The Benefits of Exercise and a Healthy Diet

By: Lorelei Prichard DVM
About the author

Is your pet fit? Activity is necessary for your pet’s health and well-being! The benefits of exercise in humans are well documented: weight loss, stress reduction, disease prevention and improved overall health. Exercise is described as any endeavor that works the muscles and increases the amount of oxygen delivered to them; it also improves heart health. Doesn’t your pet deserve the same benefits?

Almost all body systems are affected by increased exercise. The heart, lungs and muscles all benefit from regular work outs as oxygen and nutrients are delivered to tissues. Exercise also increases stamina, strengthens muscles and makes the body more flexible.

Sedentary pets can become overweight, and obesity has become a major health concern. In fact, evidence indicates that improved diet and a lack of exercise are the two most common causes of obesity today. This is due in part to the quality food we provide and the lifestyles they live.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disease of those who live in a prosperous society, and this does not come without consequences. It can shorten a pet's life by contributing to heart and liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, and skin disorders. Additionally, overweight pets may have a higher risk of complications while undergoing anesthesia and surgery. These effects in humans have been known for many years.

Providing good nutrition for your pet is as simple as feeding a good-quality pet food. Like humans, pets require a balanced diet that is specific for their individual needs. These needs will vary depending upon their species, breed, and life-stage, level of activity, environment, and stress factors, including disease.

With all these options, how can the average consumer find the product that's right for their pet? Start by examining the three parts of the pet food label: the life stage claim, the contact information for the manufacturer, and the list of ingredients. This information should be the "meat and potatoes" of your search for good nutrition.

Pet foods are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and commercial pet food labels must provide six specific pieces of information: guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy statement, ingredients, feeding guidelines, information required by the FDA for a health related claim, and the manufacturer's name and address.

In addition to federal regulation of pet food, a non-regulatory entity called the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has imposed guidelines to insure that basic minimum requirements are met in the foods we feed our pets. These requirements are found in the nutritional adequacy statement located on the back of the package.

If the statement reads, "Guaranteed nutritionally complete and balanced for all life stages; this food meets the nutritional requirements that are established by AAFCO feeding studies", then this dog food has been subjected to the complete series of AAFCO feeding studies, including gestation, lactation and growth.

You can best meet your pet's nutritional needs by feeding a nutritionally balanced and complete pet food, keeping snacks at a minimum, and providing adequate exercise. The difference between being “fat and sassy” and “lean and mean” may be as little as 30-60 minutes of healthy exercise a day.

If your pet begins to resemble a "Vienna sausage with legs", ask your veterinarian about the proper method of weight-loss reduction. Ultimately, providing your pet with the proper diet and exercise is the path to a longer and healthier life. So, put on your shoes, grab a leash and take your pet out for health’s sake!

Copyright © 2009 Lorelei Prichard DVM