Modern times have promoted lack of activity due to the busy schedules people lead. In order for people to live healthy, well-balanced lives they need to stay active with an exercise routine. The same is true for pets as they continue to naturally become more sedentary than their predecessors. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention about half of the nation’s pets are considered overweight. This is why exercise with your pet is more critical than ever before.

“Any activity with your pet helps encourage the human-animal bond that people have with their pets,” explains David Sessum, registered veterinary technician and rehabilitation specialist at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “Regular activity helps promote a healthy lifestyle in both the owner and the animal.”

The benefits of exercise are outstanding and well worth the time for you and your pet. Not only can exercise improve your pet’s health; it may also alleviate some of its nervous energy which can help in many factors.

Sessum notes that any type of pet can exercise. Exercise can be tailored to the specific breed. For example, Labrador retrievers were bred to retrieve so a game of fetch can provide a healthy exercise as well as satisfy the dog’s instinctual desires.

“With dogs, simply taking them for a walk on a regular basis is beneficial,” explains Sessum. “With cats, enrichment activities such as playing with toys like a small ball or a string can promote a healthy lifestyle. Pocket pets, such as gerbils, can be placed in an exercise ball and allowed to roll around for a good workout.”

It is important to take precautions prior to starting any exercise with your pet. Make sure that your pet does not overdo it. Also, the more active your pet is the more water it will need. Just like people, pets need to stay hydrated after a strenuous exercise.

“With dogs, an owner playing fetch in extreme weather conditions can lead to injury or illness for the owner and the dog,” said Sessum. “Problems occur when owners try to force exercise on their pet. If a pet is accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, or lying around all day, forcing them to exercise can lead to injury or serious health problems.”

If you are concerned with your pet’s health and are not sure if it is fit enough to start an exercise program, it may be best to consult with a clinician so they can perform a wellness exam.

“The wellness exam can also include a body condition score to assess if a pet is a healthy weight,” explains Sessum. “If a pet needs to lose weight, a weight reduction program can be started. If a pet has a known orthopedic or neurologic condition, a consultation with a clinician can help prescribe specific exercises to help improve strength and also evaluate a pet’s pain level and prescribe pain medication if needed.”

Keep in mind to try to make exercise fun. If you approach exercise as play time, your pet will be more receptive to the idea.

Exercise can help you look, feel, and be your best. When you partner exercise with your pet, the effects are most visible for the both of you.

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About Pet Talk: Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.