Your beloved dog is not the fastest dog around any longer. Age has caught up with him and he is slowing down over time. This makes for a lot of challenges as you want to make sure that he is healthy and happy for years to come. It’s more important than ever that your dog gets the exercise it needs to make sure to avoid the common health problems that senior dogs usually get.
You’ll need to have a specific plan for the ideal exercise routine for your older dog. Since they have some limitations it’s essential to understand how they should exercise to get the most out of it. This article will cover some tips to help you create an exercise that works best for your dog.
1 – Check with your vet
Before you do anything, you should schedule a visit with your vet to have your dog checked out. As dogs get older they may have some health issues that you don’t know about. Since dogs can’t tell us what they’re feeling you probably think that everything is fine.
Your vet will give them a thorough check-up to make sure that they are healthy enough to be exercising the way you plan. If there is anything wrong then they can recommend the right treatment to be able to prevent an illness from getting worse.
Vet bills can get expensive so it is far better to have them treat any issues now instead of when they become bigger problems. You should also look at some pet insurance reviews so you can pick one that will help you avoid paying huge vet bills.
2 – Keep the sessions short
Your dog is not going to have much endurance for long walks or hikes so it’s important to not push him too hard. Make sure to keep the sessions short and give them time to rest before heading out again. It’s good for them to walk around 30 minutes per day at a minimum.
Look to limit each outing to around 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Go twice per day so they can rest in between to avoid any painful joints or difficulty breathing.
3 – Maintain a routine
To keep your dog in shape you will need to be very consistent with their exercise routine. If you only go once in a while without regularity then they are not going to get much out of exercising. Make sure to go every day and stick with a schedule that works for you and the dog.
4 – Watch the weather
Very hot weather and very cold weather are going to make it very difficult to exercise your dog. Wet weather also adds a risk of injury if they slip while running. It is a good idea to take a look at the weather report to see if it is a good idea to follow through with your exercise plan.
If the weather isn’t cooperating then you can change the plan and do some exercises indoors. If that isn’t an option, look to exercise at the time of day when the weather is best.
