Your dog can help you during Covid

The immune system – Some things you can do to help fight infection for you and your dog during Covid

Every dog owner knows that they are happier and healthier having a dog. It’s not just the emotional companionship but a myriad of other advantages.

Being a chiropractor, my kids heard “Stand up straight, eat healthy and drink more water!” Sometimes the simplest philosophies are the best to follow. We get caught up in thinking that we need complicated ways of living to be healthy.

Let’s take a look at one of my first tenets to my kids.

 

1.Stand up straight.

This applies to using your muscles to keep your spine in alignment, but also means you have to use those muscles to keep them strong.

One word, exercise, get moving. One of the pillars of healthy living.

What better way to build the immune system than going for a brisk 20 to 30 minute walk with your dog. That’s great bonding with your four legged friend and great for you too.

For both of you, exercise does the following:

• using large muscle groups in the legs stimulates the body to produce antibodies and white blood cells to fight off infections and to circulate them more rapidly
• it can help flush bacteria out of the lungs
• helps the skin to detoxify the body – our dogs have sweat glands in their noses and pads of their feet
• improves the cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure
• an increase in body temperature after and during exercise helps the body fight infection just like a mild fever does
• slows down the release of stress hormones like cortisol and relaxes the adrenal glands so you can think more clearly and sleep better.
• exercise with your dog helps her pee and poop to reduce constipation and help prevent urinary tract infections
• prevents boredom and behavioral issues for your dog like chewing and pacing

Your dog will look forward to his regular work out with you and you both will be stronger and healthier. Remember, it only takes 20 min a day …OK maybe 30.

We’ll have a talk about the other common sense approaches to a strong and healthy life in the next blog.

In the meantime, “Stand up straight, eat healthy and drink more water!”

Enjoy your dog and stay safe

Dr. Janice