in Weight Management...
Start your new exercise regime slowly, as their
weight drops and fitness improves your pet’s
activity levels will rise and the walk can be
extended. For dogs, start with a brisk walk.
Walk quickly on the outward leg and then allow
them to sniff and explore on the way back, so
the walk is fun, but also achieves its purpose.
Add obstacles such as logs to jump, or head
to the beach where resistance from sand and
shallow water makes them work harder. You
could also join an agility class or set up a small
obstacle course in your garden.
Fetch or even hide and seek with
a favourite toy are other ways
to make exercise fun.
A very overweight or arthritic dog
can find walking difficult, so it is
best to start with a number of shorter walks, or
try swimming to reduce stress on their joints.
Most cats exercise when they are outside
playing or hunting but some prefer to stay close
to their food bowl. These cats need a little more
encouragement. Start by stimulating their natural
hunting instincts. Feathers on string or ping
pong balls flicked across their line of sight make
excellent toys. They might start with just a paw
stretched out to grab it but don't give up. A little
effort is better than none at all and short bursts
of energy all add up. The key is to leave them
wanting more so the next time that toy flicks
past their eyes they'll be ready. You can also hide
some biscuits from their meal allowances and
encourage them to hunt for their food. This has
the added benefit of relieving boredom as well
as encouraging exercise.
In any weight loss plan exercise is essential
but, knowing where to start can be difficult.
First you must make a plan you can stick to and then be realistic about what your pet can
manage. Just twenty minutes extra exercise a day improves muscle tone and makes a
significant difference to fitness levels.
by
Tracey Blandford RVN,
Friars Moor Veterinary Clinic
The
Importance
of Exercise
Dental problems in animals can be
due to broken teeth, recession of
gums allowing bacteria to decay
tooth roots or simply poor dental
hygiene leading to an accumulation
of tartar with subsequent tooth
decay. In many cases by the time
dental disease is detected there's
little we can do other than remove
the damaged teeth and clean the
remaining healthy teeth. If we
can detect dental problems
earlier we can address the
predisposing factors to
prevent tooth loss.
The best way to
detect dental
problems early is
to look at your
pet's teeth. If you
have problems doing this then make
an appointment with a veterinary
nurse to examine your pet's mouth
for you. Things to look for are:
l
Inflamed gums
that look red,
swollen, or may bleed
l
Broken teeth
that look irregular
or sharp
l
Tartar
build up on the teeth, this
usually appears as a brown or
yellowish discoloration particularly
on the canines and back teeth
l
Halitosis
(bad breath)
If you notice any of these problems,
make an appointment with your vet
for a full evaluation. Generally, major
tartar build up has to be removed by
doing a 'dental'. This means a full
scale and polish of the teeth under
general anaesthetic. Once the teeth
have been cleaned we can then look
at preventative measures to try to
avoid further build up. This can
include changing your pet's diet so
the food they eat mechanically
removes tartar, using antibacterial
agents in their drinking water and, if
your pet will allow, brushing their
teeth. If there is only minor tartar
accumulation then performing some
or all of the above preventative
measures can remove tartar.
If you think your pet may have
dental disease then please, contact
your vet. Severe problems need
to be addressed for the short and
long-term health of your pet. Less
severe problems can often be
rectified before causing problems.
Remember
Exercise should
be fun, both for your pet
and for you. You can get fit
together and enjoy a healthy,
active future.
Dental disease
Dental disease in cats and dogs is a problem that is often overlooked until
your pet has severe disease present, sometimes seen as trouble eating.
by
Sophie Armstrong Bell BVSc, MRCVS,
Cliffe Veterinary Group
DID YOU KNOW...
Dental disease affects
around
85% of dogs
over
the age of 3 years...