Exercise Program Can Add Years to Pet’s Life

Dogs need a health and fitness program similar to that of their human owners, a veterinarian and animal researcher say.

A proper diet, exercise routine and regular checkups can add years to the life of a dog by helping to prevent diseases and psychological problems, animal health expert James Sokolowski says.

In fact, Sokolowski has developed a “canine quiz” for promoting better pet care.

The risk factor quiz, developed by Sokolowski at the Gaines Nutrition Center in Kankakee, Ill., rates five important areas of canine care: diet, exercise, weight control, behavior training and grooming.

Aid to Dog Owners

“We wanted to aid dog owners in identifying whether or not they’re doing the right things in helping their pets live longer and more active lives.”

For instance, he said, exercise is good, but a planned daily activity, like jogging or chasing a ball, is better for a dog than just going on a walk.

He said having a dog spayed or neutered is another plus because it prevents mammory tumors or uterine diseases in females and excessive roaming activities in males--as well as preventing unwanted puppies.

As for diet, he said eating table scraps doesn’t give a dog what it needs.

He said the program for practicing vets involves a variety of topics, one of them was viral diseases in animals and another one discussed how to spot acquired immune deficiency syndrome in pets. Other topics revolve around puppies, older dogs and vaccinations.

Old Dogs Can Learn

One project, he said, showed it isn’t true that an older dog can’t learn new tricks. A study of 25 “problem” dogs ages 2 to 7, he said, proved that emotional and behavioral problems can be solved.

“They all turned into wonderful pets with the exception of a stubborn bassett hound,” Sokolowski said. “It takes a lot of patience, love and care but you can change an older dog’s habits.”

Sokolowski said obedience training, good grooming habits and proper nutrition are all important factors in keeping a canine companion mentally and physically healthy.

“Nutrition isn’t the only thing that’s important,” he said. “A very important factor is the health care. What we want people to do is take care of the whole dog, not just feed it.”