Murphy here! It's officially
March! So we says it's time to get fit! In March, you ask? Yes! March!
As the doc likes to say, in the Pacific Northwest, if we wait until
summer to get fit, we'll only have about 7 days a year! It was actually
over 50 degrees today - a temperature we even see during the summer in
these parts. So let's get in shape now.
To start getting us dogs
fit, all you need is a leash, a comfortable pair of shoes and an
umbrella or a rain jacket. When starting an exercise program, keep in
mind what shape your dog is in to begin with. A young puppy can play in
house or backyard and tire themselves out. A 2 year old Doberman (such
as myself) will typically need to be run - whether on a leash or chasing
a ball. On older dog, like my "older brother", with arthritis may
simply need a walk to the mailbox and back. If you have never exercised
your dog before, start with a simple walk around the block. If you and
your pup are out of shape, go for walks every other day. We have a
number of dogs that come to
our office who take their owners for walks nearly every day of the
year! Every little bit helps and the hardest step is the first one!
If
your dog is over a year old and in decent shape, consider dog sports!
There are activities for nearly every breed. They range from agility to
dock dogs who leap off of docks into the water, fly ball, earth dogs -
who go through tunnels. Some dogs are happy just going for a run, a swim
or chasing a ball, while others live to hunt. They are a fantastic way
to keep your pets in shape in exciting ways!
If you have a
kitty, exercise is going to be shorter spurts of activity. A laser
pointer gets many cats moving. Play a few minutes at a time.There are
many kinds of toys available at pet stores and online that will catch a
cat's interest. With cats, you are better off trying to get them to
exercise for only about 5 minutes at a time. Do this a few times each
day. If your kitty won't play, try placing their food in small bowls
spread around the house to get them up and moving. Cat trees are also
good at getting cats to move. Most cats love to climb and the climbing
is a great exercise for them. Once again, check the internet and
pet stores for interesting designs and good prices.
The other half
of getting in shape is diet. There are quite a number of high quality
diets available for dogs and cats, now. Though these diets are packed
with good nutrition, they pack a lot of calories into a small volume. Add
treats and look out! Add a sedentary lifestyle and you have a formula
for pet obesity.
How do we attack the dietary issues in
overweight pets? First, stop feeding your pet from the table. Second,
there are number of high quality diet/weight loss diets available. Ask
us about Metabolic Diet. It is the highest tech weight loss diet
available. A number of our patients are finding their pets are losing
weight on this diet, without feeling like they are starving. Always use a
measuring cup when feeding so you know how much your pet is actually
receiving. Third, limit treats. Whatever you give for treats, remove
that same volume of food from your pet's food bowl.
For weight
loss and weight control, controlling the diet is even more important
than exercise. Many pets are demanding about treats. With their health
and best interest at heart, it can't be stressed enough that as their
owner, you must be strong enough to resist their begging. Keep treats to
a minimum and keep them small.
I will have more fitness tips for you through the month. Stay tuned!
Murphy says "Let's move it in March"
posted: Mon Mar 10 13:37:29 EDT 2014 by: CAH Tags: "Clinic Specials" "News"