dogs

You can look far and wide, but you won't find a more enthusiastic walking buddy than man's best friend: your dog. In our house, it's not even smart to say the word "walk" before you've laced up your shoes.

A handful of studies have tried to measure what dog lovers have known all along -- dogs like to walk, and people who have dogs like to make their dogs happy:

I've seen dogs dig up months-old bones... and start chewing on them. And... I've unfortunately witnessed dogs attempt to eat their own... well... Iet's not get into that.

If you want your dog to eat better than you - check out this frozen organic yogurt.

With the 2008 Beijing Olympics in full swing and international athletes sampling Chinese competition, culture and food--one thing is NOT on the menu, dog.

The BBC reports that China has instituted a ban on serving dog meat at its 112 official Olympic restaurants. The move is one of several steps China has taken not offend foreign visitors; smiling and not spitting on the streets are others.

Dog ownership appears to have "a positive influence on health," according to a research review in the British Journal of Health Psychology. The author, Dr. Deborah Wells, found that while pet owners were healthier in general, dog owners in particular got more of a boost than other pet owners.

She discovered that dog owners had lower blood pressure and cholesterol, fewer minor physical ailments, and were less likely to have serious medical problems.

Another study of dog ownership and physical activity out of the University of Western Australia found that dog owners were 68% more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity per week than non-owners. People with dogs racked up about 55 minutes more exercise a week. Possibly, people who choose to own dogs may be somewhat healthier to begin with. But let's assume the benefits of dog ownership are real and substantial. Do these studies mean everyone should run out and buy a dog?

Japanese company Kao has created a handheld body fat checker... for dogs.

The device is applied to certain areas of the dogs body - and a body fat percentage is displayed.

A recent post showed someone "walking" the dog while driving their car. Here's another lazy better idea - the Dog Powered Scooter.

From the site: A hobby/sport you both can enjoy so that more time can be spent together. Identity and pride for your dog.

It's a sad sign of the times when we have obesity medication for pets.

The FDA has approved a new drug from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The drug is called Slentrol. ...the new drug, called a selective microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, is only for dogs. How it works is not well understood, but it blocks absorption of fat and seems to control appetite. It is given in liquid form under a veterinarian's close supervision. (via Washington Post)The pill will cost $1 to $2 per day and will come with strict warnings in case people get tempted to swallow the pill themselves. In people, the drug can cause adverse reactions including abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

San Francisco Gate: Cardiac arrest claims for pets have increased 47 percent the last two years alone, while claims for other obesity-related illnesses have been steadily increasing, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance of Brea, Calif.

Diabetes claims are up 16 percent and hypertension claims up 27 percent over two years, while claims have nearly tripled for a type of spinal surgery that can be related to obesity. Treatments for arthritis and cancer also are up sharply -- diseases that become more prevalent as animals grow older, but also because they're overweight.

Nutrition tips for cats and dogs

NY Times: "America's pets don't care a whit about rock-hard abs. Most dogs and cats have yet to meet a buttery table scrap they didn't like, no matter how much kibble they have consumed. That apparent lack of willpower is not only ruining Fido's or Fluffy's figure. According to the latest feeding guidelines from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, pets are chowing their way toward diabetes, heart disease and other ailments. 'Obesity,' the document states, 'is estimated to occur in 25 percent of dogs and cats in westernized societies.'"