By Jill Sherer Murray for WebVet
When exercising with your dog , it's important to take it slow and not push yourself -- or your dog. Consider this scenario: You’re in the park tossing a Frisbee to your previously sedentary and sadly out-of-shape dog when it leaps into the air and drops down on the grass with a shriek. Uh oh. Now the dog’s got a torn ACL in the knee that needs surgery, and you’re wondering how you could’ve avoided it.
Not uncommon, said Dr. Tony Kremer, a veterinarian in Chicago. “We see tears, sprains, and regret all the time, all the result of a 'weekend warrior' mentality.”
The good news is you can prevent these and other injuries by exercising your dog properly – and staying away from the following mistakes other pet owners make in keeping their dogs active.
Mistake #1: Too much too soon
Just as we shouldn’t go from lying on the sofa to running a marathon, neither should our animals. Instead, consider the dog’s age, health and exercise history before exercise – and then, think progression, said Andrea Metcalf, a fitness expert in Chicago.
“If your dog isn’t used to moving, walk for 10 minutes a few times a day and build gradually,” she said.
It’s an approach that’s not only best for your dog, but also the most organic, said Dr. Marcella Ridgway, a vet at the University of Illinois in Urbana.
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