Your dog will benefit greatly from exercise both physically and mentally. In addition to maintaining muscle mass, which can help prevent injury, it also helps to maintain cardiovascular health, reduce obesity, or maintain a healthy weight, according to Dr. Associate Professor Wanda Gordon-Evans works at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Consider this if that doesn’t motivate your canine companion to get up off the couch: According to Dr., regular exercise can improve your relationship and support your dog’s need for routine. The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management’s hospital administrator, Robin Downing, is located in Windsor, Colorado. Dogs and people get along well because we both value structure in our worlds, which is one of the reasons for this. Dogs truly appreciate the predictability that regular exercise brings to their daily lives because it is in their nature to do so. ”.
However, this isn’t an invitation to overwork your dog. According to Downing, “one myth I occasionally run into is that if a dog is overweight or obese, the owner must then suddenly erupt into a rigorous exercise plan for the dog.” “There is a real risk of joint injury, back injury, respiratory distress, or cardiovascular problem should that occur.” For obese dogs who exercise too vigorously, heat stroke is a major issue (and frequently fatal). ”.
Moderation is key. According to Gordon-Evans, “a lot of the time, the task’s intensity and impact matter more than how long it takes to complete the task.” Running, jumping, or hard play are much more likely to cause distress in a dog with heart disease than is walking. ”.
Read on to learn about some signs of overexertion if you want to start your dog on an exercise routine or just want to make sure your current one is reasonable. Working with your dog’s veterinarian to develop a personalized exercise plan is crucial, according to experts, especially if your dog has health issues, is young or old, or is a breed that doesn’t tolerate intense exercise well.
Playing is more important to some dogs than having sore feet, says Dr Veterinarian Susan Jeffrey of the Truesdell Animal Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin Some dogs will continue to run even after their footpads start to tear. ”.
According to Downing, who is board-certified in veterinary sports medicine, rehabilitation, and pain management, pad injuries can be excruciatingly painful. Like walking on a blister that has ruptured on the bottom of your foot Dogs struggle to get off their feet as quickly as humans do, making any type of walking agonizing. ”.
Look at the bottom of your dog’s paws. Overworked pads may tear and show skin flaps, or they may appear red, worn down, or thinner than usual. If infected, you may see swelling or pus. “Think of concrete as being like sandpaper. A running, spinning, or jumping dog’s pads may be harmed, claims Jeffrey, a preventative healthcare professional.
If the sliding stop is made frequently enough to wear off the tough outer layer of the pad, Gordon-Evans, a board-certified veterinarian in surgery and veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation, adds that sudden stops can also result in paw pad injuries.
Another indication that your dog may be getting too much exercise is muscular pain and stiffness, according to Downing “This usually appears after the dog has rested after an extended period of exercise.” The owner might witness a struggle when the dog is ready to stand up. The dog might balk at climbing stairs or eating the next meal because it hurts to reach the food dish on the floor. She may even cry out when first moving about. ”.
According to Downing, the worst-case scenario for a dog is exertional rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which the muscle tissue degrades. “As the muscle dies, it causes excruciating and generalized pain. The breakdown byproducts can damage or destroy the kidneys. ”.
By avoiding weekend warrior syndrome, you can lessen aches and pains (as well as other injuries), advises Jen Pascucci, a rehabilitation specialist at Haven Lake Animal Hospital in Milford, Delaware. “Many business owners work all week and squeeze two days of vacation into a week’s worth of exercise.” Since dogs are typically not properly trained, they will often ignore signs of muscle and joint pain and fatigue in order to engage in play and spend time with their owners, which is bad for the dog. ”.
According to Pascucci, a licensed veterinary technician, some dogs have such a strong desire to work and play that they will push through extreme exhaustion and potential injury. “That is the real danger. It is the owner’s responsibility to establish limits and restrain the high-drive dog to prevent harm and exhaustion brought on by excessive exercise. ”.
Dogs can become overheated during the warmer months, which raises the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, according to Jeffrey. It can be fatal if the body temperature rises to more than 106 degrees. In addition to potentially fatal hyperthermia, dogs can also become dehydrated or experience breathing problems. ”.
Because they can’t cool off as effectively as other breeds, brachycephalic breeds, which include short-nosed dogs like Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, Boxers, and Shih Tzus, are even more at risk. In Queens, New York, at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, veterinarian David Wohlstadter “I’d never go for a run with a French Bulldog or a Bulldog; I think that’s a terrible idea. ” But he’s seen it. He continues, “Just because your dog wants to, doesn’t mean it’s safe for them.
Your dog’s age is also a factor, Jeffrey says. Overexertion can also occur in very young and old dogs because they have trouble regulating their body temperatures. ”.
