The following article is presented by Tammara Moore, DPT.
Did you know that a majority of veterinarians believe that the number one problem plaguing our nation’s dogs is obesity? It is estimated that at least 25 to 40 percent of our nation’s dogs are overweight. Studies show that this trend in dogs’ health correlates with the rising obesity in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 humans in our country. The US Surgeon General and the American College of Sports Medicine recommend 30 minutes of exercise for our bodies most days of the week, which totals 150 minutes of exercise per week. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 60% of all adults do not engage in regular exercise! This translates into a huge rise in obesity and sedentary lives for both humans and their canine companions.
How much exercise does your dog need? Every dog needs regular physical exercise. It does not need to be intense or strenuous. The key is regularity and consistency. A sedentary dog is at risk for other problems such as kidney disease, musculoskeletal injury, respiratory distress and decreased liver function. Not only does proper exercise and diet strengthen the immune system, exercise can prevent negative behaviors such as excessive chewing, barking and restlessness. Dogs need to play, and exercise time is playtime! Recommended activities that use large muscles and exercise the heart and lungs are walking, hiking, playing with other dogs, jogging or swimming. Remember, that your dog may or may not have your level of endurance, and his/her activity should be monitored closely for signs of fatigue.
The benefit of exercise to our bodies (which may have parallel effects on our canine friends) include: longevity and quality of life; reduces the risks of many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer; reduces depression, anxiety and promotes psychological well-being; controls weight; prevents falls in the elderly; and helps maintain healthy muscles, joints and bones.5, 6, 7
Make sure you visit your veterinarian to discuss beginning a new fitness routine, particularly if your dog has chronic or new health problems. The American Animal Hospital Association suggests starting younger and middle-age dogs on a moderate program of walking 10-15 minutes 1-2 times daily and progressing up to 1 hour a day as time permits. Exercise is also very important for young dogs, especially 1-2 years of age when muscles and bones are still forming. At the same time, high-impact exercise such as running on asphalt may lead to early joint, bone or muscular injuries and should be minimized until after 2 years of age.
When starting your dog on an exercise program, remember to start with an easy 5-to-10 minute leash walk and progress slowly. Make sure to warm up and cool down for 5-10 minutes before and after each exercise session, starting out at a very gentle tempo and progressing to 3-5 days per week. Most veterinarians recommend a total of 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise for healthy canines. To avoid injury, start out slowly and gradually on leash. If your dog is overweight, avoid putting excessive stress on the joints with explosive activities and jogging. If your dog is in top shape already, starting with short bouts of fetching and catching and off-leash activities can build muscles and stress ligaments in a healthy way. However, off leash activities should be restricted to areas where no car traffic occurs. Be sure when walking your dog to use a lead that’s short enough to give you control over your dog. Leashes reduce accidents, so in an uncontrolled or unfamiliar environment, it is safest to keep them under leash control at all times.
Not only does your dog depend on physical exercise for health reasons, it’s fun and releases stress. It can be a time to socialize and reinforce obedience commands. Remember to use the sit-stay command if your dog becomes aggressive, out of control or excessively engages in rough-housing. Remember to reinforce that you are the “top dog” and “leader of the pack”! If you have not attended obedience training, now is a good time to start.
One of the major problems that can cause overuse injuries is the “weekend warrior syndrome.” This applies to dogs just the same as it applies to humans. Exercising excessively without adequate conditioning can lead to serious orthopedic injuries for you or your pet. Carrying excessive weight increases the tendency to tear ligaments and damage joints that leads to wear and tear and a progression of arthritis. If your dog has a weight problem, the recommendation is to start swimming and decrease dietary intake. (Remember to check with your veterinarian on further advice on appropriate diet guidelines and exercise programs if your dog has specific health problems.)
Dogs won’t always let you know if they’ve overexercised or strained a muscle or a ligament. Therefore, you as the pet owner need to be cued into your pet’s needs and physical abilities. Remember, you wouldn’t run five miles without building up to it slowly and it’s not safe for your dog to go out and run excessively if he or she is not conditioned to do so. When exercising your dog, pay close attention to signs of too much exercise, which could include: restlessness (ie. stopping and then getting up again); limping, and/or excessive panting. A dog’s down tail position may also indicate severe fatigue. Overexertion may also result in refusing to eat or inability to eat without vomiting.
Injuries are easier to identify if you know how your dog normally looks and feels. Get to know how your dog’s normal relaxed muscles feel by gently running your hands along the spine from the neck to the tail and down each of the legs to the paws. The more comfortable your dog is with being handled, the easier it is to assess if an injury does occur. In the summertime, remember asphalt can cause severe burns to the paws. Always check your dog’s feet for the presence of burrs, thorns or abrasions. Make sure to bring water for activity over 30 minutes. Dogs can’t sweat to cool themselves like we can! If you allow your dog to run off leash, make sure your dog is well trained and has no physical health problems that would limit off-leash mobility. Make sure the environment is free from car traffic or distractions that may pull a dog into car traffic.
If your dog has difficulty resuming a walking program, there are services available that include canine conditioning. Our facility in Oakland, California: SOL Companion Canine Rehab + Conditioning Center, offers underwater treadmill and aquatic exercise programs at a reasonable cost. These custom workouts can help your dog reduce weight by improving cardiovascular and overall conditioning. It is also a good way to reduce the risk of injury by taking the stress off your dog’s joints while building healthy muscles.
Please take some daily time to enjoy the wonderful connection with your pet while reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for both of you! Most of all, have fun!
1. Anderson, R. S. (1973). Obesity in the dog and cat. Veterinary Annual, 14, 182-186.
2. Mason, E. (1978). Obesity in pet dogs. Vet Rec, 86, 612-616.
3. Brown, R. G. (1989). Dealing with canine obesity. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 30: 973-975
4. Edney, A. T. B., & Smith, P. M. (1986). Study of obesity in dogs visiting veterinary practice in the United kingdom. Vet Rec, 118(14), 391-396.
5. US Department of Health and Human Services. (1996). Physical activity and health: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
6. Kealy, R. D., Lawler, D. F., et al. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220 (May 1), 1315-1320.
7. Hazewinkel, H. A. W., Kealy, D. R., Mol, J. A., & Rijnberk, A. (1998).
