Health and Nutrition

Lucky dogs. They're not bound by the social constraints we humans must endure. They can belch and fart whenever they please. They can take a bath (with their tongues, no less) in public. And certainly, no one begrudges a beloved pooch a few extra pounds around the middle. Why, it just wouldn't be a dog's life if you weren't able to enjoy a few extra calories every now and then, would it?

Obesity is considered the number one nutritional problem in dogs, and studies have documented that at least 25 percent of dogs in the United States may be overweight.

The scientists who conducted a just-released study would beg to differ. As it turns out, a dog's life can actually be extended if he's kept on a strict diet and not allowed to indulge too much in the dog food department.

The first-ever lifelong canine diet restriction study, sponsored by Nestle Purina PetCare, followed a group of Labrador retrievers for 14 years, from birth until death. The researchers found that a dog's median life span can be extended by 15 percent -- nearly two years for the Labs in the study -- by restricting the diet to maintain ideal body condition.

When your pet tanks up at the water bowl, is it really a problem? Or is it merely a response to a hot environment or a dry diet?

When excessive thirst or polydipsia is associated with the production of excessive amounts of urine or polyuria, we may safely assume that something is amiss. But the problem could be either behavioral or physical. And which comes first, increased thirst or increased urination? The problem, in fact, might be excessive urine production that drives greater thirst and water consumption.

The diagnostic approach to PU/PD (polyuria/polydipsia) may be simple and straightforward, but often it is not. The veterinarian must be certain that any changes in urination habits are caused by greater than normal urine output, rather than urgency and difficulty urinating or loss of bladder control. Verifying the problem, therefore, is extremely important.

After collecting a detailed history, the veterinarian may wish to observe the pet's urination, so that he or she can assess normalcy and completeness of emptying. The volume and quality of the urine produced is of paramount importance, since the urine's specific gravity directly reflects the concentration of the urine and, indirectly, the volume of urine produced. If the urine sample is very dilute, it will have a low specific gravity, indicating that excessive urine production is probable. However, if the pet produces urine that is particularly well-concentrated, then excessive urine production is not likely.

A syndrome of exercise intolerance and collapse (EIC) has been recognized in young adult Labrador Retrievers.

A comprehensive study of this condition is underway involving collaborators from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) of the University of Saskatchewan , the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota and the Comparative Neuromuscular Unit at the University of California. The objectives of this study are to (1) describe the syndrome so that it can be recognized by dog owners, veterinarians and trainers, (2) to thoroughly evaluate affected dogs to try to establish an efficient means of diagnosis and to gain some insight into the cause of the collapse and (3) to determine the genetic basis for the collapse syndrome. This research is being supported by generous grants from the Morris Animal Foundation and the WCVM's Companion Animal Health Fund.