FEEDING YOUR DOG

Luna is shedding like crazy. She's always shedding, but right now, it is a constant explosion of thick, coarse, Black Lab hair. If you are bothered by dog hair, never ever ever ever consider a Labrador Retriever. For some reason, maybe it's her genetic line, Luna sheds much much more than our Yellow Lab Satchel did, and trust me, he shed a ton. Luna just sheds and sheds and sheds and I Furminate her everyday, but she is just exploding hair right now. I'm wondering if that is why more people are commenting on her perfect shape and weight lately. With less hair, they may be seeing more of her.


One swipe with the Furminator down Luna's back


For comparison - a couple of swipes with the Furminator down Foster's back

Luna was overweight when she first came to us at 10 months old. After a check-up, and asking our vet how much she should weigh, Luna started exercising and receiving the right nutrition. Now at nearly 10 years old, Luna enjoys walking 1-3 hours per day, racing the waves of the ocean and Lake Michigan, hopping snowbanks, and running through our agility tunnel dozens of times. At a weight of between 70 and 75 pounds, Luna is going to live, and live well, for a long time.


Luna's Little Waist

When our Yellow Lab Satchel was diagnosed and treated for soft tissue sarcoma, we were told his survival chance was "significantly increased" because he was not overweight. We learned that fat is an inflammatory "organ," and since the disease of cancer has an inflammatory component to its growth and spread, Satchel being fit and lean improved his ability to recover from surgery, radiation and then cancer itself. Satchel was 10 years old when he was diagnosed and showed us he was the strongest life force we'd ever met through two months of treatment. Satchel the Strongest died one month shy of his 16th birthday, and not from cancer. He taught me a lot about canine nutrition, and solidified my belief that optimal amounts of food and exercise are two of the best ways to honor, appreciate and love our dogs.

This week, I will share how I've decided what to feed my dogs and with what I supplement their diets. I'll also share some of the ways we exercise. I am not a vet. I do not have a doctorate in veterinary medicine or science. I will simply share what I've learned from veterinarians, canine nutritionists, books and my dogs.