Muscle Beach Goes to the Dogs
SAN DIEGO, Ca. (Feb. 5, 2004) – On Feb. 10, dog owners and their canine companions are taking a break from the Valentine's treats and heading to Muscle Beach to "paws" for health. Dog lover Daisy Fuentes and her pooch pals, Alfie and Rita, will join pet owners to learn more about canine wellness and to celebrate the launch of DogAge®, a new innovative Web site to help dogs live younger, longer.
The new DogAge test, created by RealAge® and sponsored by Purina, is an easy way for dog owners to determine their pets' ages in human years. The test evaluates factors such as health, lifestyle, breed, body conditions and exercise to quantify whether a dog is younger or older than the average dog of the same breed. After taking the test, www.DogAge.com provides free dog health information, weekly tips and health guides to give pet owners easy, practical ways to improve their pets' DogAges.
"At DogAge.com, people will have an alternative to the "times 7" estimate of figuring out their dog's age. By taking the test, I found out Rita's DogAge is 12, which is four years younger than the average Wheaten Terrier," says Fuentes. "The test results also outlined great tips so I can help Rita live younger longer."
Hitting the Beach for the DogAge Experience
The "Paws for Health" event brings DogAge.com to life by featuring veterinarians, pet nutritionists, trainers and exercise consultants providing information and demonstrations on the site's five health topics: general health, medical history, food/nutrition, exercise and social health.
Free "Paws for Health" activities include:
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Dog-yoga – Yoga and exercise don't just benefit humans; catch dogs in
the act too with LA's hottest dog yoga instructor!
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Sizing it up – Check to see if your dog is at a healthy size with
weigh-ins and Purina Body Conditioning System scoring by a veterinarian.
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Portion control – Talk to pet experts about proper dog nutrition,
including information on nutritional needs for specific life stages and
conditions.
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Basic Training - Learn useful training and behavior tips to keep the
pet-owner relationship happy and healthy.
"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."
The "Paws for Health" event will be held at Venice Beach adjacent to the Muscle Beach health club and basketball courts.
About DogAge
DogAge, from the creators of RealAge, is a new innovative measurement of dog health based on the latest scientific data, including studies from the Purina Pet Institute. The test evaluates more than 40 individual health factors for pet owners to determine their dogs' age.
"This tool will help pet owners learn how specific lifestyle factors affect their dog's longevity," says Dr. Dan Christian, veterinarian, executive director of the Purina Pet Institute and member of the DogAge Scientific Review Board. "Whether your dog is a puppy or a senior, there are simple steps to take to help him live younger, such as keeping your dog trim or walking him on a leash."
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.
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 dog 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.
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