Most people believe that fat dogs are healthy dogs. Because of this, people tend to overfeed their dogs without giving them adequate exercise. Excessive weight in dogs can cause a lot of problems for the dog. The weight can put a lot of pressure on their joints, and they can also suffer from diseases related to obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and even diabetes.
A dog named Kai was taken to the vet to be euthanized because of being obese. Kai weighed 173-lbs. For a Golden Retriever, Kai was 100-lbs overweight. Kai was so big that he resembled a bear. Despite having trouble with his mobility because of his weight, Kai was always happy and would often try to make friends with people.
Kai’s previous owner loved him, but they didn’t know how to take care of him properly. They ended up feeding Kai a lot of food without giving him adequate exercise, which resulted in Kai getting obese. Although Kai’s previous owner took Kai to the vet to be euthanized, the vets saw Kai’s loving personality that they thought that Kai still had a chance to have a happy life.
The vets contacted a local rescue called Misfits of Alberta Animal Rescue to see if they can help Kai. Pam Heggie of Misfits of Alberta Animal Rescue took Kai in and eventually ended up adopting Kai. When Pam first took Kai home with her, Kai took 20-minutes to make it up the stairs to the front door. Pam knew that something needed to be done to help Kai.
The day that Pam adopted Kai, Pam started Kai on a strict diet and exercise program. Pam got Kai into a healthy routine, which included three short walks a day and a low-calorie diet. The walks got longer as days went by, and Kai showed improvement in his stamina and weight.
Pam even got Kai on water therapy to help him strengthen his leg muscles without putting too much pressure. After a year of being taken in by Pam, Kai’s thriving, and he looks completely like a different dog. Kai lost a hundred pounds, and he’s now a healthy 70-lbs. Here’s a video showing Kai’s weight loss journey and how his mom helped him achieve his goal of becoming a happier and healthier dog.
Video Source The Dodo via YouTube