Walking your dog is a necessity that goes well beyond giving them time to do their business. It is not only important for your dog’s health to get regular exercise, but it can also benefit your health and provide endless entertainment for the both of you.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of walking your dog.
Keeping Your Dog Healthy with Walks
Many aspects of overall health can see a positive impact with the addition of regular walks throughout the week, including:
Urinary Health
Regular walks can help regulate your dog’s digestive tract. Emptying the bladder regularly helps keep this part of your dog’s anatomy healthy since bladder infections are more likely to occur when urine sits in the bladder for long periods.
Digestion
In addition to maintaining your dog’s urinary health, you can also regulate your dog’s digestive tract with regular walking. Providing your dog with scheduled outdoor trips can help prevent constipation, especially for those who prefer to do their business during a certain point in their daily routine.
Joint Health
In larger breeds and older dogs, immobility is a common health problem. All joints need to work, even old ones. Much like humans, keeping joints in motion helps improve their function, and being sedentary can cause chronic stiffness and pain.
Weight and Body Condition
Burning more calories than consumed is a reasonable solution to obesity, even in pets. With the exception of certain diagnosed medical conditions, an excellent way to help your dog burn off excess calories is with regular exercises, like walking. Best of all, it’s a great way to keep the pounds off for both you and your pet.
How Aloha Veterinary Acupuncture Can Help
Sometimes, walking is not enough to keep your pet happy and healthy. If you have recently been feeling like your pet has been slowing down on your regular walks or would like to get into the habit of walking more frequently but are worried about an older pet, veterinary acupuncture might be a good route for you and your pet.
You can look at the benefits of veterinary acupuncture, and feel free to contact us with any additional questions you might have. You can also schedule a video consultation with Dr. Kho, who can discuss your pet and address any questions or concerns you may have about veterinary acupuncture!
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