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Mr SKM is not the only special man in my life. There is another.
He snuggles me at night, he is always there when I need him and doesn’t mind when I dress him up in a sailor suit. He is rather furry but that only adds to his charm. Bosco (Eduardo Raul Fernandez to give his full name!) is my 7 year old Maltese cross Shitzu. He is the child I had before I had children, and is just about the most perfect dog you could ask for. He is a brilliant companion, always does what he is told and has never caused me one moment’s trouble, unlike his pink haired companion Lola you all saw for Valentines.
But Bosco has special needs these days. My poor puppy suffers from Retinal Atrophy which means that in the space of 12 months he went completely blind; and while he is still young in years this condition mean a serious change in his behaviour and needs.
With a house full of children leaving toys around and an aesthetically obsessed owner, poor Bosco spends much of his days trying to navigate the changing mine field that is our home. So now, where he used to run and play a lot, he sits most of the day in a sunny spot and whiles away the hours feeling the sun and the breeze. And here is where the problem comes in for him.
He just isn’t as active as he used to be. Even though he isn’t yet an old boy, he has the lifestyle of one which means that weight gain and joint health are real risk areas for him. In Australia 40% of dogs are overweight, and overweight dogs aren’t more cuddly they are simply unhealthy. So when Pedigree contacted me and offered to send me some of their new Mature and Healthy Weight specialty dog food, I realised this was the perfect opportunity to help Bosco conquer one of his daily challenges.
PEDIGREE makes a Light & Mature product that is specifically forumlated for less active and overweight dogs. The product contains 30% less fat to reduce calories and has added glucosamine for joint health in senior dogs. I was excited to give it the taste test with Bosco as he doesn’t show much interest in food as a rule. It could be that trying to fight off sneaky magpies that take advantage of his weakness is all just a bit much, but when presented with the new Pedigree Light & Mature, those birds didn’t stand a chance!
Because being overweight is just as bad for dogs as it is for us people, Pedigree have teamed up with The Biggest Loser to help us and help our dogs. They have some brilliant nutrition tips for dogs, as well as advise on getting fit and staying health together. (It also has some very cute puppy pictures) There are some great basics for dog care and also guides to help you both survive the holiday season padding free!
I’m really excited to see the change that Pedigree Light & Mature will make to Bosco and his ability to cope with his body’s changing needs. Getting back a healthy, happy dog would be the best holiday gift ever; and you’ve got to look after those special men!
Thanks Pedigree Light & Mature!
Hi SKM,
I am so sorry your beautiful dog is blind and finding it hard, he looks like he is your best friend.
I am glad that he has taken a interest in food,looks like you will be buying Pedigree from now on.
Love his tag, it is soo cute.
Kylie: Yes that tag was one of those mail order ones. I’d been through a few that the metal kept wearing through (hence how he once got lost), but this is far better and I love the pink crown! He doesn’t mind either ^-^
What a little cutie! I hope he is feeling better soon xx
aw, what a lovely dog. Such a nice story. I hope he feels better, he is lucky to have such a nice Mumma to care for him!! I just did a blog on my pets too… Strange. I just posted mine and checked yours and they are both pet related. LOL
Thanks again for a lovely blog
xx
Belinda: What a cute kitten you have. Love the “sex kitten” photo!
Go Bosco! Hope this new food helps him to make the most of life.
Good luck to Bosco! I had a Springer Spaniel named Rajah who had Retinal Atrophy when I was a little girl. She was a trained hunting dog, and once she went blind, she couldn’t do very many of the things that she loved. At that stage, there were no specialty dog foods on the market (that didn’t cost an arm and a leg), so unfortunately, weight gain caught up with Rajah.
Bosco is gorgeous, and he certainly looks like he’s enjoying his meal. I wish you and him all the best.
Nessbow: Sounds like you know first hand what it is like, that must have been all the more difficult for her given her training.
AWWWWW your puppeh is toooo adorable!!! Its lucky you didn’t actually put up any pictures of him in his sailors suit or I believe I would melt.
As for activity, are you able to take him for runs on a lead? or maybe in the backyard, could you throw a ball with a bell inside it for him to chase and bring to you?
Emily Kate: I think if I did that he’d wonder what was wrong with me- sadly he’s not much for running or playing. Even when he had his sight and I’d take him for walks I’d end up carrying him home.
He is lovely. Sadly, we just lost our old boy, Alfie. He was sixteen and went blind. They leave such a big hole in your heart and home. xx
Josephine: Oh I am sorry. I know I won’t cope very well when faced with that situation myself. The one time he was lost I was a total mess.
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I am usually an avid reader of quality Melbourne blogs; yours included. However, to be quite honest, I was disappointed to find this was an advertorial.
Antonia: I’m sorry to hear that. I have a policy of full disclosure on all advertorials (as you saw), but given that this is a full time job for me (that is to say I spend up to 45 hours a week writing, researching, photographing etc..) it simply isn’t possible to produce something of this calibre without financial support.
I was surprised to see what seemed to be so unrelated and so purely an advertisement on this lovely blog, at first glance, but the pictures really are TOO CUTE, and I like how up-front you are about it being sponsored. Assuming that you are being honest about how you feel about products you are reviewing (and that seems safe to assume!), it seems completely reasonable to be posting clearly-specified sponsored items mixed in with all the other lovely things that you offer. Dog food does run somewhat far afield of glamour, but, well, why not? It’s relevant to you and your life, so that in and of itself makes it relevant to your blog. Plus, there are clearly lots of overweight and unhealthy doggies out there! Also, really, WHAT a cute little guy he is!
[...] Pedigree Light & Mature. A love story. « Super Kawaii Mama [...]
[...] Pedigree Light & Mature. A love story. « Super Kawaii Mama [...]
This actually made me start to cry a bit. Your lovely little dog reminds me of my old pup Boomer. He was a bearded collie, but in the summers we shaved him down, and he looked a lot like your dog. It is amazing how quickly animals find a place in our hearts, isn’t it? I hope the two of you still have many long and happy years together.
Cheers!
~Paige
Paige: My Mum said it made her cry a bit too. The amazing thing is that through this post, and the extended readership I may have found someone here who can help him with surgery!
[...] Pedigree Light & Mature. A love story. « Super Kawaii Mama [...]
[...] Pedigree Light & Mature. A love story. « Super Kawaii Mama [...]
Aw how adorable! Hope he feels better with a new weight loss regime
Jetsetting Joyce
Joyce: After a few weeks I can say that it has actually helped quite a bit. He isn’t looking as sluggish as before so even that measure of improvement makes me very happy.
Hi Candice, How’s Bosco doing? Did he start on any medicines from the Opthomologist? Dogs have been on my mind this week (I’m thinking of finding a buddy for our darling) and I thought of you and yours
lol…and guess what the captcha code was this time…TPUP
Lorri: Hi there, thanks for asking. He’s okay, but there is nothing they can do for his eyes except give him drops to aid with pain, sadly.. Still he seems happy enough and has been a bit more active recently especially with the warmer weather.
Glad to hear he happy and is getting about more with the warmer weather.