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Oct 21

Does Owning A Pet Help Me Lose Weight?

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Justin

You may ask yourself the question “does owning a pet help me lose weight?”. The answer is yes. Owning a pet will definitely help you to lose weight. Pets are active animals and they live active lives. They enjoy running, jumping, rolling over in the grass, and barking. When you take your pet to the park for a run or outside for a walk you are actually exercising your legs, your heart and your muscles. You may not look at walking or running with your pets as exercising but it is, and it beats any of the hot diets out there like HCG.

Now that you know this, you can plan a great workout schedule centered on your walks with your pet. Plan to walk at least 30 to 45 minutes per day. Walking is not only good for your pet it is also good for your heart. The heart is the most vital part of the body. Oxygen and blood circulates throughout the heart making it healthier and stronger. Walking also lowers blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

The best and most active pet to own of course is a dog. Dogs are playful, active, and very lovable animals. They keep will keep you busy all day long, covering up holes they dig up or picking up plants they have knocked over. The truth is dogs are such great animals to own that you should really get one.

Your dog loves to play throw and fetch. This not only keeps you healthy but it keeps your dog healthy too. Playing catch with your dog is a wonderful feeling. You throw the ball your dog fetches it and brings it back to you for you to repeat the cycle again.

Since dogs love to run, create a racing game with your pet. Running for 5 or 10 minutes per day is really good for loosens up those tight leg muscles. Walking and running also help to relieve stress; so, if you do not own a pet now is a great time to change your mind.

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Oct 21

Pet Ownership Is Good For Your Heart

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Justin

You know that having a cat, dog, hamster, or snake in your life makes you feel good. What you may not know are what are the human heart health benefits to owning a pet.

In addition to their strange and often funny antics and personality quirks, owning an animal offers humans many health benefits. It can lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and your triglyceride levels. Some studies have even shown that pet owners are more likely to survive following a hospital stay for a heart attack than those people who do not keep pets. Animal ownership is also said to reduce feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety in people.

Because they enjoy playing, animals bring joy to our lives and remind us of the importance of play. Animal owners are also likely to be more active and spend more time outdoors than those without pets. This is because pets, such as dogs, require daily play and exercise. Even animals that do not require time outside, such as hamsters, can remind us of the importance of daily exercise as we see them running on their wheels.

Pets also help people to maintain ties to others. Often, a conversation can get started based upon something your cat or dog has done. Dog owners out for a walk with

a pet are frequently stopped by others who want to discuss the dog or the breed. Simple exchanges such as these can often result in friendships beginning. Single men have long referred to dogs as chick magnets, because they find that women are more likely to talk with them if they are accompanied by a dog.

Because pets are dependent upon their owners, an intense emotional bond is formed. They can inspire intense feelings in humans when they respond excitedly when you interact with them.

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Oct 21

Getting A Pet To Keep In Shape

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Justin

Many people lack the motivation and energy to get exercise on a regular basis; however, getting a pet may prove to help keep you in shape.

Good for You

Getting a pet can help keep you in shape or even get you in better shape because it helps motivate you to get outside and get some exercise. It may be hard finding someone that lives in your area and that is on the same schedule as you to have the time to go on walks or jogs with you, and generally this type of activity can often be more enjoyable when you have a walking partner to accompany you. Even though a dog doesn’t hold conversations with you while you walk or jog, it can provide a subtle distraction from the activity at hand that can help you go further, and may also provide small bits of entertainment because pets often have some interesting little quirks.

Good for Them

For the days that simply feeling alone on your walk is not the problem with going, but rather you just are not feeling up for it and don’t have the motivation for it, having a pet in the home can be a great motivation. Dogs have to get enough exercise to stay healthy, so even when you don’t feel up for a walk, knowing that you must walk the dog may be enough to get you out of the house. Getting a dog that is known to have a lot of energy can be an even greater motivator because if you don’t take them on a walk, all that pent up energy will only frustrate you later on during the day when they want to romp around the house.

Getting a dog can really help keep you in shape because if the company alone isnt enough, knowing you have no choice but to walk that pet, you manage to muster up the energy that you otherwise would’ve felt you didnt have.

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Oct 21

Are There Weight Loss Benefits To Owning A Dog?

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Justin

People are often aware of the emotional health benefits of owning a pet, but may wonder are there weight loss benefits to owning a dog? All that running after a puppy and going for daily walks must count for something. In 2006, the makers of Science Diet pet food and Northwestern Memorial Hospital conducted a study to test this premise.

The study observed three groups of people and dogs for 12 months. One group consisted of pet owners and their dogs, another of people only and a third of dogs only. All participants were overweight and on a program to lose weight. The participation rate for both dogs and people was higher in the first group. Additionally, when reporting weight-loss activities, the first group reported 80% of their activities were completed with their dog.

The study indicates that owning a dog does have a positive benefit. Scientists have speculated that this is due to the fact that dog owners are naturally more active, as well as the fact that dogs provide a source of social support while someone is dieting or exercising. Someone walking or running alone will usually stop before someone doing the activity with a companion.

Scientists also stated that biophilia theory, which states humans have an instinctual need to bond with other living creatures, may explain some results. People are more likely to exercise with their dog, because it fulfills an innate need to bond.

Regardless of the reason for the benefits, it does appear to exist. This is not a reason for non-dog people everywhere to go out and adopt a pooch, however. Dogs are not a magical formula for losing weight, and they require a great deal of love and care. The weight loss aspect is only a side effect of the canine-human relationship, after all.

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Oct 21

How Frequently Should You Take Your Dog To The Vet

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Justin

Adopting a dog or puppy comes with many responsibilities, but also great pleasures. Statistics prove that simply petting a dog can increase a person’s life span, so it is important that we care for our pets as best as possible. Just as people need to be checked by doctors to ensure good health, so too do dogs need regular medical examinations. However, how frequently should you take your dog to the vet?

For starters, much of this depends on the age of your pet. A puppy needs more shots and vaccinations early on in life, and therefore requires more frequent visits to the veterinarian. However, a healthy adult dog should visit the vet once or twice a year, although the latter is preferred because the disease can develop and worsen over such a lengthy period. If the visits are more frequent, anything abnormal can be caught in time to correct and increase the chances of survival.

The important thing is for people to get to know their dogs well. This can help them assess whether they need added medical attention. For instance, if your dog is energetic and playful most of the time, then this should be expected of him each day. If he is quieter than usual, it could be a warning sign. By paying attention to these signs, one could make a better decision.

Aside from that, the breed of dog may be susceptible to certain diseases and other health issues and may need more frequent visits to the veterinarian. For instance, collies are susceptible to hip problems, and so they need to be assessed more often to avoid the problem from worsening. Additionally, the veterinarian can provide medication to treat certain symptoms and alleviate any pain that may be associated with their health problems.

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