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Suzanne Sadek, of
Detroit’s Run Doggy Run canine fitness company, recommends the following tips
to make sure your pet maintains a healthy weight and fitness level.
Get Physical: The best way to ensure your pet is
healthy and happy is to see your veterinarian annually. Your vet can determine
whether your pet has any health problems that may affect their diet and
fitness.
Keep Active: Your pet, young or old, should have at least one exercise
session per day; ranging from 15 minutes for a very young or older pet, and up
to 60 minutes for a healthy adult. In addition to the health benefits, getting
your pet up and out will curb aggressive behavior and anxiety.
Treat Your Pet Well: The best treats are natural, like those with a defined
meat source, wheat flour or dehydrated meats. Never give your pets chocolate,
onions or raisins; they are toxic to both cats and dogs.
Shower Your Pet with Love, Not Food: “Over-treating” can lead to weight gain. Try using a scratch
behind the ears or a game of catch as incentive instead of food.
Beat the Heat: Get out in the early morning or late evening to exercise
your dog. Never exercise your dog in high temperatures or high humidity. Unlike
people, dogs don’t have efficient body-cooling systems, and it takes dogs much
longer to cool off than their human companions.
Pace Your Pooch: Pay close attention when running with your dog. If your
dog is lagging behind, slow down! Keep your dog at your side, and they can go
the distance safely.
Don’t Eat and Run: Don’t feed
your pet a big meal for at least three hours prior to heavy exercise, and an
hour or two afterwards. Small snacks during the course of the day are okay, but
giving your animal a big meal could cause them to have cramping and vomiting.
Get Fit with Fido: Many Americans struggle with their
weight, and so do many middle-aged and senior pets. Your dog is a great motivator
for getting out and walking to the park, or exploring a new neighborhood. Both
people and pets need to stay active to stay healthy, plus it creates a solid
bond between them!
Play with a Purpose: Pets need to exercise their bodies and minds. Play
hide-and-seek or “keep-away,” or have your pet retrieve a ball or run an
obstacle course. However, don’t play games that encourage aggressive behavior
in your pet, such as tug-of-war or games that pit your strength against theirs.
The Parks Have Gone to the Dogs: One
great way for pets to stay active is to socialize with other pets, whether it’s
at the park or at home. If you’re looking to add another pet to your family, a
site like Kijiji, which fosters local connections, makes it easy to welcome the
perfect pet into your home. In fact, there are currently over 1,200 listings in
the pets category on Detroit.Kijiji.com. Kijiji also hosts a Pet Adoption
category, where many local shelters advertise pets.
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