Every April we celebrate Active Dog Month, an initiative created to encourage dog parents to keep their furry friends active and moving to reduce their risk of illness.
We love celebrating here at Pets in a Pickle, taking our dogs on lunchtime walks and savouring the start of Spring.
Haven’t heard of Active Dog month? Not sure why it’s such a big deal? Our partners over at FirstVet have shared some insider knowledge as to why it matters so much, read on to find out more.
Make sure you check out our competition where you could be in with the chance to WIN a fitness bundle for you and your dog to help you celebrate Active Dog Month.
Better Health and fewer illnesses
Regular exercise helps our dogs combat obesity and obesity-related illnesses ranging from long-term health problems like Arthritis to life-threatening ones like Diabetes and Cancer.
A dog is classed as overweight when their weight is 10-20% above their ideal weight. Body Condition Scoring is a handy way to track this.
This involves four main assessment areas:
- Ribs – Can these be felt with a light touch? They also shouldn’t be visible as they may then be underweight.
- Waist – Is their waist visible when you view them from above?
- Abdominal line – This should be raised slightly when looking at your dog from the side
- Vertebrae – Can you feel their vertebrae at the base of the tail?
Read more about Body Condition Scoring on the FirstVet website.
improved Mental health
Not only does keeping active look after your pet’s physical health it also has a big effect on their mental health.
Staying indoors for the majority of the chilly winter can be boring for our pets (just like us). Incorporating daily activity, be it walks outdoors or a game of tug in the living room, creates routine and provides mental stimulation which keeps our dogs not only healthy but happy too!
cements lasting bonds
Last, but not least, Active Dog Month is the perfect excuse to spend more time with our four-legged family members.
Spending more time together doesn’t only benefit them but it has also been found to help improve our well-being too! When we’re out walking with them we’re improving our own health and developing closer relationships with them at the same time.
Paw-esome news all around!
We hope you found this article useful and are excited to get moving with your doggos this month. Follow us here and on our socials, @petsinapickle, for more doggy tips and tricks throughout April.
Why not get a free quote today to make sure your dog is covered for those little things that are just outside our control!
Special thanks to our friends at FirstVet for sharing their advice for this article!
With a policy from us you can get access to unlimited video calls with vets through FirstVet.
For more pet information and facts, check out the other news on Pets in a Pickle. To find out more about the range of policies, get in touch with the team today. Call them now on 0800 044 1111, or contact the team online here.