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 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 ten- 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. |
Getting the cat off
the couch
Cats can make laziness into an art form: snoozing in the afternoon sun,
stretching a little before they plop down on your lap for the night. But
as immobile as they seem, they still need to get up and moving on a
regular basis. Cats are a bit different than dogs, however--they're
designed for short, frequent periods of intense activity, rather than
longer, slower-paced exercise sessions.
There are some wonderful toys you can buy to get your cat active,
including kitty trees that will let her climb to the ceiling and
mechanical animals she can chase around the room. There's no reason to
reach into your wallet for toys your cat may or may not like, however,
when there is endless entertainment around the house. There are a few
main ways you can entice your kitty into activity:
- Things she can bat. Anything light that moves easily across the floor
can give your cat a chance to practice hitting and chasing. Balled up
pantyhose and paper work well; for some reason the rings that come off
of milk jug caps also seem to be irresistible. Just make sure that she's
not batting anything she could chew up or swallow.
- Things she can chase. The end of a moving string should bring out the
predator in even the most sedentary cat. Again, just make sure she
doesn't swallow the string.
- Things she can explore. Empty boxes and paper bags may get your cat to
climb in, out, and on top.
- Things she can scratch. Scratching stretches and tones the muscles in
your cat's shoulders and back. A scratching post--or even a piece of
cardboard or carpet--can keep her active without shredding your sofa.
- Whatever game you play with your cat, don't use your hand or fingers as
"bait" or as the object of teasing. This teaches him that it is all
right to scratch and bite your hands--a lesson you will want your cat to
unlearn in the future.
The key is to find out which kind of toy is the most tempting to your
cat and to use it consistently. You may have to try a lot of different
activities to before you find your kitty's favorite. Some cats can even
be trained to walk outside on a leash.
Exotic exercise
Yes, your pets in cages need exercise as well. Some small exotic pets,
such as mice, geckos, turtles, or small birds, can get enough exercise
simply moving around their cage. Larger animals, however, may lose
muscle tone or become obese if they don't get enough activity.
There are
a few ways to make sure your exotic gets moving:
- In the cage. Some pocket pets and birds can get plenty of activity
with toys inside their cage. The well-known hamster wheel is an
excellent way for hamsters, gerbils, and rats to burn off extra energy.
Also, most pet stores carry sections of plastic pipe that you can attach
to your pocket pet's cage for extra running room. Climbing ladders and
hanging mirrors and bells can help keep birds active and moving around
their cage.
- Letting them out. If it can be done safely and you can watch him
closely, letting your exotic pet out of the cage is an excellent way for
him to stretch and move his muscles. If your pet is small enough, you
can put him in a "hamster ball" and watch him roam. Some larger animals
like rabbits, iguanas, and birds can safely explore your living room if
you watch them carefully; be particularly watchful for rabbits, guinea
pigs, and the like chewing on electrical cords.
- Getting fresh air. Building a small, securely covered outside pen may
be a good idea if you have an exotic pet. Most larger exotic
animals--including rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, snakes, iguanas, and
turtles--will enjoy some time in the sun and the grass, provided they
are protected from predators. You'll just need to make sure they're
always supervised and that your lawn hasn't been treated with any
chemicals.
- Swimming. Believe it or not, swimming can be great exercise for
reptiles. Many snakes and lizards are thrilled to slither or paddle
around in a few inches of water. Because they carry salmonella, reptiles
shouldn't swim in a bathtub or swimming pool used by people. Instead,
you can buy a children's wading pool and keep it just for your pets'
use.
- Making them fly. If you have an overweight bird that refuses to fly,
you'll need to coax him to walk and to move his wings. One trick to get
him to flap is to hold him on your arm and move that arm up and down;
he'll move his wings to keep his balance.
- Going for a stroll. With training, some rabbits and iguanas can
actually learn to enjoy walking on a leash with a harness.
Whatever their species, animals' need for exercise is just as vital to
their health as their need for shelter, good food, and clean water. For
help in designing an exercise plan for your pet, contact your
veterinarian. |