Have you ever thought about your pets needing exercise? It’s one thing to think about taking the dog for a walk every morning, but what about your cat? Have you considered working out your guinea pig?
It turns out that pets are more like people than you think! They need proper nutrition and daily exercise just like we do. According to The Republic, “Studies indicate that 50 percent of pets are overweight, and 25 percent of those are obese,” said Miranda Meppen, a veterinarian at Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital.
The key to helping your pets reach their proper weight is by portion control, exercise, and good nutritious food. Funny, that sounds familiar….
So how can you help your pets be healthy? Why not have them join you on your journey to maintain good health!
Feed them fresh veggies like you do yourself (yes, it’s good for them). Many dogs actually enjoy carrot slices or the occasional green bean as a treat.
When you go for your running in the morning, take your dog with you! If you go running on your treadmill, let your dog run on it while you are eating breakfast or taking a shower. Just make sure that someone is keeping an eye on him/her and making sure he/she stays safe.
If you have a cat or another animal that isn’t practical to take running with you, consider finding alternative ways to get your pet exercising. Playing with you pets is a great way to get them moving! If you have a cat (or another pet that would be interested) use a laser pointer.
If you have a caged animal like a bird or a guinea pig, there are many ways to help them exercise even inside their cage. Make sure there are plenty of toys to play with, like a wheel or a climbing rope. You also might want to consider setting them loose for 5 minutes each day, letting your birds stretch their wings or your hamster go sprinting.
When selecting pet food, make sure it’s loaded with nutrients and skimpy on the calories (just like your food!). When feeding them daily, make sure you only give them a serving size. For the average dog, that’s only 1 cup of dog food (as in a measuring cup, not a huge soda cup). It’s best to read the serving size on the packaging and consult with your veterinarian for determining the appropriate portion size for your pet.
