Make a Healthy New Year's Resolution for Your Pet

(ARA) - A researcher at the University of Hertfordshire, England, has proven that pets and their owners often look, think and act alike. Unfortunately, that's not always a good thing; pets and humans can have similar weight problems.

It's estimated that between 25 and 40 percent of dogs and cats and 31 percent of people in this country are overweight. The problem is even worse for pet horses; a recent study at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and Virginia Tech found roughly half were overweight.

What's the solution? Add your pets to your own weight-loss resolutions for 2008. Having a companion will help you lose weight and improve your pet's health. Studies have shown that people who exercise with friends are far more likely to keep up a workout regimen and that people diet more effectively with friends. Exercising with a four-legged friend results in a healthier pet owner, and can even help a human recover from surgery more quickly.

"What many of us assumed was true for decades has now been proven -- taking a dog for a walk is healthy for both the dog and the dog's owner," says Dr. Roger K. Mahr, past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), who has spoken out on the important linkages between animal and human health. "Many pet owners are probably more concerned about exercising their pets than they are about getting some exercise for their own health, but both will live a healthier life as a result. Pets don't just improve your quality of life; they also improve your health."

Just like humans, overweight dogs and cats are more likely to get a number of diseases and health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, skin conditions, liver disease, and joint problems. So putting yourself, Fido, Fluffy, and/or Flicka on a diet and exercise regiment will result in a better new year for everyone.

Here are some AVMA pet weight-loss tips:

* A visit to your veterinarian is the best way to determine if your pet is overweight, but there are a couple common sense guidelines. A dog should have a discernible waist without fat deposits, and ribs should be easy to feel while stroking a dog. In cats, if there is any rounding of the abdomen or bulging in the back, limbs, neck or face, you've got a fat cat.

* Carefully measure the food you give your pets and feed them at least twice a day. If the pet hasn't finished their food in about 20 minutes, take the bowl away to discourage overeating. Dogs and cats fed once a day, or continuously, tend to be the fattest.

* Monitor the number and size of the treats you give in praise. A large dog treat can be over 100 calories, while a small treat has as little as 10 calories. If you can't help but treat your beloved pet, break them in half to cut the calories.

* Diet pet foods are available but must meet certain standards to qualify for that designation. For instance, "low-calorie" dog food must be no more than 310 calories per cup for dry food or 90 calories per 1/2 cup wet, and "low-fat" or "lean" must be no more than 9 percent fat in dry food and 4 percent fat wet.

* High-fiber pet foods can help a pet's diet by making your best friend feel full with fewer calories. No-salt, canned string beans can be added to either dry or wet food to provide bulk and fiber with very few calories.

* The more exercise the better … research has shown that dogs are 10 percent less likely to be obese for each hour of exercise they got every day.

* To exercise a cat, engage them with a feather, string or laser pointer, and try to get them running after a toy as they swat at it. To exercise a dog, consider agility training, play time with other dogs, and chasing a ball or Frisbee. There is no better exercise for dogs, horses and humans than a brisk walk.

* Hypothyroidism is a common cause of obesity in humans, dogs and cats, but it's much easier to diagnose in humans. If your dog or cat is obese without a clear cause, make a veterinary appointment.

* Finally, if your pet is a little on the pudgy side, and you think it might benefit from an increased exercise regiment, see a veterinarian first. No exercise program should begin without a veterinary checkup. If your pet is more than 20 percent overweight, consult your veterinarian immediately.

For more information on pet health, please visit www.avma.org.

Courtesy ARAcontent

Heat Therapy Helps Latch-Key and Senior Dogs

Six-year-old Charlie got the Christmas present of his dreams -- a Cocker Spaniel puppy. His mom loved to watch the joy in his face when they played together during winter break. But, when Charlie went back to school and his mom went back to work, their puppy joined the legions of latch-key dogs in our country.

They returned home one day to find accidents throughout the house because the puppy didn't use the doggie door when left alone. The next day, they found a closet full of chewed shoes. The final straw was a new couch, which Charlie's single working mom struggled to buy on her modest salary, which was rendered unrecognizable when the dog chewed the cushions to bits. Many areas have a number of programs with affordable after-school activities for kids who would otherwise go home to empty houses. But, there are no such programs for our pets who spend their days alone.

Grier McCurdy loved to go trail running with Stella, her yellow Labrador retriever. Early each morning, Stella waited excitedly by the front door, waiting for her to lace up her running shoes. As she got older, Stella slowed down, but was still a willing companion. But one morning, when Stella was only seven years old, she couldn't walk. The vet diagnosed her with arthritis in both knees and mild dysplasia in one hip. He told her that Stella's running days were over, and that she shouldn't even chase a tennis ball anymore. "Me and Stella were heartbroken," says McCurdy. "I'd get up in the morning to go running, and she'd be waiting there for me. Then she'd start crying when I left without her."

These stories demonstrate two very different needs for our pets -- but with a common solution -- heat therapy. Many vets are recognizing the benefits of low-level therapeutic heat to treat everything from separation anxiety and stress for the latch-key dog to a variety of bone and joint problems like arthritis. But how can we provide heat therapy for our pets when, for many dogs, a hot tub or Velcro heating pad just won't work? More and more vets are recommending the use of heated orthopedic pet beds.

"Our dogs face many of the same challenges of urban life we humans do," says Dr. Karen Halligan, author of "What Every Pet Owner Should Know" and director of veterinary medicine, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Los Angeles (spcaLA). "With more and more of today's working families busy until late afternoon, we're faced with a nation of latch-key dogs, often left alone in empty houses for 10 to 12 hours. Also, thanks to the many advances in medical technology over the years, we're also seeing an increasingly older dog population which presents its own set of challenges for senior pet care. Across the board, I've found simple heat therapy to be very effective."

We can all relate to how good it feels to take a long soak in a warm tub. Our muscles relax and we feel calmer. The same thing is true for our pets. Heat therapy is an extremely effective tool for relieving both arthritis and separation anxiety. According to some estimates, more than 10 million dogs -- young and old alike -- are affected by arthritis. And winter's cold, damp weather can exacerbate painful symptoms that make it harder to walk, run or climb stairs. Pets in pain can also experience a loss of appetite or demonstrate aggressive behavior -- like chewing on furniture and shoes.

Until recently, pet owners didn't have a way to provide heat therapy to their pets since traditional heating pads are unsafe for use on dogs or cats. But a new line-up of high-tech orthopedic pet beds by Dolce Vita Pets features a special flat screen heater within an orthopedic foam bed that provides safe, heated comfort to soothe anxious and aching pets.

"When animals get stressed out -- like when their owners leave the house for an extended period of time -- their body temperature drops and their muscles can tighten up," adds Dr. Halligan. "Resting in a heated pet bed increases blood flow and allows muscles to relax -- the soothing comfort helps to ease stiffness and anxiety."

The heat therapy combined with an orthopedic bed helps to evenly distribute body weight and eliminate pressure points while relaxing muscles and promoting increased mobility and activity. Heated beds, like the Dolce Vita Therabed (www.dolcevitapets.com), provide safe and uniform heat at vet-recommended temperatures within a supportive cushion that helps your pet (and you!) get a good night's sleep.

Our pets are part of our family. We do so much to ensure their comfort and well-being -- and they give us so much in return. But sometimes, they need a little extra love and care to help them overcome physical and emotional obstacles. A comfortable and warm place to rest can do wonders to help their overall health and well-being.

Courtesy of ARAcontent