The right exercise

A puppy recently joined our family as a companion for our older dog. How much exercise should the two of them get, given their different ages?

Lorren Barham, veterinary therapist at Pet Wellness Worx, replies

Regular exercise is key; even if your dog is very old or very young, a short walk daily is much better than trying to make up for lost time and overdoing it on a weekend, as this will put them at risk of injury.

Make exercise a part of your routine: schedule 10–15 minutes for a park walk or late-afternoon swim every day.

Regular exercise helps to prevent obesity, which is a risk factor for osteoarthritis. It’s also a good form of stimulation and helps to burn off energy that may otherwise cause dogs to become destructive or depressed at home.

Seniors Pets are considered senior at seven years old and geriatric from 10. Exercise is important as it helps to maintain bone density, keeps joint stabilisers strong, and prevents stiffness. Senior pets should be exercised regularly but at a slow, comfortable pace; two short walks a day is best.

Be aware of over-exercising older dogs; look for symptoms of fatigue such as panting, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and shorter length of stride – and structure your walks accordingly. Another option is walking on an underwater treadmill as it’s only 38% weight-bearing, encouraging normal range of motion with little or no force on joints; check out saapra.co.za for a list of therapists who offer hydrotherapy.

Puppies Exercise should be restricted. A good rule of thumb is five minutes per month old and that should include all activity such as play, walking around at home, etc. This is because their bones haven’t matured and over-exercising can cause damage to bone ends that are still cartilaginous; this can result in arthritis later in life, amongst other problems.

Exercise should also be halted after acute injury or when a dog is recovering from a muscle strain or operation.

The summer months might put certain breeds with flat faces, such as pugs and French bulldogs, at risk of heat stroke; adjust walk times accordingly.

CONTACT petwellnessworx.co.za