How To Exercise Your Dog? Ask Your Veterinarian

Exercising Your Dog
Not only can exercise extend your furry friends' lives, it can also expend some of their nervous energy and make them a little less likely to chew on the living room drapes
Source: www.healthypets.com

YOU know it's good for you. You know that exercise can give you energy, help you maintain a healthy weight, keep your muscles and joints flexible, help you live longer, and above all, make you feel better.

For all the same reasons, your pets need to get up and get moving. Not only can pet exercise extend your furry friends' lives; it may also expend some of their nervous energy and make them a little less likely to chew on the living room drapes.

The thing is, nobody's filled pets in on all of these benefits of exercise. Without someone to lead the way, they're not going to run laps or do leg lifts in their spare time.

So as a wonderful pet parent, part of your job is ensuring your animal family members get safe, enjoyable exercise on a regular basis -- whether they're cats, dogs, turtles, or ferrets! All pets need some physical activity to live a happy, healthy life.

Different pets need different amounts of exercise, so you'll want to talk to your veterinarian before starting your pet's workout program. With your veterinarian's approval, you can embark on an exercise program that won't seem like work at all -- to your pet, it's play.

Dogs on the run
Dogs can be great fun to exercise, because they can get you out and moving yourself. You don't want to hit the ground running with your pooch, though. Just as with any animal -- or person -- you'll want a doctor's okay before you start your dog's fitness routine.

"Begin with a visit to the veterinarian to discuss your plans and ensure your dog has a clean bill of health," says Dr. Jay Geasling, member and past president of the American Animal Hospital Association. "After your veterinarian gives you the go-ahead, start your dog on suitable exercise for beginners."

Just like people who aren't used to exercise, dogs should start off slow. Moderately paced walking and swimming are a good way to start -- they let canine athletes build their cardiovascular and muscle strength without putting undue stress on their joints.

A daily 10- to 15-minute walking or swimming session is a good start; you can build to an hour a day if Rover seems up to it. If, after a few months, he's doing well and can handle long, fast walks without fatigue, he can graduate to jogging with you.

Once he's adapted to the exercise, you and your dog can run and walk to your heart's content, if you take a few precautions:

> Keep a close eye on your dog. Watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing. If your pup wants to stop, let him. Dogs that overdo it can suffer strained tendons or ligaments or other orthopedic problems.

> Don't expect your fuzzy buddy to be a weekend warrior, even if you only get exercise on the weekends yourself. After a long week without exercise, your dog may be ready to get out and burn off energy. But because of their enthusiasm, many of the popular breeds, such as Labrador and Golden Retrievers, will overdo it.
> Safety first -- keep Rover on a leash when you run. Even the best-trained dogs can run into the path of a car or a territorial animal. And if you have to run when it's dark out, put reflectors on your dog's collar as well as on your clothes.

> Concrete and asphalt are tough on the paws, especially on hot days. Try to run on dirt paths or grass as much as possible. Gravel, cinders, and road salt can also irritate paws.

> Take it easy in extreme weather. If it's freezing cold or hot and steamy out, either keep your run short or play a little indoor fetch instead.

> The more active your dog is, the more water he'll need. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water before and after your run. If you're going for a long run, take some water along for him.

If your dog is getting bored with running or walking, take heart: there are other ways to get him the exercise he needs. A 15-minute game of fetch makes for a good workout.

Supervised play with other dogs is a good option too. Tug-of-war is not a good game because it can damage his teeth and may increase aggressive behavior. If you have the time and your dog has the inclination, you could even try running him through some agility obstacle courses, which incorporate a range of activities.

If you're interested, your veterinarian may know of a dog agility organization in your area.

