Make pets part of a New Year exercise resolution
January is the month for New Year resolutions but, as the middle of the month approaches, some of the good intentions may have begun to tail off so Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery in Horsham is urging owners to recognise how a pet can help them to stick to an exercise regime.
Research carried out by PetPlan demonstrates that 60% of the general public would prefer running alongside a companion so a dog is the perfect solution. It is just as important for dogs to have exercise too and even just a gentle dog walk a day can keep them fit and healthy whilst helping an owner to burn up to 252 calories per hour.
However, as information from Equisearch shows, animals such as horses can be part of an exercise schedule too. Mucking out a stable can burn up to 159 calories whilst unloading or stacking 100-pound hay bales can burn up to a staggering 249 calories, which is particularly pertinent in the Sussex countryside.
Merely carrying a bag of pet food for a small animal such as a hamster can burn a respectable 85 calories whilst bathing a dog can get rid of another 119 calories. Finally, for a spot of fun whilst killing those calories, a sprightly game of Frisbee can burn 103 calories.
Julian Peters, owner of Arthur Lodge Veterinary Surgery, commented: “Many people do not realise what a calorie-burner some activities involving animals can be. From taking care of a horse to cleaning out a hamster cage, there are many opportunities for exercise available to animal lovers and not just dog owners on their daily walks. With regard to dog walks, it is important for owners to remember that dogs need to pace their exercise as well so do not expect a dog to jump straight from a short stroll during the week to a 20 mile hike at the weekend as this will tire them out if they are not used to it.”