Give Your Pet the Gift of a Longer Life This Valentine's Day
Purina Sponsors Online Tool to Help Dogs Live Younger, Longer
SAN DIEGO, Ca. (Feb. 5, 2004) – With more than nine million Americans purchasing a gift for their pet this Valentine's Day*, Purina is asking dog owners to skip the sweets and treats and give their pets the gift of longevity. That gift is now packaged in an online tool called DogAge®, an innovative Web site to help dog owners achieve longer, healthier lives for their pets.
The new DogAge test, created by RealAge® and sponsored by Purina, is an easy way for dog owners to determine their pets' age in human years. The test evaluates factors such as health, lifestyle, breed, body condition and exercise to quantify whether a dog is younger or older than the average dog of the same breed. After taking the free test, DogAge.com provides free dog health information, weekly tips and health guides to give pet owners easy, practical ways to improve their pets' DogAge.
"This tool will help pet owners learn how specific lifestyle factors affect their dogs' longevity," said Dr. Dan Christian, veterinarian, executive director of the Purina Pet Institute and member of the DogAge Scientific Review Board. "Everyone knows what it means to be a teenager versus a senior and now this test provides that understanding for dog owners."
The Metrics Revolution – How It Works
DogAge is a new innovative measurement of dog health based on the latest scientific data, including studies from the Purina Pet Institute. The DogAge test takes pet owners through five categories of questions: general health, medical history, food/nutrition, exercise and social health. The test then evaluates more than 40 individual health factors to determine their pets' DogAge.
"Whether you have a puppy, adult or senior dog, the DogAge test prioritizes responses according to the impact they may have on a pet's longevity," added Christian.
For example, a dog's weight or body condition has a direct bearing on his DogAge. The landmark Purina Life Span Study found that dogs fed to their ideal body condition lived longer, healthier lives. So, if a dog is at his ideal weight, he may have a younger DogAge than another dog, who is the same breed and chronological age, but overweight.
The Fountain of Youth – The DogAge Experience
"RealAge and Purina have developed a fun and educational way for pet owners to learn how to help their dogs live longer and healthier," says Dr. Dondi Dahlgaard, veterinarian, DogAge Scientific Review Board member and director of critical care at SouthPaws Veterinary Referral Center in Washington D.C. "The benefits are measurable – once pet owners implement the tips provided by the DogAge test results, they can take the test again to see if their dogs are living younger."
A real-life example of a dog living younger is Corbett, a six year-old Boxer. She is spayed, healthy, well-trained, at an ideal weight, exercises regularly and lives in a safe home. These age-saving factors help place her DogAge at 29.5 years-old, which is 11.4 years younger than the average Boxer of the same chronological age. If changes to her health and lifestyle occur, they would directly affect her DogAge.
To learn how to help your dog live younger, longer, go to
www.DogAge.com and take the free DogAge test.
About RealAge, Inc.
San Diego-based RealAge, Inc. created the DogAge test by developing a metric based on 40 different health and lifestyle factors. While DogAge helps motivate people to make healthier decisions for their dogs, RealAge motivates people to make healthier lifestyle choices for themselves through the RealAge test. The RealAge test is the first measurement standard for healthcare and provides medically valid metrics that compare biological versus chronological years, based upon each individual's results. For more information, visit
www.RealAge.com.
About Purina and the Purina Pet Institute
The Purina Pet Institute is the embodiment of Purina's commitment to achieve better nutrition for dogs and cats through scientific discovery and the enhancement of the pet/owner relationship.
Nestlé Purina PetCare promotes responsible pet care, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestlé Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., the world's largest food company.
*Source: America Pet Products Manufactures Association 2003/2004 National Pet
Owners Survey
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