Have you wondered if there was a way for your pet to stay fit and healthy?

    While an important part of keeping your pet healthy is making sure they eat the right foods, most people do not consider that exercise is also part of this equation. Like any animal (including humans), our pets need to get some physical activity every day. If they do not, their health can be compromised – and even lead to serious disease – including obesity! This article will cover how we can help our furry friends with regular exercise to ensure good health throughout life.    

How much exercise is enough?

Various factors must be considered when deciding on a suitable amount of daily exercise for the animals in our lives: age, size, breed type, overall health, and activity level. This means that some pets will need more exercise than others to stay healthy.

For example, a high-energy dog breed may require more exercise than a low-energy cat or toy poodle. However, just because your pet is of a certain type does not mean they do not benefit from exercise either! Even older pets can get some physical activity into their day, which helps keep them fit and spright for longer.

How can I know if my pet needs more exercise?

Pets are usually very good at letting us know when they feel sick or particularly lethargic for long periods of time, so it might be worth doing an informed check-up with your vet if you think your animal is unusually tired and listless. This may be a sign that they are not getting enough physical activity which, in turn, could lead to other problems such as obesity – especially if they also tend to overeat!

Pets who do become obese (just like those who become overweight in the human world) can develop serious health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and joint issues such as arthritis. As we all know, these problems significantly affect their quality of life but also increase our veterinary bills.      

What activities can be done with my pet?

The good news is that there are literally hundreds of different activities available for both cats and dogs to help them get some exercise. While some of these are more time-effective than others, all will help your animal reach their daily exercise quota and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Pets who like to swim can take part in endless amounts of fun activities at the pool or beach. Of course, dogs (and sometimes cats) can also happily get involved with games such as fetch, while some pets enjoy running alongside bicycles, too!       

What if my pet does not want to exercise?

Just like us humans, our pets can be stubborn about getting out for regular activity, so it may take some encouragement to inspire them to play games or go for regular walks. However, once they see how much fun it is to run around outside, they may well begin enjoying themselves too!