The American Heart Association “reviewed dozens of studies, and over all it seemed clear that pet owners, especially those with dogs (the focus of most of the studies) were in better health than people without pets,” states this great New York Times’s article.
Awesome!
Despite the American Heart Association’s conclusion,
(according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and an Association for Pet Obesity Prevention‘s survey).
OUCH!!
Even more, “about 45 percent of cat and dog owners whose pets were overweight reported in the survey that they thought their pet’s weight was normal, said Dr. Joe Bartges,” in this article from Boston.com.
“We can’t mistake, feeding is a way for us to show love. [But] it doesn’t always have to be through their stomachs that we are rewarding them or letting them know [we love them],” says Dr. Tanya Battiston. “Animals can have our affection shown in many other ways. Throw the ball. Take them for a little extra walk.”
With these harsh statistics, there is no doubt that improvements can be made in our nation’s pet and people population. After all just 30 minutes of exercise a day can lower you and your dog’s risk of: certain types of cancers, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, depression, obesity, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
(consult with your doctor and veterinarian before starting any new exercise):
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