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Winter 2005
A Travel Agency for Pets &
People |
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Man’s Best Friend Adds Years of
Happiness to Your Life Ø
How your
Dog can help you keep your New Years Resolutions Ø
Safe Exercise for your Senior Dog Ø
Top 10 list for the New Year |
Puppy Travel “Connecting Pets
and People Worldwide” A full service pet travel agency |
Man’s Best
Friend Adds Years of Happiness to Your Life
By Dr. Joseph Mercola with Laina Krisik
There is a special relationship that exists between dogs and their owners and it goes far beyond just the sharing of a home together. These happy go lucky four-legged friends also provide us with constant unconditional love, devotion, friendship and something else that might not be at the fore front of most people’s minds – health benefits. Their effortless ability to raise our spirits ranges from reducing feelings of stress and anxiety to helping with more serious stress – related conditions like heart attacks.
Unconditional Acceptance Goes a Long Way
Dogs are often used as a form of therapy in hospice settings, nursing homes and companions to the disabled. Pet ownership in the golden years has a positive effect on a senior’s physical and emotional well-being, according to the Journal of American Geriatrics Society. Hospitals and nursing homes have begun taking down the “No Dogs Allowed” from their doors after realizing the healing effects of dogs.
For
example, studies revealed that people on Medicaid or Medicare who own a pet
make fewer visits to the doctor.
The unconditional acceptance and love a dog gives to their owners positively
impacts their owner’s emotional health, particularly among the
elderly. Some of these benefits
include:
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Bringing joy
and laughter to daily life, which in later years is often uneventful
·
Giving the
person something to do, talk about and think about, other than him or herself ·
Providing a
source of touch and affiliation ·
Boosting
self-confidence and self-esteem ·
Promotes
communication between elderly residents and neighbors ·
Helps ease newcomers
with transitions and meeting new friends
·
Raises overall
morale
·
Encourages
exercise and activity ·
Helps people
cope with illness, loss and depression ·
Reduces stress
levels |
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Dogs Keep Hearts Healthy
Having a dog as a companion could add years to your life, as two studies have shown that owning a dog played a significant role on survival rates in heart attack victims. In one study, patients who were admitted to the hospital were evaluated for one year. Researchers discovered that the patients who were alive one year after the heart attack were more likely to own a dog.
To emphasize this point, another study on psychological factors contributing to the recovery rates for heart-disease patients, ranked pet ownership on top in terms of determining the patient’s likelihood of long-term survival.
Studies have also shown how the calming and soothing presence of dogs helps with keeping blood pressure levels in the healthy range.
In one
study, the State University of New York at
Good for Stress and Emotional-Well Being
Along with companionship, dogs satisfy our human need for close physical contact and touching. This combination often induces feelings of stress-relief among humans.
Research from the University of Missouri-Columbia suggests the hormonal changes that occur when humans and dogs interact could help people cope with depression and certain stress-related disorders. An example of this is spending a few minutes of stroking your pet dog – this simple act prompts a release of a number of “feel good” hormones in humans, including serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin.
Other studies showed that the presence of animals, especially dogs, reduced the anxiety of people facing stressful situations, such as dental surgery.
Running With the Big Dogs
The positive energy that seems to be a natural part of a dog’s nature contributes to keeping their owners physically active. Not only do they get us off the couch and away from TV, but also motivate us to turn off the computer and get outside for fresh air several times a day.
The standing excuse for not exercising, “I don’t think I’ll work out today because I have no one to go with” doesn’t hold much weight when you own a dog. Grabbing the leash and going out for a brisk walk extinguishes this excuse in no time.
As a matter of fact, separate studies reported that walking a dog contributed to a person’s weight loss and that dog walking can be a catalyst for social interaction with other people, a benefit that can help improve our sense of well-being—or even help us meet a future spouse.
Research points out that having a pet, especially a dog, is one of the keys to happiness and good health. It seems that a wagging tail and long-lasting companionship can help good health prevail.
Copyright 2004 Dr. Joseph Mercola. For more information go to Dr. Mercola
FLUSH
“He made me laugh so, I couldn’t resist making him a Life.”
Elisabeth Barrett Browning
Elisabeth wrote proudly to Robert, “Flush could recognize “A” and “B” and it would be only a matter of time before he mastered the entire alphabet.”
HOW YOUR DOG
CAN HELP YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Some thoughts from Molly Masland,
health editor MSNBC, Team up with Fido for fitness
If trimming down and getting in shape are high on your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2005, do yourself and your dog a favor – team up and make it a joint effort.