Source: How To Exercise Your Dog? Ask Your Veterinarian

[88DB Picks] Pet Cafés

Pets Welcome - With these unique eateries, there’s no reason to get bummed out by the “No Pets Allowed” law

1. Pawtobello

Address: No 33 Mohd Sultan Road #01-04
Contact: 6887 4806
Website: www.pawtobello.com

Besides distinguishing themselves with their Doggie party packages and birthday cakes, Pawtobello Pet Café also takes pride in their elaborate medieval French décor. With doggie meals costing about $12 and $6 for large and small portions respectively, you can amuse yourself at this pet café without spending a bomb on an exceptional dish your pooch is not capable of appreciating. Pawtobello Pet Café also has human menus, with main dishes priced below $20.

2. Urban Pooch

Address: 530 Balestier Road #01-07 Monville Mansion
Contact: 6252-5046
Website: www.urbanpooch.com.sg

Urban Pooch is a pet café that offers a place for dog owners to chill and unwind with their beloved canines. Both you and your pet would be given equal amount of attention at this pet boutique. Judging by its looks, we can hardly tell the difference between the dog and human dishes! So do make sure you make a double check with the waiter lest he serves you your pooch’s main course.

3. Dogoholics

Address: 519 Serangoon Road
Contact: 63966641
Website: www.gggrrr.com/viewforum.php?f=114

Although items on their menu like Curry Poodle, Beagle Burger and Sweet & Sour Spitz can be alarming, the friendly staff of Dogoholics Pet Café would be sure to comfort you. It’s a place that caters to dog-related functions like club meet-ups and pet birthday bashes. Their specialty Dogo cookies cost between $4 and $7, and are a unique touch to an already extensive menu.

4. US Doggie Bakery

Address: 355 East Coast Road
Contact: 6346 7168
Website: www.usdb.com.sg

Being the only dog bakery on this island to be approved by Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), creating dog food is serious business for US Doggie Bakery. They stock muffins, pies, and over a hundred different types of cookies (which are sold for $7 to $8.50 per 200g). Consultant veterinarians and nutritionists have vetted all their dog recipes, so you can be ensured that your pooch is enjoying healthy dog treats there.

Is Your Pet Obese?

It's hard to say no to the pleading eyes of a pet, but someone's got to do it.
By Stephanie Marilyn Martin

JUST how much pet food should you be serving your pet dog or pet cat? As pet owners, we tend to make the mistake of overfeeding our furry friends because we feel guilty for not being able to spend a lot of time with them. Such practice is definitely not healthy.

Why? Because overfeeding your pet poses health risks — including arthritis, respiratory problems, heart complications and a greatly shortened life span. As with human beings, obesity leads to illnesses that don’t manifest until the later years.

Since you see your pet everyday, it can be hard to tell the difference if he’s already putting on extra flab. A simple test for obesity would be for you to lightly run your hands over your pet. If you can’t feel his ribs or backbone when you do this, it’s highly likely that your pet is overweight.

It’s hard to say no to the pleading eyes of an adoring pet begging for more pet food. When this happens, keep in mind the suffering you and your pet will have endure when he falls prey to obesity-related illnesses.

Here are a few tips to avoid obesity in your pets:

Do not feed your dog the “free-food” way. Leaving pet food out for your pet all day long is one of the surest ways to over-eating.

Don’t always follow feeding guides. When feeding your pet, always use your better judgment. The guidelines written behind your pet’s food packaging may not always be appropriate. Amount to feed depends on each individual pet’s age, size, and activity level.

Exercise your pet. Make sure to fit a slot in your busy schedule to play with your pet. Train your pet to have a daily run or you can even hire a pet sitter to exercise your pet for you. Not only will this shed the extra kilos, it will also keep your pet energetic and in better spirits all day long. Every effort counts.

Take him to the vet. Severe or sudden weight gain (even weight loss, for that matter), should always be checked by the veterinarian. Your veterinarian will also be able to prescribe your pet with a better diet and nutrition plan.

Age equals slower metabolism. For the older Joes, slower metabolism could be triggering the weight gain. There are various low-calorie, high-quality pet food available in the market. To know what’s best for your pet, ask a professional.