10 Week Turnaround, visit the Hillspet website. Hills Science Diet Perfect Weight pet food is available at your licensed veterinarian or at Pet 360.
Dog weight loss can be a difficult goal to achieve. You've seen me blog about it before, sharing my own past experience with extra weight, and the challenges that come with trying to help your pet lose weight. Many pet owners love giving extra food and treats to their beloved pets to show how much they love them. But when the pet gains extra pounds, it can put a real stress on their bodies, and make it hard for them to live an active, healthy life. So trying to force the weight loss by withholding food and treats, and trying to increase exercise is not always ideal. Today I want to share with you a real life doggie weight loss success story, all thanks to my friends at #HillsPet!
Dash, an adorable 9 year old male Yorkshire Terrier from "The Philly Dog Blog", and his Mom took part in the #Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution weight loss trial. Dash was a husky 12 pounds at one time in his life. Now, while that sounds pretty small, when compared to what his ideal weight (8 lbs) should be for his size, Dash was extremely an overweight dog with his little body under great stress from it. His Mom Rebecca began noticing he was overweight about 3 years ago, and said that at times during his heaviest, he actually waddled when he walked. Dash definitely needed some help to get more 'dash' in his step.
But before we talk about his successful weight loss with #Hills Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution pet food, let's learn a bit more about Dash. I want to share what his Mom says about how they met: "I got Dash from a breeder. When I arrived, Dash came running up to me. When I picked him up he literally wrapped his paws around my neck. Sold! He was 2 years old at the time and she had been showing him (I think she stopped because he wasn’t winning). But he was a total winner in my eyes!"
Dash's name fits him well, for he loves to play fetch with his orange ball (and only his orange ball), play tug of war and chase squirrels. His mom loves playing fetch with him as well. She cherishes their walks together, and cuddle time is always a favorite for them. Of course, it's a favorite for me and my Mommy too!
When asked about Dash's quality of life with the extra weight he carried about, Rebecca said that Dash's collapsing trachea had gotten a lot worse and his luxating patellas (knee joints) popped out a lot more often, which can be painful. The excess weight had an effect on activity as well. He couldn't play fetch for as long as he used to, he didn't want to go for walks, and he slept more.
In the past, Rebecca would just try withholding treats and food to try to shed the pounds off Dash. As you can see in this video, Dash didn't want to dash much at all. He'd just meander through the yard instead.
Mom Rebecca said that this is her first time using a diet product for her boy. What makes Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution so special is that it activates your pet's metabolism to regulate appetite and burn fat. It wasn't long before things started changing once Dash was on the Hill's Metabolic Weight Solution formula.
Dash had been used to a raw food diet, so initially he had a tough time switching to a dry kibble and treats style of food. He eats the food, but does so reluctantly and the treats take some extra cajoling for him to eat them. However his Mom still has piece of mind knowing she doesn't have to worry so much about what exactly he can and cannot eat.
The weight started slowly coming off.
At last weigh in, he only had one more pound to lose before reaching his ideal weight of 8 pounds. Isn't that fantastic?
While eating Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, an obese pet’s metabolism changes to act more like that of a lean pet.
Rebecca says she's extremely pleased with the success of the Hill's Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution pet food. Obviously Dash is enjoying having more pep in his step too! His Mom says he is acting more like a puppy again and has much more stamina. She is so happy that Dash is playing fetch again and that he enjoys walks much more.
Let's watch this video of Dash as he 'dashes' to get his favorite orange ball.
This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic Food, but Pixel Blue Eyes only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.
Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
I love snacking! I think any excuse is a good excuse for a little snack. I even patrol the dining room table area at times in case a magical snack appears for me to delve into. That's just how I roll. But, if Mommy gave into my requests for snacks every time I asked, begged or gave her the sad eyes for one, I know I'd weigh more than I should. Whether you are a animal or a human, carrying around a lot of extra weight can take it's toll on your everyday life. Pets especially have a hard time when they are overweight. It can really weigh a pet down, no pun intended, because one pound on us can be like 10-20 pounds on a human. Think about it...if a dog's ideal weight was 10 pounds, but they actually weighed 12 pounds, that would be the same as a 100 lb person carrying around an extra 20 pounds. That is a lot of extra weight that is putting pressure on a pet's joints, heart, and other important organs. In many cases, a pet's quality of life and relationship with their family can be impacted because that extra weight can reduce play time, impact mobility and affect the lifelong general health of your dog or cat.
My friends at Hill's have created a fantastic and delicious new line of prescription pet food & treats that helps combat additional weight in dogs and cats. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution pet food actually helps an overweight animal's metabolism change to act more like that of a lean animal. And even after weight loss is achieved with this new Metabolic pet food, the highly efficient change in metabolism is maintained. Just talking about all this wonderful food makes me hungry, especially since they have dry dog food, wet dog food AND treats. I could talk about the benefits of Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution pet food all day long, but why don't I share a very important video about Bear, a handsome German Shepherd dog whose life was changed by Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution dog food. While you watch it, think about your own pets....could they benefit from this new food?
