Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Survey Say's Your Dog Is Overweight
Pet Obesity Expands in U.S.
Nationwide study finds half of dogs and cats now overweight or obese, an increase from 2007. In the U.S., over 44% of dogs and 57% of cats are now estimated to be overweight or obese according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). The second annual National Pet Obesity Day Study conducted in October, 2008, found that from 2007 to 2008, the number of overweight dogs and cats increased by 1% and 4%, respectively.
Calabash, NC (PRWEB) February 10, 2009 -- In the U.S., over 44% of dogs and 57% of cats are now estimated to be overweight or obese according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). The second annual National Pet Obesity Day Study conducted in October, 2008, found that from 2007 to 2008, the number of overweight dogs and cats increased by 1% and 4%, respectively.
"Pet obesity continues to emerge as a leading cause of preventable disease and death in dogs and cats. Our pets are in real danger of not living as long as previous generations and developing serious and costly diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and other largely avoidable conditions," states lead researcher Dr. Ernie Ward.
Obesity rates in cats were highest at 17.8%; dogs were slightly better with 9.6% classified as obese. Approximately 39.6% of all cats and 34.7% of dogs were classified as overweight by a veterinary healthcare provider.
According to the study, 7.2 million dogs are estimated to be obese and 26 million overweight. The number in cats is higher, with 15.7 million estimated to be obese and 35 million overweight.
"These numbers, 33 million dogs and 51 million cats that are overweight, represent a huge problem for everyone. Excess weight causes or contributes to many painful and debilitating conditions. Just as we've become a nation of couch potatoes, our pets have become a nation of lap potatoes--and that's not good for anyone," replies Dr. Ward.
Older animals had a higher incidence of being overweight; 52.1% of dogs and 55% of cats over age seven were found to be overweight or obese.
"This is a particularly concerning discovery for veterinarians. Extra pounds in older pets amplify any pre-existing conditions and complicate treatment. We're seeing more and more diabetes, respiratory, and arthritic conditions in older pets as a direct result of obesity. These are often chronic, incurable, and generally preventable diseases. Pet owners need to understand that a few extra pounds on a dog or cat is similar to a person being 30 to 50 pounds overweight," says Dr. Ward.
Pet owners with heavy pets accurately reported their pet's weight status when asked by veterinary healthcare providers; 71.5% of owners with overweight or obese cats identified their cat as overweight or obese, and 60% of dog owners agreed with their veterinarian's assessment of their dog's weight.
"This tells me pet owners know their pet is too heavy. It's up to veterinarians to help pet lovers get their pet back to a healthy weight," responds Dr. Ward.
Smaller breeds of dogs had more trouble with their weight than larger breeds. Breeds such as Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and Yorkshire terriers were more likely to be classified as overweight than Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, or German shepherds.
"Smaller, indoor-only dogs tend to have more trouble maintaining a healthy weight because they don't get adequate exercise. Unfortunately, these are also the dogs we're seeing a high number of weight-related disorders in," says Ward.
The second National Pet Obesity Awareness Day study was conducted using data collected by 95 U.S. veterinary clinics in October, 2008. In all, 669 dogs aged 1 to 16 and 202 cats aged 1 to 19 were evaluated. Approximately 10% of dogs were classified as obese and 35% as overweight. Approximately 18% of all cats were rated as obese and 40% as overweight.
For additional information on the study, please contact Dr. Ernie Ward or visit www.PetObesityPrevention.com.
About the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP):
APOP was founded in 2005 by Dr. Ernie Ward to promote awareness of the dangers of pet obesity to veterinary healthcare providers and pet owners. APOP is not affiliated with any pet or veterinary company or corporation.
Contact
Dr. Ernie Ward, President Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
DrWard (at) SeasideVet (dot) com
910-579-5550
http://www.PetObesityPrevention.com
Monday, February 9, 2009
But Officer I Only Have 22 Dogs In My Car
Photo by SPCA
By the looks of the picture it looks a little stuff with twenty two dogs in a women’s car in Pottsboro, TX.
The dogs were taken to an animal shelter due to the circumstances of how the dogs were found. Apparently they were living in the car with their owner when the police found the dogs alone with only a pot of water and some blankets. The worst part was that the car had become overwhelmed with ammonia due to all the dog waste.
