Kida, a 110-pound Alaskan malamute, runs on a treadmill in Terrie Williams’ lab at UC Santa Cruz. Dogs are better adapted for endurance exercise than cats, and humans are more like dogs in that respect.
Photo credit: Caleb Bryce, UCSC
For over 30 years, Terrie Williams has been studying exercise physiology in wild animals: African lions and wild dogs, dolphins and whales, coyotes and mountain lions, as well as a few human athletes.
These studies have given Williams, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC (University of California) Santa Cruz, a unique perspective on exercise and health, which she presents in an article titled “The Healthy Heart: Lessons from Nature’s Elite Athletes,” published in the September 2015 issue of the journal Physiology.
In the course of her research, Williams has found that dogs and cats are opposites in terms of aerobic capacity and maximum heart rate, and humans are more like dogs, adapted for endurance exercise (chasing down prey), while cats are built for the short bursts of speed used in stalk-and-pounce hunting. This difference is reflected in heart size relative to total body mass (larger hearts in dogs and humans, smaller hearts in cats).
Heart disease is exceedingly rare in wild animals, but it is the leading cause of death in humans worldwide. There are many plausible explanations for this, but one factor stands out above all others: the difference in daily activity levels. “We just don’t ask our hearts to do very much on a daily basis,” Williams said.
For Williams, the main reason to study exercise physiology in animals is to better understand how much energy they have to expend to live in their environments, and how they might be affected by environmental changes and human activities.
Source: EurekAlert! media release
Today, I worked at Old Friends. This is the ‘old people’s home’ of the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Besides helping to take dogs for walks in the cooler morning hours, I also got to use my massage skills on some special needs dogs.
Google was rescued from Kanab, Utah. He spent most of his life chained; and as a result he has neck problems. Because of his neck problems, his back, mid-thoracic, is also tight. Google thoroughly enjoyed his massage.
Google has been at Best Friends for some time; he’s over the age of 12 and still looking for a home. He’s also been a blood donor for other dogs. Some nice person is sponsoring him so he can receive a free flight anywhere in the USA if adopted.
Wrangler, who is suffering from heartworm
Wrangler had just had his second injection as part of heartworm treatment. Dogs undergoing this treatment have a series of injections and are restricted in exercise to ensure that the worms don’t dislodge from the heart causing respiratory arrest.
Wrangler needed very light massage (so not to stress his system) and few acupressure points for relaxation.
By the end of his massage, Wrangler rewarded me with a smile
I am convinced that there is a role for massage therapy in the shelter environment, particularly for long-term residents and those with special health needs.
I am grateful to the caregivers at Old Friends who allowed me to work with these animals.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, Dogs
Tagged Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Best Friends Animal Society, dogs, Google, heartworm, Kanab, massage skills, Utah, Wrangler
“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.”
– Dean Koontz, author
Did you know that the American Kennel Club has published a list of the best dogs for apartment living?
With cities growing and land prices escalating, most metropolitan areas around the globe are looking to establish neighborhoods characterized by apartments rather than single-family homes. This move can create challenges for people wanting to ensure that dogs remain part of their lives.
Years ago for example, in New Zealand, the main telecommunications company here used a Jack Russell Terrier named Spot in its commercials. The breeding and demand for these dogs soared. People thought that the dog, being small, would be good for the suburbs (let alone, apartments). But terriers need wide-open spaces and are bred for hunting down prey like rabbits and ferrets. The result: lots of ill-behaved dogs and owners who were out of their depth.
I would say that this list is a starting point, many mixed-breed dogs can acclimate to apartment living with the right routine and devotion. And small dog breeds need to be managed carefully around stairs – because a lifetime of walking up and down stairs puts a lot of strain on the back and shoulders….
The best dog breeds for apartment living are:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Pug
The Shih Tzu
The Bulldog
The Bichon Frise
The French Bulldog
The Greyhound
The Chinese Crested
The Havanese
The Maltese
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Nothing is better than licking the inside of a Cheetos bag…
…and grinning about it afterwards!
I love when dogs are used in creative advertising. Since so many of us take our dogs for a ride in the car (and they love it), how appropriate that Ford Motor Company has used dogs in its latest ad?
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in dogs in advertising
Tagged cars, creative advertising, dogs, Dogs Day Out, Ford, Ford Motor Company, riding in cars
Say ‘therapy dog’ and most people will think of hospitals, rest homes, and mental health services. Some may also think about dogs supporting witnesses when they have their day in court….but now there’s a growing use of therapy dogs in funeral homes.
This video, from the Ballard-Durand funeral home in New York, promotes Lulu, a Goldendoodle, who can be booked on request for funeral services.
The loss of a loved one and funerals, in general, are times of great emotional stress. How nice it is that dogs are offering comfort in these situations and that they are being accepted by professional funeral directors.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
This week has been a very rainy one in Christchurch. Since I am a mobile practitioner, I spend a fair amount of time in the car. When stopped at a traffic light, I snapped this photo with my phone:
You can clearly see this little white dog sitting on the ledge at the rear window of the car. I watched while the dog moved around on the ledge and onto the back seat of the car, then back again.
If this vehicle had to stop suddenly for any reason, this dog would go flying! Just as the driving safely videos show things like drink bottles flying after a crash, so too would this little dog. If it survived, it would likely need intensive medical care that would be both painful and expensive.
I don’t see enough dogs in Christchurch that are restrained properly using a car harness. It’s very concerning.
I’ve even met and talked with vets about this subject, and many have admitted that although they know they should restrain their own dogs, they don’t! Most vets don’t even ask as part of the annual check-up with their clients whether or not their dog travels in a vehicle and, if so, whether it is properly restrained.
We need more people leading from example….
…like the lovely lady who came yesterday to fit her Labrador puppy, Harley, with an auto harness. She’s training him at a young age to accept being restrained in the car.
Please let me know if your vet encourages you to restrain your dog when traveling in the car. I’d like to promote them via my Facebook page. And send me photos of your dog safely restrained in the car!
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Tagged annual check-ups, car harness, cars, dogs, Facebook, harnesses, restraints, she'll be right, veterinarians, vets
Illinois lawmakers have endorsed legislation that, if signed, would see owners who leave their pets outside in extreme weather sentenced to up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
The bill has been sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner to sign into law.
A dog being watched by walker Natalia Straley plays in the snow Feb. 26, 2015, at the Montrose dog beach in Chicago. (Anthony Souffle, Chicago Tribune)
Sponsoring Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, said the bill was inspired by recent cases of dogs during the last Northern Hemisphere winter season; the dogs froze to death.
Although the legislation has passed both the State House and Senate, it needs the Governor to make it a law. The bill has been opposed by the farming lobby, which fears it will interfere in their businesses.
It’s a progressive piece of legislation in my opinion because animals need our protection and a judge can use his/her discretion in terms of sentencing.
And as for farming, this opens a larger debate about consumption, production economies, and animal welfare – all issues that impact our environment and animals here in New Zealand.
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, Canine Catering Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
Posted in animal welfare, Dogs
Tagged cats, Chicago, Chicago Tribune, dogs, extreme weather, farmers, farming, Illinois, Sara Feigenholtz
DoggyMom.com 