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Exercise for Dogs and Cats
By Dr. Jean Hofve
Here at Only Natural we tend to emphasize nutrition, and rightly so because it
truly is the foundation of good health. However, one of the other great
cornerstones of vibrant health and long life is exercise. Moderate, regular
exercise will help keep your pet at a healthy weight and keep the joints
flexible. It also provides mental stimulation, which is important for all pets,
but especially those who spend most of their time indoors.
Big dogs make great hiking companions, especially here in rugged Colorado, where
we’ve joked for years about the Labrador Retriever being the “state dog.” Most
medium-sized and large dogs seem able to handle all kinds of weather. But it’s
easy to let a smaller dog become a couch potato, going out only to answer the
call of nature and hurrying right back in. They’re not built for long treks, and
they can disappear completely in a foot or two of snow!
The first step with any dog is to make sure you have the right collar or
harness. Studies have shown that excessive pressure from a neck collar can
damage a dog’s trachea (windpipe), so a
head collar or
walking harness may be a better choice for dogs that pull. Small dogs do
exceptionally well with supportive harnesses such as the
3-in-1 Vest Harness that also doubles as a secure seatbelt for car travels.
Of course, a good leash that’s sturdy and easy to handle is always a good
investment! An
Earthdog Hemp Leash,
Bags On Board Retractable Leash,
Planet Dog Zip Lead Retractable Leash, or a
Freeleash Hands-Free Dog Leash are all good options to get out and get
moving with your dog.
With the short days of winter upon us, don’t forget to prepare for walking in
the dark. The
Rufflective Safety Vest,
Ruff Wear Beacon Safety Light, and the
PupLight Dog Collar Safety Light are designed to increase your dog's
visibility to cars to increase the safety of night time walks.
If it’s icy outside, or if your dog has furry paws that snow can pack into,
consider canine footwear to protect those tender toes.
Pawz Biodegradable Natural Dog Boots are an easy choice for everyday
outings.
Ruff Wear Bark'n Boots GripTrex are a highly durable long-lasting boot for
more rigorous outdoor adventures.
When you can’t get out for a walk, there are many fun, interactive toys that
will keep your dog entertained and moving, like the
West Paw Design Zogoflex Huck, the
Babble Ball Interactive Toy, and
IncrediBubbles.
Cats need exercise too, and while it’s possible to train a cat to walk with a
cat harness and leash, at-home interactive play is the best way to keep your
cat’s mind and body engaged and resilient. A 15-minutes session once or twice a
day is ideal.
To help your cat get the most from these
interactive toys, the key is to “BE the prey.” Use your imagination, and
have fun! If you’re a mouse, run, jump and hide; if you’re a bird, flutter and
dive. Always let your cat catch the prey in the end, and follow up with a
high-protein treat such as canned food. This not only exercises your cat’s
physical side, but also satisfies the mental/emotional “hunter” part—an
important consideration in multi-cat homes to prevent aggressive behavior. It’s
also a terrific way to help chubby kitties lose weight, as well as to prevent
boredom and the unwanted behaviors that sometimes go with it!
When you start an exercise program for your pet, use the same common-sense
precautions you would with any other new activity. Don’t go hog wild all at
once; your pet can get sore muscles and even cause damage to joints, because
they don’t know when to stop and will usually keep going as long as you can.
Build up your pet’s endurance gradually, and watch for signs that he’s had
enough - wanting to lie or sit down, or showing any degree of labored breathing.
You’ll notice that all of these suggestions have one thing in common - you!
Sure, you can leave toys out for your pets to play with, but their greatest joy
is to play with you, so even though the holidays can be hectic, please make room
for that quality time with your best buddy.
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