How sad is that to read about a women who seemed to love her dogs but was unable to properly take care of them. Hopefully they will be taken care of.
Read the article here.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Salmonella Outbreak Has Now Hit The Dogs
A Dog from Oregon has been tested positive for Salmonella from eating a peanut product dog biscuit that had been manufactured in Georgia called Happy Tails Multi Flavor Dog Biscuits.
So now we all have to take a look at all our dogs food to make sure that we are not feeding them any of these type biscuits. I wonder how many case are out there that wasn’t report by their owners.
Read the article here.
So now we all have to take a look at all our dogs food to make sure that we are not feeding them any of these type biscuits. I wonder how many case are out there that wasn’t report by their owners.
Read the article here.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
British Kids Caught Abusing Two Puppies
A group of kids in Britain were caught by a person who had seen them kicking one of the dogs and holding the other poor puppy over a fire.
The community is upset over the way the groups of kids have been treating the dogs in their community and how they are getting away with the abuse.
You would think that there would be some kinds of animal abuse laws in Britain, but there are no such laws to help protect our buddies. So maybe we all should try and to do something to help out our friends.
Read the article by Richard Dyke here.
The community is upset over the way the groups of kids have been treating the dogs in their community and how they are getting away with the abuse.
You would think that there would be some kinds of animal abuse laws in Britain, but there are no such laws to help protect our buddies. So maybe we all should try and to do something to help out our friends.
Read the article by Richard Dyke here.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Judge Sends Pop To Jail For Burying A Dog Alive
Judge Rick Knapp told the 75 year old Hyrum Long from Forest Grove, WA that his actions were barbaric and monstrous for what he did to the poor dog Molly.
The dog was thirteen years old and underfeed when the Police found her buried up to her neck back in October. Old Hyrum took the dog and hit her over the head with a hammer, ya how sick is that. You would think that Hyrum and his daughter, Susan Johnson would have gotten the poor animal some help, not try and kill the dog with a hammer.
Read the article by Valerie Hurst here.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Afghanistan Dogs Rescued With The Help From Dogpile.com
Dogpile.com Helps Soldiers Bring Rescued Puppies Home from Afghanistan
Puppies from Afghanistan enjoy their new home after being transported to the U.S. by Dogpile.com. (PRNewsFoto/InfoSpace, Inc.)
BELLEVUE, WA UNITED STATES
Search & Rescue Program Helps Provide Warm Welcome Home for Soldiers
BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dogpile.com assisted two American soldiers, Dan Barker and Adam Krause, with the expense and dangerous task of bringing home puppies they'd rescued in Afghanistan while stationed there. In anticipation of Dan and Adam's return to the United States, the puppies, Jack and Emma, were transported home to Dan's wife just in time for the holidays.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/infospace/36519
"We feel so fortunate to have played a hand in such an emotional and
memorable time for the soldiers, their families and the two puppies," said
Stacy Ybarra, director of corporate giving for Dogpile.com. "Helping
provide Jack and Emma safe and loving homes is what the Search & Rescue
program is all about and we look forward to continuing to help many more
animals in need by donating money through Dogpile searches."
In November 2008, Dogpile launched Search & Rescue, which allows anyone to help needy animals just by searching the Web on Dogpile.com. The company had no idea the message would reach American soldiers serving overseas. But Dan Barker heard it from Afghanistan. Dan, whose tour of duty was nearing its end, couldn't bear the thought of returning home without Jack, a malnourished, young stray he'd rescued and raised in his quarters. Adam Krause, a U.S. soldier serving with Dan, felt the same way about Emma, a struggling puppy he'd raised alongside Jack. The soldiers had bonded with the puppies and knew that, if left in Afghanistan, Jack and Emma wouldn't survive the war-torn streets. But bringing a puppy back from Afghanistan is expensive and dangerous. So when Dan read about Dogpile's Search & Rescue program, he reached out for help.
Once the Search & Rescue team heard Jack and Emma's story, they offered to sponsor and arrange the dogs' trips home.
