In recent news, a chihuahua named Cleatus made headlines for his impressive weight loss journey. Cleatus was once too overweight to walk and weighed a whopping 35 pounds. However, after a dedicated weight loss regimen, he has lost over half his body weight and is now a healthy and active pup.
Cleatus, who had been overfed with dried kibble since he was a puppy, had become so obese that he needed to be carried outside to relieve himself. The heartwarming before-and-after images depict the remarkable change in the 15-year-old purebred chihuahua from St. Augustine, Florida.
Cleatus’ Health Declined Due To Being Overweight
Due to his weight, Cleatus had very little energy and refused to go outside, forcing his owner, Austin Lee, who works as a VP-roofing contractor, to push him around in a cart during walks.
When Austin’s girlfriend, Laura Norton, a veterinary technician, and IFBB athlete, moved in with him in May last year, they decided to change Cleatus’ lifestyle.
Initially, they started with a dental clean, during which Cleatus had most of his teeth removed due to dental ᴅɪsᴇᴀsᴇ starting to take hold.
Subsequently, after ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ tests, the chihuahua was diagnosed with an ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜʏʀᴏɪᴅ, slowing his ᴍᴇᴛᴀʙᴏʟɪsᴍ and affecting his energy levels.
“Cleatus is Austin’s dog, and he has had him since he was a baby. I see overweight dogs and cats daily with owners unaware that it can be fixed,” Austin’s girlfriend, Laura, said.
“He was free-fed, which means the bowl was filled up when it was empty, and Cleatus ate when he felt like it.”
Cleatus Started A New, Healthier Life
To remedy this, Cleatus was prescribed ᴛʜʏʀᴏɪᴅ medication that he will need to take for the rest of his life. Furthermore, Laura and Austin changed Cleatus’ diet, feeding him a different dog food with only two set meal times a day.
Remarkably, within just four weeks, Laura and Austin observed that Cleatus was much happier, had more energy, and even greeted them when they returned home from work, something he never did before.
Cleatus weighs roughly 16.8 pounds, almost half his original weight, which is a remarkable transformation!
The couple began walking Cleatus with their seven-year-old golden retriever, Cooper. By the end of November, Cleatus had improved so much that he could keep up and walk their whole one-and-a-quarter-mile route three to five times a week.
“Now his entire life is different,” Laura said. “He has a will and purpose to live, he loves to exercise, he plays with toys, he looks forward to having meals, he loves to go outside now, and most importantly, he is happy.”
Cleatus’s weight loss journey is an inspiring tale of perseverance and dedication. His story serves as a reminder to pet owners to prioritize their pets’ health and well-being and adopt animals needing a loving home. With the proper care and attention, any pet can live a happy and healthy life.
