We can't even keep our pets from obesity.........

[Guest guest]

U.S. Dogs Fed Too Much

Like many of their owners, dogs would be healthier

if they ate less. According to a new study in the

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical

Association, dogs fed a lifelong restricted diet

developed chronic diseases later in life and

survived significantly longer than those in a control

group.

Researchers, including some at Nestle Purina Pet

Care's research center, raised 48 Labrador

retrievers and fed half of the dogs 25 percent less

food than the others.

Those on the unrestricted diet lived to a median

age of 11.2 years, while those on the restricted diet

lived to a median age of 13 years. The dogs on a

restricted diet, who were monitored daily, also

developed arthritis later on average than those on

the regular diet.

" We feed our dogs way too much, and the average

Labrador retriever in the United States is

overweight, " said D. Kealy of Nestle

Purina, lead author of the study. " If food is restricted,

median lifespans will go up 10 to 15 percent. "

[Guest guest]

Francesca,

Funny thing. I have frequently told my wife that our thin 2 year

old mutt could be a CRON dog since we do not feed him that much (1 can, 1

cup dry, 40lb dog). When I showed her this email, and after a particularly

bad day of the beast 1) chewing pillows, 2) barking non-stop in the

morning, and 3) a BIG distraction with the kids getting ready for school,

she immediately gave him some table scraps and a few extra milk bones

saying " eat up boy! " .

Joe

At 11:34 AM 5/6/02 -0400, you wrote:

> U.S. Dogs Fed Too Much

>

> Like many of their owners, dogs would be healthier

>if they ate less. According to a new study in the

> Journal of the American Veterinary Medical

>Association, dogs fed a lifelong restricted diet

> developed chronic diseases later in life and

>survived significantly longer than those in a control

> group.

>

> Researchers, including some at Nestle Purina Pet

>Care's research center, raised 48 Labrador

> retrievers and fed half of the dogs 25 percent less

>food than the others.

>

> Those on the unrestricted diet lived to a median

>age of 11.2 years, while those on the restricted diet

> lived to a median age of 13 years. The dogs on a

>restricted diet, who were monitored daily, also

> developed arthritis later on average than those on

>the regular diet.

>

> " We feed our dogs way too much, and the average

>Labrador retriever in the United States is

> overweight, " said D. Kealy of Nestle

>Purina, lead author of the study. " If food is restricted,

> median lifespans will go up 10 to 15 percent. "

>

>

>

>