Pet Owner Survey Finds Misconceptions About Aging Pets; Debunks Myths, Offers Advice on Improving Senio...( HAMPSHIRE Ill. Feb. 7 /- The new ...),Health

HAMPSHIRE, Ill., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Aging Pet Care Awareness Survey has uncovered some alarming results that indicate pet owners across the nation could use a little pet care 101.

The most surprising statistic from a survey of more than 1,000 people by PetAg, Inc., a leader in senior pet care product development: more than one-third of American pet owners don't know when their pet will become a senior. See http://www.petag.com.

With 71 million pet-owning households in the U.S., there are millions of pet owners unable to plan for or adapt to an aging pet's changing needs without further education. For instance, while most dogs and cats begin the senior years at age seven, larger dogs start sooner. Following are the top refuted myths:

MYTH: Pets and their owners age differently.

FACT: "Given the parallels that exist between humans and pets in the aging process -- graying hair, weight gain or loss, dental health, loss of cognitive function and more -- many of the same health and wellness strategies may be implemented in pets to increase longevity," said Dr. Kelly Swanson, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois who teamed with PetAg to design the survey.

Two-thirds of those surveyed consider taking nutritional supplements themselves to ensure personal long-term health. "This demonstrates a belief that nutritional intervention is an important part of a health regimen," said Darlene Frudakis, president and COO for PetAg. "Just as humans' nutritional and physical needs change as they age, so do pets, and we've developed our nutritional supplements and functional treats with that in mind."

MYTH: As long as my pet isn't overweight, it isn't a major health concern.

FACT: Pet owners don't often consider that underweight pets can have just as many health concerns as overweight animals. Weight loss can be in indication of poor dental health, poor app
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