Mutual benefit: A study published in November by Dr. Robert Kushner said that dogs became a major source of motivation and accountability for their owners, and helped keep them on track with their fitness goals. As many of the human participants found, it’s hard to say no to a four-legged friend eagerly waiting at the front door for a walk or run each night. It got a lot of people off the couch and out the door because the dog was there helping them. In addition, having a canine buddy added variety and helped reduce the hum drum of a standard fitness routine. Across the board, people who exercised with their dogs found it rewarding, fun and an opportunity to bond with their dog more than they ever did before.
So how can you plan a fitness program with your dog – and not have your efforts go the way of so many well-intentioned resolutions?
Getting started: So how can you plan a fitness program with your dog – and not have your efforts go the way of so many well-intentioned resolutions?
For starters, establishing a regular exercise routine is crucial. Schedule your workout with your dog just like you would any other appointment. Otherwise, you’re likely to blow it off at the end of a long day or the beginning of a morning that comes way too early. Even if the weather is bad, a quick walk around the block will maintain the routine from the dog’s perspective.
Before you begin your workouts, get your pet checked by your veterinarian. Once you get the official go-ahead, start out gradually since pets need conditioning, too.
Workouts offer a prime opportunity for bonding and a chance to hone your dog’s obedience skills.
No matter what activities you and your dog undertake, keep in mind that the exercise will have positive benefits all around. Fitness isn’t just for humans – “Pets need it just like we do,” says Personal trainer Kathy Kaehler, fitness expert for NBC’s “Today” show.
For more information go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6719999/
Safe
Exercise for your Senior Dog
Taken from
“Senior-safe exercise” by Marcia King, Dog Fancy Magazine Nov.2004
Just about all dogs need exercise, especially overweight ones. But weak joints, arthritis, and other changes associated with aging can make your senior dog reluctant to charge around like he used to. Follow these tips to exercise your senior safely:
- Opt
for one or more short bouts everyday, rather than longer, more infrequent
jaunts, suggests Marty Pease, who has an M.S. degree in physical therapy
and is a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at Veterinary
Referral Center of Colorado in
- Walk more slowly. If you’ve always relied on exercising your dog to exercise yourself, but he can’t keep up any more, let him set the pace during “his” walk. Exercise at another time on your own to elevate your heart rate.
- Exercise and play on grass or carpet rather than concrete.
- In hot weather, exercise in the morning or late at night, Pease says.
- In
cold weather, provide a coat for thin-coated pets, advises Sandy Wright,
DVM and
- Choose swimming as a non-impact exercise, Wright suggests.
- Gentle range-of-motion stretches can provide some safe exertion, Pease notes. Consult a certified canine physical therapist or rehabilitation practitioner to learn how to help your dog stretch safely.
- Toss fetching toys shorter distances.
- During exercise, monitor your dog for signs of fatigue, such as a droopy head or tail and labored breathing; scale back to find a more comfortable pace.
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TOP 10
LIST FOR THE NEW YEAR ·
Resolve to
spend more time with the ones you love this year, pets included. ·
Start planning
that - Spring, Summer or Fall “ ·
Think about
your favorite place on earth to visit. ·
Think about what
you want to do - hike, shop, enjoy the beach, sight seeing etc. ·
Decide on the
date for the trip. ·
Decide on the
budget for the trip. ·
Decide on the
destination. ·
Decide whether
auto or air travel. ·
Get the pets rabies vaccination. ·
Contact Puppy Travel we’ll handle the
details for a stress free vacation for you. |
Traveling internationally with your pet requires information from your vet, the airline and the consulate of the country you plan to visit. Medical and quarantine regulations vary by county, be sure to contact PuppyTravel several months in advance before you plan to travel. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
***Interesting
info:
According
to Fido Friendly magazine:
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Also
enjoy a waterfront lodge at Lake Tahoe for a grand
adventure with your dogs that love the water, even some of the shop keepers
welcome your pet.
Can’t decide what to
name your dog?
The Humane Society of the United
States
Type in 11867 for Tips for Safe Pet Air Travel
Type
in 20818 for Common Questions about Microchips
‘Tails’ from a Pet Travel Agent
By Barbara DeBry CTC
Hi, my name is
Barbara. I am a professional pet
travel agent. (The only one in the
I received a
call right before Christmas from
I began
planning their journey from
I
completed their trip with maps and detailed explanations of the properties
where they would spend each night with Lightning while on the road. After a few changes back and forth
we completed their trip plans.
When I
asked them their address so I could send them an invoice, I discovered that
they indeed lived in downtown
Funny
note, my invoices used to state the quote on the bottom “Happiness is a
warm puppy” by Charles Shultz.
When I received my payment from Norman and Nancy guess who the check was
made out to…..yes, Mr. Charles Shultz. What would you do? My challenges seem to come in most
intriguing ways. I removed
the quote from my invoices.
