Dogs tired
DOGS may be in danger of overdoing it, vets have warned, because of owners going wild with the walkies.
Exercising too much can lead to injuries, especially in older dogs. And some families have been taking their pet out half a dozen times a day.
Vet Zoe Costigan said: “Chances are your whole family might each be taking the dog for a walk as a reason to roam outside and leave the house.
“There’s a fine balance between too little and too much.
“It’s a good idea to ensure your dog gets out a couple of times a day, because they don’t have too much to stimulate them in the home.
“For some active breeds, like a collie or spaniel, one hour of exercise a day is negligible for their energy levels.”
Different animals have individual exercise requirements dictated by breed, age and lifestyle.
But Zoe, who works for wellbeing firm itchpet.com, reckons general good practice is to walk them twice a day.
She adds: “If you recently started walking your dog numerous times a day and this isn’t what they’re used to, there are dangers.
“It can lead to musculoskeletal issues such as flare-up of inflammatory joint problems, muscular strains, limb discomfort or torn and sloughed pads.
“It is not fair to suddenly start marching a dog everywhere if it didn’t previously go out.”
She also says owners should take special care of puppies.
Lagging
“If you notice your puppy lagging behind, allow them to stop. Or if you see they’re overheating, again, make sure to let them rest.”
The same goes for older dogs in danger of a flare-up of arthritis.
“These dogs need regular, consistent, short exercise. A sudden increase in it, although they may seem fine at the time, will manifest as them being extremely stiff or painful the next day.”
Zoe suggests using lockdown time to train your dog or playing a game of hide and treat as a “fun and rewarding way to promote exercise” indoors.
Visit itchpet.com for more ideas.
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