"Jack has been such an important part of my husband's life these past few
months. He has helped my husband, along with the men on his team, escape
from the harsh reality they have been living in," said Dan's wife, Lisa
Barker. "The things these men have to see and deal with truly force them
to build a wall around their emotions. I believe Jack has been so
therapeutic to my husband, and helped him through some of the toughest
times. Jack and Daniel have formed a true companionship that I know will
continue to grow over the years. I promise you Jack will have the most
loving home and family a dog could ever ask for."
Visit http://rescue.dogpile.com/jack to meet the puppies who won the soldiers' hearts and follow each step of their journey home. Plus, check back for video footage of Jack and Dan's reunion and updates on how the dogs are doing in their new homes.
About Search & Rescue:
The Search & Rescue program was launched in November 2008 and allows anyone to help animals in need for free by doing what they already do -- search the Web. That's because a portion of revenue generated by searches conducted on Dogpile.com is donated to help animals in need. The downloadable Search & Rescue Toolbar makes it even easier to search right from your browser. With the help of its users, Dogpile hopes to raise at least one million dollars for pet rescue by the end of 2009. For more information about Search & Rescue, please visit http://rescue.dogpile.com/pets. To view a live counter tracking Search & Rescue revenue raised to date, please visit www.dogpile.com/rescue.
About Dogpile.com
Dogpile goes beyond search as usual by providing a fun and engaging place to discover all the Web has to offer. Because Dogpile compiles the top search results from all the leading search engines, searches on Dogpile return all the best results with just one search. Dogpile is a business of InfoSpace, Inc. (Nasdaq: INSP). For information about InfoSpace, please visit: www.infospaceinc.com.
About InfoSpace, Inc.
InfoSpace, Inc. is a leading developer of metasearch products to help people easily search and discover the Web. InfoSpace uses its proprietary metasearch technology that combines the top results from the leading search engines to power a portfolio of branded Web sites, including Dogpile (www.dogpile.com) and WebFetch (www.webfetch.com). In 2008, for the second consecutive year, Dogpile ranked highest in customer satisfaction among search engines, according to JD Power and Associates. More information can be found at www.infospaceinc.com.
Press Contact:
Marya Pongrace
InfoSpace
212.931.6142
mpongrace@peppercom.com
Sahana Jayaraman
InfoSpace
415.633.3216
sjayaraman@peppercom.com
Are You Paying Too Much For Dog Food
Consumer Reports: Pricey Pet Food Not Necessarily Better
Consumer Reports advises consumers about what to look for on pet-food labels; plus, fancy claims consumers can ignore
YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to buying pet food, higher cost doesn't always mean higher quality, according to the March issue of Consumer Reports. A higher price could indicate better ingredients and better quality control during and after manufacturing, but it could also just mean prettier packaging, more marketing, or a fancy name. And despite food safety concerns that resulted from a recall of pet food tainted with melamine in 2007, Consumer Reports urges caution for consumers who are considering making their own pet food, a growing trend.
The full report is available in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Consumer Reports asked eight experts in dog and cat nutrition at seven top veterinary schools what consumers get by spending more for pet food. They were also asked what they served their own pets: Most of the experts said they use a variety of common brands sold at pet stores or supermarkets.
A recent survey by the Associated Press found that although Americans may be spending less on themselves, they're not scrimping on their pets. According to the survey, just one in seven pet owners said they had curtailed spending on their pet during the past year, even as they cut back on other expenses.
Thirty-seven percent of U.S. households have dogs, and 32 percent have cats. But because of multi-cat households, felines outnumber canines: As of 2007, there were almost 82 million cats and 72 million dogs.
The bottom line, says Consumer Reports: It's more important to look for the overall nutrient profile of a particular pet food brand than it is to shop by price or even individual ingredients. "As a pet owner, your main goal is to ensure that your animal is active and healthy," says Jamie Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports. "That suggests that the food you're buying is doing its job. But it's also important to know that you don't have to choose the most expensive food to get what's best for your pet. Look for food labeled 'complete and balanced,' which indicates it can be the pet's sole nourishment."
