How to Exercise with your Pet

Exercise is very important in helping you and your pet live a healthy and long life. You can also benefit from having routine exercise with your pet.

Benefits of exercise:
• Improves strength, fitness, flexibility, and movement
• Increases energy levels
• Helps decrease stress and can help improve you and your pets mood
• Improves sleep
• Prevents boredom
• Decreases bad behavior
• Improves the bond between you and your pet
• Prevents obesity

The type and amount of exercise can differ greatly with breed, age, and energy level. It is important to choose the right type of exercise for your pet with the help of your veterinarian.

Patellar Luxation

Patellar luxation commonly affects smaller dog breeds. It is a condition whereby the kneecap (patella) intermittently or permanently sits outside the groove in which it should sit. When the patella is out of the groove it causes an unstable joint and the dog often holds it’s back leg up.

Unfortunately, this condition is inherited from its parents. Overtime, this constant moving of the kneecap can cause arthritis. Early diagnose is best, so that the condition can be managed - pain medication, nutraceuticals, weight management and surgery if caught early.

Breeds commonly affected:
Pomeranian
Cocker Spaniel
Yorkshire terrier
Chow Chow
Bedlington terrier
Japanese Chin
Pug
Dachshund

Constant Chewing

Unlike people, where allergies cause sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes, dogs show allergies by chewing at their feet and legs. On white-haired dogs, the orange tinting is a sign of saliva staining and chronic allergies. Other signs of chronic allergies are hair loss, thickened skin, and black pigmentation.

Common allergies:
• Fleas
• Food
• Shampoo
• Pollen
• Grasses

Your veterinarian can help run tests to determine what your pet may be allergic too.

Scooting

Scooting can be caused by a number of reasons:
• Fleas
• Worms
• Anal Gland Problem

If your pet regularly gets its parasite preventives, it may need to be examined by the veterinarian. Anal glands, particularly in smaller breeds, can become blocked. If these glands are not expressed regularly, they can cause extreme discomfort and also become infected.

Why are dogs attracted to smells?

Unfortunately, like their wild counterparts, dogs are attracted to smelly things like dead animals, manure, droppings, and garbage. It’s not fully known why they do it, but there are some tips to help prevent it from happening:
• Keep your pet fenced in your yard
• Pick up droppings in the yard
• Secure trash so they cannot gain access even when it is knocked over
• Keep your pet on a leash when walking
Train your pet to come and stay so that you can avoid them rolling in smelly things