Extreme exercise can impact various dog joints, resulting in strain and sprain. Although the wrist and elbow are also at risk, toe joints are particularly vulnerable, according to Downing. Dogs’ front limbs bear about 60% of their body weight, which puts a lot of strain on the joints. Excessive exercise can cause stifle (knee) joint issues in dogs with very straight rear legs, such as strains, sprains, meniscal tears, and tears in the cranial cruciate ligament. ”.
Some dogs are at greater risk of developing joint injuries. She continues, “which puts their limbs at risk for easy injury in the face of excessive exercise, especially in breeds that are long and low to the ground, like Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, and Pekingese. ” Back problems are also common in these breeds.
Overexertion can result in immediate pain and actually hasten the ongoing degeneration of joint tissues in an older dog with osteoarthritis, according to her.
Jeffrey advises young puppies to get some exercise, “but not too much as it can result in joint problems later in life,” especially those of large and giant breeds.
Dogs with leg injuries may limp or favor one leg over the other, according to Wohlstadter, a certified canine rehabilitation specialist. Dogs occasionally lower their heads when walking on their good leg and raise them when walking on their bad leg. ”.
Also be aware of behavioral changes. For instance, “you might want to investigate this with your family veterinarian if your dog normally likes to run with you but plops herself down on the pavement and refuses to go further,” Wohlstadter says.
According to Pascucci, inconsistent exercise can cause both of these things and injuries. “One hour of unsupervised play does not equal one hour of exercise.” When off leash and left to their own devices, most dogs will engage in short bursts of activity before resting. Injury is inevitable if a dog is allowed to run around and play in the backyard five days a week and then expected to jog 10 miles with an owner the next day. ”.
She advises active dog owners to alternate days of cardio exercise (consistent exercise for at least 20 minutes) and strengthening with one full day of rest, which is a free day with no scheduled activities.
Dogs must exercise to maintain their best levels of physical and mental well-being, but the type of exercise they need will vary depending on their age, breed, health history, and condition. According to Jeffrey, some dogs are built for vigorous exercise while others are not. The endurance of hunting and working dogs is greater than that of brachycephalic breeds. The working and hunting dogs can exercise for a great deal longer before becoming fatigued. ”.
Even though it’s important to recognize the warning signs of overworking your dog, the best way to avoid problems is to work with your veterinarian to develop a safe exercise program for your pet.
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How Much Exercise Does Your Puppy Need?
Even though we don’t have exact measurements, there are a few sensible factors you can take into account to create a plan for keeping your puppy active and healthy.
For starters, consider your dog’s breed. Both a Bulldog puppy and a Border Collie puppy will enjoy playing, but a Border Collie puppy probably has a higher tolerance for exercise and outdoor play in the heat than a Bulldog puppy.
Breed size matters, too. Studies suggest a connection between excessive exercise and orthopedic disease in large-breed dogs. Even if your 8-week-old Great Dane could keep up, forcing him on a daily two-mile walk is probably not a good idea. Most people would not consider taking a smaller-breed puppy on a hike that long, but larger breeds can deceive us into thinking they require longer walks than is healthy for them due to their higher energy levels.
A good place to start is by finding out as much as you can about your breed. Large and giant breeds mature slowly and grow quickly, so you may need to wait until they are fully grown before engaging in certain activities like agility jumping. While toy breed puppies need small, frequent feedings throughout the day because they mature more quickly, you may need to adjust the amount of exercise they receive as a result.
While all breeds require mental exercise, high-drive, working breeds like Belgian Malinois, Border Collies, and German Shepherd Dogs require more mental exercise than other breeds. Just as crucial as exercise itself is incorporating training sessions and interactive toys into their exercise routine.
Your puppy’s exercise needs will change as she grows. Veterinarians advise limiting exercise for young puppies to brief walks and numerous playtimes spread throughout the day, with plenty of time for naps.
Older puppies will require more exercise. If your veterinarian helps you determine that your dog is healthy overall and up for it, a six-month-old dog may be able to go on longer walks or even short jogs, but strenuous agility training or lengthy hikes over difficult terrain are still potentially dangerous.
How long is too long for a walk, and what about puppies that never seem to get tired no matter how much they run around? You can gradually wean your puppy up to longer walks with time, taking plenty of breaks to prevent him from becoming exhausted or hurting himself.
The amount of exercise your puppy needs depends on your puppy, despite all advice to the contrary. This is true for humans as well.
