Snow Angel

Snow Angel

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Tuesday Talk: Dog Obesity in America



     This "Tuesday Talk" thing is new, but I am going to try to bark with you every Tuesday about interesting and intriguing topics among the dog community.  I wanted to start with an important topic today:  EXERCISE.  As the United States is growing more and more overweight, so are American dogs.  This topic first popped out at me when I visited the veterinary clinic last month.  I saw an article published in Bark magazine about dogs becoming more and more obese.  Due to the growing number of dogs that are becoming obese, the average life expectancy for a dog is decreasing. 




    It is always sad when our humans deal with weight issues.  Sometimes it's by choice and,sometimes obesity occurs due to factors that our humans cannot control.  It is VERY SAD when our humans make a choice for US (the dogs) to become obese.  My mom had a friend once who had to have a dog.  My mom explained to her that there are a lot of responsibilities that go along with owning a fuzzy friend, but my mom's friend insisted that she knew all of the responsibilities because she had grown up with two dogs.  Mom was so happy for her when she brought home her new puppy.  Mom was happy for a  whole TWO DAYS.  I watched in dog-horror as the puppy was let to run free about the house to chew live electrical cords and carve holes into the walls.  My mommy never would have done that to me!  But being the nice person my mom was, she thought her friend was letting the puppy run about in IGNORANCE.  So mom bought sour apple spray to spray on all of the electrical cords so that puppy didn't get a shock big enough to send him to the moon.  Mom soon realized, though, that her friend wasn't letting the puppy run around in ignorance, but rather in laziness. 
     That dog grew up to be a spooky mess.  He is scared of children, cars, even going to the bathroom in the dark at night.  He has never been exposed to anything, but his own house.  He is two years old and still soils the house.  He is overweight, yet low on nutrients because his food supply for a month is the cheapest it can get.  His mom never takes him ANYWHERE. 
     Mom is still sad about her friend.  She finds it so unbelievable that a person would get a dog to neglect it.  Dog obesity can be a form of neglect.  In order for a dog to not gain weight, it needs thirty minutes of stimulating exercise per day.  This means thirty minutes of sprints!  If you want your puparoo to get exercise without sprinting, then you need to take them on an hour long walk.  Simply putting your puppy into the yard isn't necessarily exercise.  Most dogs become very relaxed in their own space.  Most dogs just lay down and SUN BATHE in their yard.  Hey...I would too! 


     Being an active and responsible owner is so important.  I know all of my blog furiends are always going above and beyond for their dogs.  I mean...hello...they have dog blogs.  But, in all seriousness, the neglect of exercising your dog is worse than humans neglecting themselves.  Why?!  Dogs don't have a choice about being active or not.  They follow their leaders.  I know my mom doesn't always feel like going on an hour walk, but she does it because she knows that she has a responsibility to take care of me, and that means taking care of my health.  Blogger furiends...help me spread the word about keeping healthy pets and dog obesity in America!  Make sure and leave me some "Tuesday Talk" bark-outs about your thoughts on this post! 

Hike with ya soon,

     Kootenai

15 comments:

  1. What a great topic you have covered. People do need to realize that just like humans our furry friends need exercise to thrive and be healthy. Thanks for the great post!

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  2. This IS a great topic! I don't have much to worry about as I am always training for football....however Ozabella, my little sister, should read this....she is getting a little fluffy....if you know what I mean....

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  3. I am thinking back to that first walk we went on when you were a puppy and you would lay down and make yourself heavy so you wouldn't have to go any further! BOL My Mom said, "Kootenai, c'mon, we are ON a walk! Let's GO!" You love it now! Dogs love to get out. Their peeps would benefit too. It's good for the soul and good for the heart! Great Post, SIS

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  4. This is a great article you have written. Of course I have no weight problems but hopefully the message got across to my human too.

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  5. What a great topic to share! Indeed it is really smart, wise and important to take our poochies out for some exercise. The big plus is that both poochie and human get the benefit...sometimes it is hard to go out. Like on a cold day or a hot day. I know I should take them every day but I don't. I did decide to quit my gym and I am starting a new regime of taking walks with them as my new exercise routine. Hikes and walks around the neighborhood...I do better in nature than going round and round on the treadmill.

    I sure feel sorry for that puppy...so sad and miserable. Makes you wonder why she ever got a poochie.

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  6. Great information. I don't know what I'd do if my MOM didn't take me for a walk, or hiking, or just playing chase in the yard or the nightly wrestling in on the living room floor. I wish people would really KNOW what it takes to have a fury forever friend.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  7. Thanks for the feedback so far. It is a very INTERESTING topic and I love hearing the different perspectives on it.

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  8. Great topic and I agree 100%
    Dachshund Nola

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  9. Very important message. Sometimes it's hard to get HER out of the house, but SHE knows that we NEED exercise and to see the world.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & roxy

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  10. This topic definitely strikes a chord with me, because I used to be overweight myself. I had become so fat I had to get major surgery. Now I have a brand new life with my forever human parents, and they watch my weight constantly. I get tons of exercise and they only feed me what my special vet recommends (Dr Hill's Science Plan) and only give me half a cup twice a day. We call it my 'Swiss-German diet'. I also get beans and carrots on the side. And when Mom and Dad aren't looking, I hoover the floor looking for the occasional bread crumb that may have fallen off the kitchen table.

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  11. Dogs relax in their own yards? Someone needs to share that with the brown dawgs. Our yard would not look as ripped up as it does. lol

    Our dogs are in field condition and sometimes we are told they are too thin...

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  12. This is a great topic. I saw an article a few months ago about a dog that was so fat that it was treated as an animal cruelty case. Though, it wasn't in the US, but he was fed nothing but people food, ie full size Mcdonald's meals on a regular basis.

    Zoe and I go out everyday, whether it's to the dog park or a nice long walk in the neighborhood. I couldn't imagine what kind of dog she'd be if we didn't take her out on a regular basis and socialize her.

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  13. i was shocked yesterday when i heard that 70% of americans are either overweight or obese. that's a very scary number.

    i make sure i dont free feed, i measure out my pups meals, and try to get them some exercise everyday. sometimes it's walking and sometimes it's the pups chasing each other at top speed in the backyard until they have exhausted themselves.

    i think it's very sad there are people who treat dogs the way your friend does. but i have noticed whatever your lifestyle is, reflects upon your dogs.

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  14. thanks for the discussion furiends and friends. This topic tends to be somewhat controversial. Within the blogging community, dogs are and will be very well taken care of. BUT, education is the key to starting a positive trend in other American households. Don't get me wrong...there are several great owners out there. This message and topic, though, is meant to strike a chord in all owners to remind them of the responsibility of owning a pet. Thanks for all of the feedback. Bark with ya about another topic next Tuesday.

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  15. I love your comment - I, too, think it's very sad for dog owners who make choices for their dogs that are unhealthy.

    However, I'd like to caution against exercise for obese dogs. Obese dogs normally have a lot of strain on their joints and body, anyway, and some people are a bit gun-ho with the exercise. It's better for the dog to lose some weight before getting active, to reduce chance of injury.

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