Study: Dogs With More Engaged Owners Receive More Exercise

The researchers discovered that owners who are more active are also more likely to consider their dog’s body weight to be ideal.

The research’s results were released in the PLoS ONE publication.

On August 24, 2022, Sydney Banton of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, and associates published the results in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Dog obesity is a growing global health concern since it can lead to a variety of health issues in dogs, including diabetes and heart disease.

Previous studies have found links between the nutrition, activity, and sociodemographic characteristics of dogs and their body weight. This research, nevertheless, was frequently limited in scope and country-specific.

Banton and associates examined the findings of a survey of 3,298 dog owners in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States to gain a more comprehensive, global view. The poll asked questions on owners’ diets, exercise regimens, and perceptions of their pets’ body weight.

According to an analysis of survey results, dogs were more likely to obtain more exercise if their owners exercised more frequently. Additionally, owners who reported being more active were more likely to believe their dog was the right weight. German dog owners exercised their dogs on average for longer periods of time than owners in other nations, thought their dog’s weight was optimum and were less likely to have heard that their dog was overweight.

The results imply that many dog owners may try to regulate their pets’ body weight through nutrition rather than exercise. Therefore, the researchers advocate for giving vets more tools to assist owners in creating exercise programs to prevent dog weight gain.

Source: aninews

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