“On the one hand, we know that wolf pups travel miles with their packs. On the other hand, we are aware that the risks associated with a sedentary puppy who engages in weekend-warrior exercise are higher than those associated with a puppy who engages in continuous, self-regulated exercise,” says Dr. Marc Wosar, MSpVM, DACVS, an orthopedic specialist. “Unfortunately, there are no hard-and-fast rules in these cases. ”.
Owners are thus forced to struggle for solutions on their own. The best place to begin is by speaking with your vet, and Dr Instead of spending too much time worrying about “how much exercise is too much,” Kuhly advises owners to keep in mind that, while there are no set guidelines for what constitutes too much exercise, failing to get enough exercise over the course of a lifetime is much more dangerous.
Your veterinarian is a great place to start your research. Additionally, seek advice from breed enthusiast groups, consult your breeder, and ask other owners about their experiences raising puppies of the same breed. Most importantly, keep a close eye out for your puppy’s signs of excessive fatigue or lameness as these could indicate more than just too much exercise and indicate a more serious issue.
There are a few safety guidelines that can help keep your puppy safe while exercising, regardless of the age of your dog.
Puppies enjoy playing in all forms, including chasing, tugging, wrestling, and romping. This is good news for owners because it gives their dogs a wide variety of exercise. Additionally, variety may lessen some of the risks connected with routine exercise and promote canine companionship.
Consistency is important for puppies. Taking long runs on the weekend and short walks during the week can hurt your puppy’s growing body, but consistency doesn’t mean you have to repeat the same activities. Vary the type of your puppy’s activities. If the weather is warm, try taking your puppy swimming to help get her used to water. Go for walks on different surfaces, like grass, wooded trails, and even pavement to help her grow comfortable in new environments. Find puppy playgroups and obedience classes, and introduce her to new toys and games.
Above all, make sure she engages in at least three workouts per day. Two of these could be quick neighborhood walks to practice walking on a leash, and the third could be an energetic game of tug in the backyard or hide-and-seek inside the house. You may discover that as you get to know your dog, she will let you know when she is too exhausted to continue playing. This is your cue to take advantage of a brief period of peace and quiet while your puppy naps.
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I’ll never forget the expression my trainer from the puppy obedience class gave me when I told her with pride that my puppy had joined me on a two-mile hike. Two miles was definitely too much for my three-month-old dog because, as she explained, puppies, especially those of large breeds, shouldn’t be overexercised because this could lead to joint and bone issues.
Although I never repeated that error, it did raise a few questions for me. How much physical activity is too much for a puppy, and how can you tell when it’s enough?
In the world of dogs, there is a lot of discussion regarding puppies and exercise. There isn’t a set formula for determining your puppy’s development, despite the fact that veterinarians, breeders, and trainers all seem to concur that too much exercise is just as detrimental as not enough.
While it would be nice if there was a chart you could look at that was 100 percent accurate and divided puppies by breed and age and explained how much exercise they needed each day, complete with mileage and a puppy activity tracker, the truth is more complex.
Veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly notes that a combination of a dearth of scientific research and a range of individual viewpoints is the cause of some of this confusion. She draws a comparison between the ongoing discussion about exercise, sports, and children, noting that there are numerous approaches to exercise and that each has benefits and drawbacks.
How to exercise a puppy safely
Undoubtedly, there is a lot of misunderstanding and discussion regarding the unsupported claims and slightly exaggerated worries about exercising puppies. However, it appears that the main issue with over-exercising a puppy is that it may impair a young pup’s musculoskeletal development. It’s important to note, though, that the issue is much more serious for large and giant breed dogs.
What does this mean for us? Well, it pays to be aware of the warning signs and the precautions to take in order to prevent over-exercising a puppy. To begin, here are a few general pointers for safely exercising a puppy.
FAQ
How do I know if I’m over exercising my puppy?
- Stiffness and sore muscles. Your dog has probably had a little bit more than they can handle if they are stiff during or after exercise, if they have trouble climbing stairs or jumping.
- Exhaustion after exercise. …
- Slowness or lagging behind during exercise. …
- Heat exhaustion.
How much exercise is safe for a puppy?
The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals advises setting a goal of 5 minutes of exercise twice daily for each month of age as a good place to start. For instance, puppies should exercise for 15 minutes twice daily starting at 3 months old, increasing to 20 minutes twice daily at 4 months, etc.)
Is 2 hours of exercise a day too much for a dog?
Most dogs should get 30 minutes to 2 hours of exercise per day, but some breeds require more. Some breeds were created for more active lifestyles than others, and when used as companion dogs, they cannot perform the tasks for which they were bred.
Should I exercise my puppy everyday?
All dogs need daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. If you’re just beginning a routine of walking your dog, go slowly.