Correlations Between Human and Canine Wellness

By Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle 

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

There are certain moments in life when you realize that life can be fragile. What brings this to your attention begins when you learn that a growing number of our children may be at risk for a less than healthy future. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), children need 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily, which most are not getting. In an article about high school students, Wang (2013) reported that boys are only getting 38% and girls 18% of the recommended amount of daily physical activity. Taking all high school students as a group, Wang found a more troubling trend. In 1991, only 42% of all students were attending physical education classes on school days and by 2011, the number had dropped to 31%. The data from this downward trend suggests that these children, when they become adults, may have a less than healthy adult life, especially during their senior years. The growing number of Americans and children that are obese is more alarming. The Social Security Administration (Reece) reported that “ just over 1 in 4 of today’s 20- year-olds will become disabled before they reach age 67”. The disabilities projected are based on known diseases and injuries. These facts become significant when you consider that in 1910 the average American had a life expectancy of 43 years; by 2013 the average had increased to 78 years.

AGE AND LONGIVITY

Little has been written about the health, nutrition and exercise regimes of dog owners, breeders and handlers. It has been a subject often ignored until now, and according to Dr. Mark Wanner, editor of The Search, the Jackson Laboratory Newsletter, “Americans are outliving the quality of their life by a good decade”. In his editorial, Wanner says that education about longevity is more important now than ever before. The theme of his message is that humans have entered an era of new medicine tailored to the unique genetic makeup of an individual. For example, dementia is a disease that has been closely linked to aging. It has been shown to be a lifestyle disease and not the result of physical weakness. Unfortunately, with extended life, new problems are beginning to surface at higher than expected rates. According to Dr. Teater (2012) too many Americans are experiencing a poor quality of life, especially during their additional years. Teater says it is possible to have better health, vitality, mental and emotional fitness by, “changing your genetic wiring with a lifestyle change”. He says, “if you want to gain a hundred pounds, find a way to get depressed and have no friends. He believes that too many Americans are not taking care of their health even though an increasing number are living longer. This problem has attracted the attention of many health experts. Their interest has identified a small but growing number of Americans who are getting healthier as they get older. These seniors are the exception because they have increased their potential for an important health advantage which Teater discusses in his book. His book focuses on better health after the age of fifty. In his book, Teater offers three core recommendations: 1) vigorous exercise six days a week including strength training, 2) a calorie-conscious and nutritious diet, and 3) a socially-engaged life based on caring, commitment and connections. Teater says that many things can make a difference, but when it comes to your health and the calories consumed, quantity does the most damage. Said another way, knowing how many are being consumed matters.

Others agree with Teaters finding that aging does not necessarily result in a loss of good health. Dr. Henry Lodge, a primary care internist who heads a 23-doctor practice in Manhattan, is co-author of “Younger Next Years: Live Strong, Fit and Sexy Until You Are 80 and Beyond”. His co-author is Chris Crowley, a 75-year-old patient. Their book is aimed at helping people make the last third of their lives the best. Since 2004, their bestseller has sold more than 800,000 copies and is now being distributed in 13 languages. Their research shows that 70 percent of illnesses, including early mortality in humans, comes directly from lifestyle diseases – heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s which are some of the same dreaded diseases found in canines (Battaglia). The frequency with which these diseases occur in humans is consistent with aging populations and the fact that only 3 percent of Americans are following the Surgeon General’s recommendations about daily nutrition and exercise. According to the CDC, the number one cause of death in the US is heart disease and the number six cause is Alzheimer’s. Both are significant considering there is a parallel occurrence in canines. These findings have caused scientists to speak out and encourage people to learn more about how to live a longer and healthier life by owning a dog. The discussions and recommendations that follow offer some new ways to approach the relationship of canine ownership, nutrition and exercise.

DOG OWNERSHIP

Research shows there may be a close parallel between healthy humans and those who own dogs. While both species suffer from similar diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, new information can now be used to clarify old beliefs. One of the myths about purebred and mixed breed dogs was addressed by Dr. Jarolim (2009) at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine who found that mixed breeds are not healthier than purebred dogs. Jarolim reported that mixed breeds are more likely to be affected with diabetes than purebred dogs. Bell agrees. He reported another study about purebred and mixed breeds conducted by the Michigan State University endocrinology laboratory which found that 7.5% of all dogs tested positive for thyroglobulin autoantibodies and that mixed breeds tested positive 10.7% of the time. What keeps the public from realizing that mixed breeds, including designer dogs, have many serious health problems is the lack of a reporting mechanism.

Click here to read the full article in our digital edition.

From the archives of The Canine Chronicle 

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=222940

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