Arthritis in dogs is a common condition that occurs as your dog ages. Almost 20% of the dogs experience or suffer from osteoarthritis pain in their lifetime. Therefore, exercise becomes an inevitable part of their lives to stay healthy and fit. Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of joints in dogs. When you see your dog struggling to cope with their joint pain and its related symptoms, you must help them with a few exercises that are great for arthritis.
It is to mention, that when dogs are struck with arthritis, exercising can give them too much pain in the initial stages. For this reason, organic CBD oil is a supplement that may help to relieve the pain, the anti-inflammatory properties in the oil will help ease arthritis symptoms.
The Best Exercises For Dogs With Arthritis
If you want to help your dog recover from arthritis pain, practice the five best exercises with them.
Hiking
Hiking is similar to going for daily walks; however, in hiking, the road is a bit ‘off-road.’ Even though you want to be sure that the terrain is flat, switching to an off-road and walking on the sidewalks will keep your dog interested and engaged for daily walks. Varied trails and routes will help in keeping the minds of your dog active. However, when hiking with your dog, you should watch them carefully.
Swimming
Just like how swimming is a great exercise for humans, it shows positive effects on dogs too. In swimming, a dog uses all of its muscle and strength, unlike walking or hiking, while keeping its joint and bones stress-free. If you do not have a pool inside your house, you can try any swimming pool in the neighborhood that is pet-friendly. Swimming is a great exercise to keep your dogs fit and free from arthritis pain.
Gentle Games
A few games that don’t involve too much running and playing can be great for your dog. Hence, it is called ‘gentle games.’ For instance, you can try playing tug of war with them, or short-distance fetch can be a great option too. However, it would be best if you kept a few things in mind while playing with them. Dogs are energetic animals; therefore, you must give them some breaks to catch their breath and not play games that make them run or move around too much.
Walking
Daily walks that aren’t extended for too long are the best exercise for your dogs. Short walks can be great to keep their joints and muscles from becoming stiff. Try a 10-15 minutes walk every day and observe your dog and its behavior. Make sure not to overdo it since it can aggravate their pain instead of relieving it.
Indoor Exercise
If going outside isn’t too feasible or convenient for your dog, you can try some indoor games with them. The restricted play area will not allow them to jump around too much. You can play hide and seek with them or hide their favorite toy and let them find it. These small indoor games can help them move around and keep their muscles and joints flexible and free.
Conclusion
Exercising every day has several benefits for your dog. Apart from helping them cope with arthritis pain, it effectively maintains a healthy weight, keeps the body active, relieves stiffness, and improves sleep. Therefore, give your dog the best care that they deserve. Their health and happiness depend a lot on their ability to move around, so you can try the best exercises with them to keep them happy.