As the gentleman in the video said, he got his friend back again. Being at a healthier weight enabled Bear to play more, interact more and enjoy life a whole lot more. That's what we want for all our loved ones, don't we? Gracie is another fantastic success story. She is one of the 88% of pets that lost weight in a healthy way by eating Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution for dogs. Just look at these before and after photos of Gracie! Her weight loss diet for dogs didn't feel like a diet at all to her. She had wet and dry food, as well as yummy treats. Go Gracie!!
Remember, Hill's Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution dog and cat food works fast, with many getting to an ideal weight in just 60 days. With an 88% success rate, it's well worth a try! Diet and exercise go hand in paw to help keep us at a healthy weight too. Walking is one of the very best exercises in my humble opinion, and I LOVE to go for walks! Of course I love to run too. PetMD shares 10 simple ways to help your pet get to an ideal weight, which will help make them feel like a puppy again, full of energy and playfulness.
The relationship that pets share with their pet parents is so important, so always stay active with them. We long to be with you, and we need that playful interaction with you. We also need for you to be wise in how and what we eat. We depend on you. Being at a healthy weight will help us pets be able to keep that relationship fresh and new, and will help us stay active longer.
But don't just take my word for it...you can read some reviews about Hill's Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution on their Facebook page. Just enter the term "Metabolic" to read reviews specific to this new food.
"Mommy, does this dress make me look fat?" I know, it's not something you expect your pet to ask you. To be honest, I've never thought about my weight before...most pets don't. In fact, we don't worry about our weight at all! Yet there is a growing epidemic of overweight pets in the U.S.: 53% of dogs and 55% of cats are overweight. Many pet parents don't realize their pet is carrying extra pounds. Mommy certainly didn't realize I was about 2 pounds over my ideal weight a few years ago. She was so unhappily surprised that I weighed 14 pounds when I should only weigh 11-12 pounds. It can happen to anyone.
Thanksgiving 2011 - Pixel is about to get a little bite of sweet potato
Several factors can contribute to weight issues. Plus, I must admit, pets love food. You know how pets are. We follow our nose, and are content to eat anything and everything we can get our paws on. (I'm just being honest here.) If we hear any type of food sounds, we come running. Whether it's our supper time or yours, we're close on your heels, asking to take part. Pets love to eat. And we love giving you adorable little looks to get you to give us a treat, a bite, or a nibble of food. We are quite persuasive.
Pets never think about things like eating proper proportions, being overweight, or watching our diet, so pets must rely on pet parents to manage what we eat for us.
It can be tough though, because no one wants to feel like they’re depriving their dog or cat of food – even when it's to help them maintain or lose weight. Controlling portions or withholding treats isn't fun. But extra weight adds up quickly for a pet, causing health issues, just as it can for humans.
Ask yourself and then ask your vet, "Is my pet at their ideal weight? Does my pet need to lose a few pounds to get to an optimum weight for long term health and well being?" It's an important topic to discuss with your vet, just as Mommy did when I had to lose a little weight.
To make pet weight loss easier, my friends at Hills Pet have developed a new weight management food called Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution dog and cat food, available only through your veterinarian. Their special formula food works by activating metabolism to regulate appetite and burn fat. In real life, normal conditions, 88% of dogs and cats that participated in our feeding trial lost weight without having to greatly change their life style.
Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution includes a complete portfolio of dry food, canned food and treats designed to work together for easy, flexible weight loss success without deprivation, making it much easier for pet owners to keep pets on the program and comply with their vet’s recommendation. Pets feel full and satisfied and still lose weight! Read some of the Metabolic pet food reviews to see what people are saying. Just type the word "metabolic" in the product search bar. Remember, with this formula, you change what your pet eats, not how your pet eats.
Watch this charming video about a pet parent who really wants to do right for her pet's health.
IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Hill's Pet wants to give you the opportunity to try Metabolic pet food
and see what a difference it can make.
10 lucky blog followers (open to U.S. residents only) will win a gift starter kit for dogs or cats! Each Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution trial kit is a $70 value: Canine Metabolic Starter Kit
• 1 Weight Loss Success Tote Bag
• 1 Weight Loss Success Guide
• 1 6lb bag of Metabolic dry dog food
• 2 (13oz) Metabolic cans
• 1 (16oz) Metabolic treats
• (2) $25 coupons Feline Metabolic Starter Kit
• 1 Weight Loss Success Tote Bag
• 1 Weight Loss Success Guide
• 1 4lb bag of Metabolic dry cat food
• 2 (5.5oz) Metabolic cans
• 1 (2.5oz) Metabolic treats
• (2) $25 coupons How do you enter? Get permission from your vet to try this new weight loss pet food. Leave a comment telling us about your pet who can benefit from Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. Be sure to include all of the required information below:
1. What is your pet: dog or cat
2. Pet’s age
3. Pet’s current weight or close guess
4. Your name
5. Your email address RULES:
**Open Only to U.S. Residents**
**Only One Winner Per Household** This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution, but Pixel Blue Eyes only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
