I’m happy to say that Keeda is now the ideal weight and is looking much healthier. Her endurance and energy levels have also improved greatly and she’s much more active in general. Here is a before photo of her, and a current photo next to it:

Before - Keeda was one fat dog

After

After

On a different but dog exercise related note, I got Keeda a frisbee a few days ago at Better Pets & Gardens and she’s already doing really great with learning how to catch it. She knows the “Catch” command for tennis balls and toys and such, so we’re building on that. What I did first was tell her to “Get” the frisbee while it was in my hand, so she’d latch on to it like she does a stick. Then I started almost throwing it, but still not allowing it to fully leave my hand. Then we moved on to the “Catch” and Keeda can now catch the frisbee at very short distances. We’re hoping to increase the distance bit by bit. I’ll try to get a video of her awesome frisbee catching skills somewhere down the line.

Peas

I sometimes freeze green peas in little plastic pouches to use for training new tricks. They’re a great source of iron and contain virtually no fat. Keeda loves them.

Raw Whole Eggs

Keeda gets one whole raw egg per week as a treat, shell and all. Eggs are a great source of protein and help to keep Keeda’s coat nice and shiny. Of course, everything in moderation – I wouldn’t recommend feeding more than one raw egg per week, but I know some who would disagree. It’s always best to speak to a dog nutritionist if you’re unsure.

Sardines

I’ve recently been hearing about the benefits of sardines for dogs on dog forums, from a local vet nurse, and other sources. I started giving Keeda one tin of sardines in springwater per week. They make for a tasty treat and are meant to be great for the coat.

Carrots

Carrots can be a great treat for your dog. Many dogs love munching on carrots – it can give puppies something to chew on while teething and help to keep a dog’s teeth clean.

In fact, most vegetables can be fed to your dog as part of a meal or as treats. Be sure to talk to your vet if you’re unsure of whether or not something is safe for your dog to eat, or Google it (although remember to take everything on the internet with a grain of salt and do your research via various sources).

One important thing to remember when feeding your dog whole animals or animal parts is to not cook the bones. Cooked bones break and splinter much easier than raw bones do. They pose a greater risk of chocking for your dog than raw. It’s always important to watch your dog eat when you first start giving it meaty bones, chicken necks, or anything of the sort. Make sure that your dog doesn’t gulp down the food too quickly and is able to chew and break down the bones properly. When feeding Keeda things like chicken necks and especially chicken wings I always prefer to stay there and keep an eye on her just in case.

Another thing every dog owner needs to keep in mind is that each dog is different. A diet of raw meat can be great for one dog but not suit the next. If you’re unsure about whether you should change your dog’s diet or how to go about it, consult with your veterinarian.