Fitness and improved health is always a good New Year’s resolution for your dog. With the change in temperatures, there’s a natural shift in exercise habits that tends to afflict dogs as much as their human counterparts. Cutting back on extra treats is always helpful, but increasing exercise too is even more effective. That’s right, the secret to healthy living is a good diet and regular exercise.
Just as with humans, excess weight can lead to a multitude of problematic health conditions, not the least of which are joint problems and injuries, heart and lung diseases, and a shortened life span. An ounce of prevention is worth a longer lifetime with your dog!
How do you know if your dog is overweight? With your dog in a standing position, look down from above and look to see a clearly defined waistline. Dogs should have an hourglass figure, with a waist narrower than chest or hips. If you can clearly see ribs with a drastic waistline, your dog might be a little too lean. If you cannot see any waist whatsoever, or a round convex shape on both sides, your dog could probably stand to lose a bit of excess weight.
Now is a great time to reconsider your dog’s current diet. Are you truly familiar with the brand, the makers, and the ingredients? Are you confident that it’s the right diet for your dog? Looking for a second opinion just in case you’ve missed something? Stop in to Healthy Pet Products on Perry Highway in McCandless. They offer a huge variety of excellent options, and most importantly they can tell you all about the different options, and help you select the right one for you. A 10 minute visit could save you hours of confusing internet research and is sure to leave you confident in your selection.
Increasing the exercise routine is a great way to make sure your dog is burning enough calories to utilize the nutrition without storing excess fat. Longer or more frequent walks are always ideal, but doing so outside can be tough this time of year. Indoor doggie daycare and/or treadmill training are fantastic options. Daycare gives your dog the chance to not only exercise but also socialize with other dogs for hours at a time. Perhaps the best feature is that it fits into any routine because you can just drop your dog off and get him exercised while you do other things!
Treadmill training is an excellent way to accomplish regular, controlled exercise in a comfortable environment. Most dogs take to treadmill training quite nicely. In daycare or boarding settings, it’s a nice break from the free romping in the dog park, and it is a perfect solution for dogs who don’t do as well in group play. The treadmill is especially useful for anyone who is going through rehabilitation after a knee injury. Dogs are very fragile after this surgery but they still need to exercise to rebuild muscle tissue in a safe and controlled manner. Ask about treadmill training during daycare or your next boarding visit.
K9 Kingdom is a full service pet care facility located at 155 Lake Drive in Wexford, PA. Catering to dog owners who treat their pets like members of the family, K9 Kingdom offers doggie daycare, boarding, training, grooming, an indoor dog park, and a self-service dog wash. Focusing on a warm and friendly professional environment, we encourage visits and tours any time we’re open. Stop by from 7am – 7pm Monday through Friday, or 10am – 3pm on the weekends. Visit us on the web at www.myK9kingdom.com or call 724-935-3647.
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