Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter -A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives [Paperback]

Ernest Ward DVM (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 1, 2010

Is Your Dog Big Boned, Overly Fluffy . . . Or Does He Need a Doggy Diet? 

Almost half of the dogs in North America are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for major medical problems and untimely death. Is your dog one of them?

Esteemed national television veterinarian and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, Ernie Ward has helped hundreds of dogs reclaim their optimum health with his comprehensive plan, and now he can help your dog, too. In this unprecedented look at how we care for our pets, Dr. Ernie opens our eyes to the shocking truth about why we have unknowingly created a Perfect Storm of Portly Pets. For example, did you know that many pet foods are so spiked with sugar and fat that they actually cause your dog to eat even when she isn't hungry? Or that many pet formulas are so loaded with carbohydrates that they're causing a nation of carboholic canines? And even worse: Most well-intentioned pet owners are overfeeding their dogs by 25 percent every day. The good news is there are simple ways you can turn the tide for good—and for the good of your dog. You'll discover:

• Must-know tips for stocking a healthy pet pantry
• Homemade meals and healthy treats that won't pack on the pounds
• How to avoid the unscrupulous marketing and packaging of some pet foods, supplements, and weight-loss formulas
• The best activities and exercises to maximize your pet's fitness without maxing out your time.

With cutting-edge science and ultra-practical tips, Dr. Ernie will help you give your dog the gift of great health that he or she deserves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"His explanations about how commercial foods are produced, what they're made up of and how they're regulated are thorough. He tries to take readers through the gibberish on the labels and points you toward good choices."
--USA Today

About the Author

Dr. Ernest Ward, DVM, or "Dr. Ernie," is a practicing veterinarian who is dedicated to helping pets and their humans live healthier lives. He appears regularly on the Rachael Ray Show, and has been featured on Animal Planet, NBC Nightly News, the Today Show and CNN. He has authored and contributed to over fifty-five veterinary journal articles in North America, England, Canada, Japan, and China, and has published three books and three veterinary training videos. He lectures extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, and was awarded the Speaker of the Year award from the North American Veterinary Conference in 2004. An athlete himself, he is an avid racer certified personal trainer, triathlon coach and Ironman; he competed the inaugural Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championships and the 2008 Escape from Alcatraz triathlon.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: HCI; 1 edition (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757313663
• ISBN-13: 978-0757313660
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"In 1996, after four years of veterinary practice, I took a long, hard look at my life and decided I wanted to seek a higher quality of life both for myself, my family and the pets I served. I was dissatisfied with the status quo and tradition of simply identifying and treating disease and began to focus on preventing disease and optimizing health. Nearly 20 years later, this journey has led me to become a student of human and veterinary physiology, nutrition, wellness and longevity. I am a believer in the "be it, do it, share it" philosophy. My desire is to reach out and help others because the relationships with ourselves, each other and our pet loved ones are the most important reasons for living." Dr. Ernie Ward

Dr. Ernie Ward has spent his entire career practicing, writing about, lecturing on and encouraging better care for dogs and cats. Whether he's discussing the dangers of obesity, how to perform a physical examination, dealing with behavioral issues, answering pet owner's questions about surgery or how to provide better care for aging pets, Dr. Ward's unifying theme is "do what is in the pet's best interest."

Dr. Ward was instrumental in bringing senior pet care guidelines to general veterinary practices in 1999. In 2001, he developed and published protocols for monitoring pets receiving long term medications such as Rimadyl, Deramaxx, Previcox, Zubrin, Metacam, Enacard, thyroid hormone, prednisone and more. His chart for drug monitoring guidelines is found in most small animal veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada. Dr. Ward was an early promoter of mandatory pre-surgical blood testing for dogs and cats, the administration of intravenous fluids throughout the procedure and pre- and post-operative pain management, even for routine surgeries such as spay (OHE) and neuter (orchiectomy). Dr. Ward was an advocate for extended vaccination protocols as early as 1999. He was an early adopter of C02 laser surgery, beginning to use surgical lasers in his practice in 1999. He gave over fifty lectures in the US, Canada and Europe on the importance of three-year vaccines and wrote and produced a veterinary staff training video and guidebook on immunology and vaccinology in 2004. In 2005, he founded the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (www.PetObesityPrevention.com) to help raise awareness on the dangers of excess weight in dogs and cats. He is a certified personal trainer and USA Triathlon certified coach and Ironman finisher.

