Fight Arthritis With Scientifically PROVEN Exercise For Your Dogs.
by Michael S. Brooks on March 20, 2023
by Michael S. Brooks on March 20, 2023
Michael has been in the pet nutrition space for over 12 years and is also an avid outdoorsman. He frequently takes his 8-year-old labrador/border collie mix with him on frequent camping trips. His passion for pet nutrition is focused on extending the life-long mobility and life expectancy of dogs.*
Most of dog owners think exercise is just a way to keep your dog happy or to simply prevent your dog from being obese. Yes, it is a health concern, but exercise affects our dog's behavior as well. Exercise sharpens mind and alertness and provides tons of physical benefits as it keeps joints limber and muscle mass in good shape. So, what's a proper exercise?
We narrowed it down to the best 5 exercise routines or activities based on their safety and effectiveness. We need to understand that exercise routine or activity should depend on dog's age and breed. There is no "one size fits all" routine. The basic principle is that owners should keep an eye on the intensity, dog's reactions, and then adjust. But first, let's tackle how exercise helps, how frequently and how it should be properly done.
Inactivity increases dog's risk to obesity, diabetes, respiratory disease, heart disease, and/or arthritis. Surprisingly, arthritis manifests in dogs even in their young age. The common symptoms of canine arthritis are limping, difficulties in getting up, and muscle atrophy. Just a tip, they tend to lick their affected limbs more often.
A lot of pet sites nowadays have the wrong perception when it comes to proper exercise for dogs with arthritis. Some recommendations don't take breed and/or age into consideration. However, still, lack of activity worsens the condition. So how to choose a good exercise routine? We identified the most important factors for choosing the type of exercise perfect for your dog: Fit for any Breed, Time Consumption, and Materials To Prepare.
But first, before you dive into any of the exercise routines, there are essential steps you need to consider. We need to have the list below ticked off before we put on our jogger pants and take out the leash. Here are the things to remember before we begin any exercise routine:
More Sore Muscles - As you put more pressure on the muscle than what it can bear, it causes excruciating and generalized pain. The breakdown products can in turn lead to kidney damage or failure.
Heat Exhaustion - Dogs can also become dehydrated or have difficulties breathing. Regularly monitor your dog's temperature and breathing.
Joint Injury - Doing the wrong exercise can cause strain and sprain in various dog joints. A lot of strain are hidden, but toe joints are particularly susceptible. Wrist and elbow are also vulnerable.
Wear-and-Tear on Paw Pads - Overworked pads may appear more red, worn away, or thinner than normal.
Consult Your Vet First: A veterinarian is equipped to assist you what exercise, diet, and medications or therapies are actually needed for your pet.
Keep It Light: Light activities such as walking and swimming help waking up sleeping muscles, make ligaments and tendons be flexible again, and start circulating blood to stiff joints. Keep them short but regular — 15-30 minutes of activities five days a week is a great start.
Warm Up: A minute or two of walking or gentle playing before jumping to the routine will help pets with arthritis warm up and ready.
Cool Down: Cool down periods are just as important as warming up for exercise. As your pet completes the exercise routine, they may be all wound up. Be attentive as this is not good and can in fact do more harm than good.
Watch For Signs Of Exertion: Be watchful for heavy panting, pain or other signs of overexertion. If they do occur, stop the activity immediately.
We have collected research from the latest studies and clinical trials to ensure that our criteria take into account the most important details, presenting you with the results, and, in the process, saving you time and money.
This by far is the most popular exercise choice because of its low impact on joints and muscles. Swimming is specially a non-weight bearing activity that can help increase your dog's range of motion and build up muscle mass.
Walking around the neighborhood or at a nearby park is an easy way to keep our dogs active. It doesn’t have to be one epic walk a day either; you can take your dog on a couple shorter walks throughout the day just to keep them moving.
Dog Yoga can be a good way to get your dog in a exercise and breathing. It can help them build muscle, strengthen blood circulation, improve flexibility, and lose fat. Of course, Doga is also a great way to bond with your dog.
Indoor games are the easiest way to keep our dogs entertained and active, especially when the weather isn’t great. You can teach your dog some basic nose work such as “find the treats,” use interactive toys, or play hide and seek.
Try some short sessions of fetch or tug. Pay attention to your dog afterwards to watch for any signs of discomfort. If your dog shows any signs of difficulties, change the activity into something a little gentler. If your dog is achy afterwards it means the session was too long, or that the activity itself is too high impact
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