Hirsh advises pet owners to look for labels stating that the food's nutritional adequacy was validated by animal-feeding tests based on protocols from the American Association of Feed Control Officials, a regulatory group. That statement is a step above the other one that AAFCO allows -- that a food was formulated to meet the group's nutrient profiles. "In addition, make sure the package has contact information for the food's manufacturer, in case you have questions," Hirsh says.
Consumers should also take into consideration the age of their pet and whether he or she has special needs. For example, cats with kidney or urinary problems might benefit from the moisture in wet food, while animals with dental issues might do better with dry food.
What Pet-Food Labels Really Mean
For pet food, there's no official definition of organic, human-grade, premium, no fillers, or gourmet. Gluten-free foods are generally necessary only for the tiny percentages of pets that are intolerant of that protein. There's some evidence that antioxidants -- such as vitamin E -- and some omega-3 fatty acids might enhance pets' immunity or help protect against certain diseases, but the experts interviewed by Consumer Reports were split on whether consumers need to look for them.
Consumer Reports recommends that consumers educate themselves about pet food labeling, which is mostly defined by AAFCO, which sets standards for pet food manufacturing. Here are some examples:
The 95 percent rule (Beef for Dogs). Named ingredient(s) must account for a least 95 percent of the product by weight.
Dinner; also Entree, Formula, Nuggets, Platter, Recipe (Chicken and Salmon Dinner for Cats). The named ingredients must make up at least 25 percent of the product by weight, not counting water. Each individual food must make up at least 3 percent.
"With ..." (Gourmet Fillets with Turkey for Dogs). Contains 3 percent or more of the named ingredient.
Flavor (Beef flavor). No specific percentage required, but the product must contain enough of the food to impart the claimed flavor, or another substance that tastes like it (beef stock, for example).
Guaranteed analysis. Mandatory guarantee that the food contains the labeled percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.
Light, lite, low-calorie. Meets AAFCO limits for a reduced-calorie diet for overweight dogs and cats. "Lean" and "low-fat" have a similar meaning for fat.
Natural. Technically, the food has few or no synthetic ingredients. But the claim is loosely defined.
Grain-free. Protein in the product comes from nongrain sources (perhaps for people who want pets to eat more animal protein). It's unclear whether there's any benefit to a diet high in animal protein.
What Consumers Can Do
Consumer Reports offers the following advice to pet owners:
Be careful when making your own pet food. Most experts said they hadn't seen a pet get sick from inexpensive food; however, half said they had seen pets become ill from eating homemade pet food, a growing trend since the 2007 recall of some commercial pet food contaminated by melamine. Dogs and cats each require about 40 different nutrients in very specific proportions, so pet owners who insist on making their own pet food should consider enlisting a nutritionist certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (www.acvn.org) or get help from the Web sites www.balanceit.com or www.petdiets.com.
Consider your pet's age. Age-specific food is very important for puppies, kittens, and pregnant pets, who have especially stringent nutritional needs. Foods labeled either "for growth" or "for all life stages" meet those needs. Foods "for maintenance" are for healthy adult animals only. "Senior" is a marketing term, not a nutritional term.
Weigh the costs and benefits of wet versus dry food. There's no nutritional difference between wet and dry pet food, but there is a cost difference. Wet foods contain about 75 percent water, so pets need more to get the same calories, and that makes wet food more expensive per serving.
Consumer Reports advises consumers about what to look for on pet-food labels; plus, fancy claims consumers can ignore
YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to buying pet food, higher cost doesn't always mean higher quality, according to the March issue of Consumer Reports. A higher price could indicate better ingredients and better quality control during and after manufacturing, but it could also just mean prettier packaging, more marketing, or a fancy name. And despite food safety concerns that resulted from a recall of pet food tainted with melamine in 2007, Consumer Reports urges caution for consumers who are considering making their own pet food, a growing trend.
The full report is available in the March 2009 issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Consumer Reports asked eight experts in dog and cat nutrition at seven top veterinary schools what consumers get by spending more for pet food. They were also asked what they served their own pets: Most of the experts said they use a variety of common brands sold at pet stores or supermarkets.
A recent survey by the Associated Press found that although Americans may be spending less on themselves, they're not scrimping on their pets. According to the survey, just one in seven pet owners said they had curtailed spending on their pet during the past year, even as they cut back on other expenses.
