Paw Pals Pet Sitting

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National Kids and Pet Day: Defeating Obesity

April 26, 2015 by Mary Telesz

Paw-Pals-Dog-obesity-300x212On National Kids and Pets Day I wanted to showcase how the magnificent bond between a child and an animal can be a healthy platform to tackle both child and pet obesity. Here are some staggering statistics:

  • An estimated 42 million children under the age of 5 are overweight or obese according to a study done in 2013.
  • An estimated 43.8 million US dogs are overweight or obese.
  • An estimated 55 million US cats are overweight or obese.Paw-Pals-Cat-obesity-225x300

The main cause for obesity in both children and animals is the imbalance between calories consumed and calories burned. Obesity can lead to several health problems. In children obesity can lead to difficulty breathing, hypertension, early markers for cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and psychological warfare.  When obesity starts at a young age, children become at risk for obesity throughout life, premature death, and disability in adulthood. It can also lead to cardiovascular disease (heart attack), diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders (i.e. osteoarthritis), and cancers that metastasize in fatty tissues such as breast cancer in adulthood. In animals obesity can cause osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, kidney disease, cancer, and a decreased life expectancy of up to 2.5 years.

Now that we can see that obesity is a problem we should also shout from the rooftops that obesity can be corrected and prevented.

  1. The best way to combat obesity is to limit the intake of empty calories from sugary and fatty foods and substitute it with nutritious foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
    1. For children an example would be switching soda or sweet tea for water.
    2. For pets an example would be to switch to a pet food specially catered for obesity.
  2. In conjunction to a nutritious diet exercising is a must.Paw-Pals-Pet-exercise-300x200
    1. For children it is recommended 60 minutes a day of exercise.
    2. For pets let their human companion bring them for a walk, or a swim if possible.
  3. Teach your children about food. What it is comprised of and how it is broken down in their bodies so they can understand what is happening. This will make it easier on them to change their diets.

We love our children and we love our pets. On this National Kids and Pet Day celebrate the bond by taking the right steps to a healthier, happier life.

Filed Under: Pet Exercise

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

professional dog walking software

Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
5.0
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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