Exercise For Weight Management In Pets
Written by Shula Berg BVSc CertAVP(GSAS) GPAdvCert(SASTS) MRCVS
Clinically reviewed by Elizabeth McLennan-Green BVM&S CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS
Table Of Contents
- Intro
- Walks
- Play
- Working for food
- Complementary therapy
It is well understood that to lose weight, we must ingest fewer calories than we are burning each day, and the same is true for our pets. While reduced calorie intake is the fundamental part of a successful weight management programme, increasing energy expenditure through exercise and play can have a considerable impact on weight loss. Increasing physical activity levels also helps to prevent loss of lean body mass and muscle, improve flexibility, and prevent joint stiffness.
Walks
For dogs, increasing their daily exercise is a simple place to start. Aim to increase walks by 1/3, either by making existing walks longer, or adding an extra walk in to your routine. Dogs who have arthritis or are unfit may find it easier to add an extra short walk rather than increasing walk length.
For dogs who are fairly active, consider adding or increasing the amount of time off lead during the walk, as this can significantly increase the mileage they cover. Don’t forget to consider the terrain as well; just like us, dogs have to exert more energy to move uphill or over uneven ground.
Play
Increasing playtime is not only a great way to burn energy, but can also strengthen the pet-owner bond. For dogs, playing fetch is ideal even if it’s only across a room; anything that keeps them moving will help increase their metabolic rate. Some dogs will fetch a ball in the garden or on a field, just be careful not to encourage too many sharp turns or jumps as this is a good way to cause injuries or aggravate sore joints. Other dogs prefer toys to play tug-of-war with, in which case encourage lots of side-to-side and back-and-forth!
Cats can enjoy playtime too, but often need more encouragement to get going, especially if their weight is slowing them down. Most will be persuaded with a fishing rod toy; not all will jump around but even a gentle patter across the floor is a good start. Other cats prefer toys with textures or sounds; these can be bought, however things around the house, such as scrunched up tinfoil, can be just as enticing. Laser pointers can be a very simple way to encourage movement, just be careful to never shine them directly in your cat's face.
Most cats are solitary creatures, but dogs often enjoy playing with friends. Try meeting other dog owners for a walk together. You’d be amazed how much more your dog will move when there’s a bit of friendly competition! For intelligent dogs who get bored easily, try a new challenge like agility training; the more they’re concentrating on learning something new, the less they’re thinking about the effort they're putting in.
Working for food
Making pets work harder for their meals has two huge benefits. Firstly, it increases energy expenditure, which helps with weight loss. Secondly, it increases the length of meal times, so pets enjoy their food more and don’t gulp it down in two bites.
Slow feeders, puzzle balls and KONG toys can all be used to slow down meal times. Treat dispensing toys can usually be filled with regular kibble. These require the pet to roll them around the floor, occasionally resulting in a biscuit or two falling out as a reward. Kibble can also be used in play sessions; try hiding a few biscuits around the room and leading your cat to them with a laser pointer (this also helps them feel like they occasionally win the game).
Cats are often more resistant to working for their food, as the reward doesn’t outweigh the effort. Simple changes can all help, however, such as splitting food into small portions around the house, or moving food bowls to the higher levels of a cat tower. All activity counts!
Complementary therapy
We tend to think of hydrotherapy as treatment for after injuries or surgery, but it can also be great for weight loss. Pets who are very overweight and struggle with mobility can really benefit from exercising in water. Just like with us, swimming can burn a lot of energy but is gentle on the joints. Look for an accredited hydrotherapist; they should require your vet to sign off on treatment before booking your first session.
Other complementary therapies include physiotherapy and acupuncture. If your pet is inclined not to exercise due to sore joints, whether related to their weight or not, addressing this can help their ability to move more. If you think your pet would benefit from pain relief, please book an appointment with your vet.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.
Page last reviewed: 20th December 2024
Next review due: 20th December 2026