Nia Vardalos, photo by Greg Hernandez — Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
As Memorial Day has passed, we are now given better weather and longer days to focus on increasing the activity level of ourselves and our pets.
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and “My Life In Ruins” star, Nia Vardalos, gives her dog, Manny, accolades for contributing to her recent weight loss. People Pets reports that Vardalos slimmed down by incorporating Manny into her fitness plan.
Manny is Vardalos’ yellow Labrador Retriever, who, at 6 years old, may have been feeling the adverse effects of carrying extra body weight. Too much body weight puts stress on multiple body systems, including the musculoskeletal, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, and digestive.
yellow Labrador Retriever, photo by Paul T D — Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
Vardalos’ veterinarian recommended that Manny lose weight, so Vardalos incorporated Manny into her exercise routine by taking walks and playing ball with Manny.
The companionship of a canine can yield positive results in owners who are seeking to lose or maintain their weight. Getting outside and being active with your dog can provide physical and emotional benefits to both you and your dog. Participating in activity with your dog can be a fun family activity, as Vardalos got her daughter involved in Manny’s tennis ball play.
When you increase your dog’s activity level, start with short outings at a conservative pace. If your dog has been inactive or is carrying extra weight, high intensity and excessively long exercise sessions can create potentially unhealthy stress on the multiple body systems.
Start with a consistently paced, low-impact activity, such as short walk or hike, then begin to increase the length and challenge as your dog accommodates to the activity. Consistently paced activity will be less traumatic than high-impact or high-intensity activities, such as sprinting, jumping, and twisting.
Before you start on an exercise program with your dog, please schedule an examination with your veterinarian.
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