Thirty-seven percent of U.S. households have dogs, and 32 percent have cats. But because of multi-cat households, felines outnumber canines: As of 2007, there were almost 82 million cats and 72 million dogs.
The bottom line, says Consumer Reports: It's more important to look for the overall nutrient profile of a particular pet food brand than it is to shop by price or even individual ingredients. "As a pet owner, your main goal is to ensure that your animal is active and healthy," says Jamie Hirsh, associate health editor at Consumer Reports. "That suggests that the food you're buying is doing its job. But it's also important to know that you don't have to choose the most expensive food to get what's best for your pet. Look for food labeled 'complete and balanced,' which indicates it can be the pet's sole nourishment."
Hirsh advises pet owners to look for labels stating that the food's nutritional adequacy was validated by animal-feeding tests based on protocols from the American Association of Feed Control Officials, a regulatory group. That statement is a step above the other one that AAFCO allows -- that a food was formulated to meet the group's nutrient profiles. "In addition, make sure the package has contact information for the food's manufacturer, in case you have questions," Hirsh says.
Consumers should also take into consideration the age of their pet and whether he or she has special needs. For example, cats with kidney or urinary problems might benefit from the moisture in wet food, while animals with dental issues might do better with dry food.
What Pet-Food Labels Really Mean
For pet food, there's no official definition of organic, human-grade, premium, no fillers, or gourmet. Gluten-free foods are generally necessary only for the tiny percentages of pets that are intolerant of that protein. There's some evidence that antioxidants -- such as vitamin E -- and some omega-3 fatty acids might enhance pets' immunity or help protect against certain diseases, but the experts interviewed by Consumer Reports were split on whether consumers need to look for them.
Consumer Reports recommends that consumers educate themselves about pet food labeling, which is mostly defined by AAFCO, which sets standards for pet food manufacturing. Here are some examples:
The 95 percent rule (Beef for Dogs). Named ingredient(s) must account for a least 95 percent of the product by weight.
Dinner; also Entree, Formula, Nuggets, Platter, Recipe (Chicken and Salmon Dinner for Cats). The named ingredients must make up at least 25 percent of the product by weight, not counting water. Each individual food must make up at least 3 percent.
"With ..." (Gourmet Fillets with Turkey for Dogs). Contains 3 percent or more of the named ingredient.
Flavor (Beef flavor). No specific percentage required, but the product must contain enough of the food to impart the claimed flavor, or another substance that tastes like it (beef stock, for example).
Guaranteed analysis. Mandatory guarantee that the food contains the labeled percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.
Light, lite, low-calorie. Meets AAFCO limits for a reduced-calorie diet for overweight dogs and cats. "Lean" and "low-fat" have a similar meaning for fat.
Natural. Technically, the food has few or no synthetic ingredients. But the claim is loosely defined.
Grain-free. Protein in the product comes from nongrain sources (perhaps for people who want pets to eat more animal protein). It's unclear whether there's any benefit to a diet high in animal protein.
What Consumers Can Do
Consumer Reports offers the following advice to pet owners:
Be careful when making your own pet food. Most experts said they hadn't seen a pet get sick from inexpensive food; however, half said they had seen pets become ill from eating homemade pet food, a growing trend since the 2007 recall of some commercial pet food contaminated by melamine. Dogs and cats each require about 40 different nutrients in very specific proportions, so pet owners who insist on making their own pet food should consider enlisting a nutritionist certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (www.acvn.org) or get help from the Web sites www.balanceit.com or www.petdiets.com.
Consider your pet's age. Age-specific food is very important for puppies, kittens, and pregnant pets, who have especially stringent nutritional needs. Foods labeled either "for growth" or "for all life stages" meet those needs. Foods "for maintenance" are for healthy adult animals only. "Senior" is a marketing term, not a nutritional term.
Weigh the costs and benefits of wet versus dry food. There's no nutritional difference between wet and dry pet food, but there is a cost difference. Wet foods contain about 75 percent water, so pets need more to get the same calories, and that makes wet food more expensive per serving.
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