Have you have watched the Trust me I am a Doctor or other wellness programmes on television? The new big thing that they are using more to determine longevity is muscle mass and strength.
This is something that we are so pleased is becoming more talked about as age-related muscle loss or sarcopenia is something we monitor our patients for. When we are running our hands over your dog or cat we are feeling for body condition and muscle coverage ie fat vs muscle which a trip on the scales alone won’t tell us.
It has been shown more and more that better muscle mass reduces mortality from chronic disease. With muscle mass ideally making up 45% of your pets body and 350 pairs of muscle across the body it is vital to keep them strong.
Maintaining muscle mass involves the same as it does for us, good nutrition, and exercise. In younger pets we want to ensure that the muscle grow steadily with the bones as they strengthen, in their prime we want to ensure they have good coverage to stand them in good stead as they age. Once they become seniors it is all about maintaining the muscle. Healthy muscle mass aids in keeping mobile, increased immune function and increased healing from injury.
So the next time your pet is in for a check-up you will know that we are discussing their exercise and nutrition to ensure they stay strong and healthy.