He is the owner and chief-of-staff of Seaside Animal Care, a National Practice of Excellence Award winning small animal veterinary clinic located in Calabash, North Carolina.

Dr. Ernie has authored and been featured in over fifty-five medical journal articles and is a 1992 graduate of the University Of Georgia College Of Veterinary Medicine. In 2009, Dr. Ward had a series of general veterinary practice articles published in the Beijing Companion Animal Veterinary Journal.

Dr. Ward is a frequent guest on the "Rachael Ray Show" and has appeared on the Today Show, Animal Planet, NBC Nightly News, CNN and numerous television and radio talk shows nationwide. He was awarded the "Speaker of the Year" award for the 2004 North American Veterinary Conference, and has spoken at every major North American veterinary conference and in Europe, Taiwan and China and has been a guest lecturer at most of the nation's veterinary schools. His articles have been published in the US, Canada, England, Japan and China.

He lives with his wife, two daughters, their "beach mutt" Sandy and two cats, Freddie (25-toes and attitude to spare) and Itty Bitty Kitty.

For more information, visit Dr. Ward's website at www.DrErnieWard.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you REALLY love your dog, read this book! April 22, 2010

By Susan L. Lacey

Format:Paperback

Do you love your dog? How much? Could you be loving him to death? The current explosion of obesity in America extends to our canine friends also and I'm afraid that WE, as dog's best friend, are the culprit, NOT our pet.

Sure, I know, Oscar the dachshund is SO cute when he's "sitting pretty" for you and rolling those eyes in that flirtatious way that is so hard to resist while he tosses his head backwards and points to the food source with his long snout. That is no excuse, however, for filling his bowl beyond the proper nutritional level. He can't help it that he just happens to love to eat! It's his instinct, and it's OUR responsibility to make sure that we moderate his food supply and nourish our pet with loads of love and attention instead.

Don't think that by reading the back of the dog food bag you are going to get quick and easy answers, either. Regulations for the labeling of dog food are more lax than human food labeling, which leaves a lot to be desired in itself. For example, if you buy the Chicken or Beef Meal "Formula", "Dinner", "Platter", "Entrée" or "Recipe", did you know that the protein requirement is only 25%? Also, what IS "meal"?

Fortunately for us dog lovers (and in Seattle our numbers are legion) a new book has been published by veterinarian Ernie Ward, founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, to explain obesity in dogs and how WE, the owners, can bring our dog's weight down to its correct size. Book chapters cover topics such as how to decipher cryptic pet food labels, develop a weight loss plan, make dog meals from nutritious recipes, motivate our pet to exercise, and even insure that his "end" result will be well-formed, smell good, and scoop up easily!

The book "Chow Hounds", published in 2010 by Health Communication, Inc., explains the medical consequences of obesity in dogs, how to rule out other medical problems, and increase the odds that you'll be spending additional years of quality time together. Dr. Ernie thoroughly breaks down our dogs' nutritional requirements, marketing tricks employed by the pet food industry, and how we can lobby for better labeling.

Buy this book right away and give your dog the gift of better health and a longer life. Don't be surprised if you start eating better yourself after reading this inspiring and heart-felt book by a veterinarian who obviously loves dogs and is pained to see them suffer as a result of us loving them too much.
Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter -A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's true, the weight problem for dogs in the U.S. is the same as for people (a large percentage is overweight or obese) May 17, 2010

By ed

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you love your dog, as we all do, I strongly suggest that you consider the advice in this book to hopefully prevent or reverse the suffering and illnesses like heart disease, and diabetes that are associated with obesity. Dogs and humans are very similar in developing some of the same diseases that are associated with being overweight. Thanks to this vet, we now have practical solutions in this book to help our dogs live longer and healthier lives. Thanks, Dr. Ward.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars healthy weight information for your fur kid May 14, 2010

By Carol J. Fitzgerald

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

this book is very informative. my vet told me to buy it. I have a small dog rescue and over weight dogs are not healthy dogs. It will cause many other health issuses.
seajay