Senior special | PETS
http://www.facebook.com/petsmagazine August 41
infl ammation of the joints that’s caused by
wear and tear over time. Dr David says keeping
joints moving helps with the pain of arthritis.
Moderate physical activity keeps ligaments
fl exible and improves circulation to stiff and
sore joints. Exercising also helps keep your pet
in shape — gaining weight can exacerbate
arthritis, as it puts more strain on the joints.EXERCISE RIGHT
When exercising a senior pet, choose enjoyable
activities that can be done regularly and that
are gentle on your pet’s aging body.
If your pet seems reluctant to take part in an
activity they once enjoyed, stop. “If the animal
is uncomfortable doing an activity or exercise,
you shouldn’t force them,” Dr David says.
If there are things that your senior dog
especially loves, you may need to modify them
to accommodate aging joints. For example, if
your dog is crazy about catching a Frisbee, toss
it at ground level so he doesn’t have to jump
in order to catch it.
For dogs that are nuts about catching tennis
balls, Dr David suggests tossing balls into water
so the dog has to swim for it. “If a dog runs on
hard surfaces, then twists and turns and even
overruns the ball, this can
be damaging to the joints
— the next day they’ll be
sore,” he says. Swimming
is much gentler on the
body and forces the dog
to slow down as well.SLOW DOWN,
DOGGIE
Take walks with your
dog at a more moderate
pace. Allow him to sniff
about and stroll along
comfortably. Choose
walks that are less
physically taxing on
older joints, for example,
fl atter, less hilly routes.
Senior dogs may also
feel a little anxious from
time to time and maybe comforted by familiar sights and sounds
— if your dog seems unsettled, stick to routes
you’ve travelled before.
Don’t forget your dog’s coat if it’s chilly
outdoors, and if it’s uncomfortably warm out,
Dr David says it’s better to stay indoors. “Rethink
your walk until it cools down and make sure
your dog isn’t getting overheated,” he cautions.COOL CAT GAMES
If your cat no longer wants to sprint through
tunnels, adapt physical activities to those that
are less tiring physically. Choose things that
engage your cat’s natural hunting instincts —
try hide-and-seek by placing treats around the
house. Cats love to play with simple toys, shiny
tinsel or toilet-paper rolls — roll these along
the ground, rather than tossing them up high.
You can also encourage your cat (or dog) to
play with a torch, so they run after the moving
light. And don’t retire your cat’s scratching post.
Even though your feline may no longer want to
leap up onto it, older cats will enjoy stretching
up alongside it.
Allow your cat outside to stretch her legs
and get a little more exercise during the day
in a long cat run, or while wearing a leash andWalking your older pet through water can be a good low-impact exercise.PLF070_pg040-042_Seniors & Exercise.indd 41PLF070_pg040-042_Seniors & Exercise.indd 41 6/19/2017 2:41:27 PM6/19/2017 2:41:27 PM