10 dog nutrition & fitness tips you both need in your life
January 7, 2022
Nutrition and exercise go hand in hand when you are trying to lose weight or just live more healthily. At Alpha Veterinary Surgery in Teddington, we love dogs, and we love helping owners improve their dog’s health and happiness. Our team have put together some proactive dog nutrition and exercise tips to help you make a plan.
You can help other dog owners in Greater London by sharing your dog wellness tips on our Facebook page:
10 top tips for creating a dog nutrition & fitness plan
- Choose a good quality, nutritionally complete, dry dog food that will support your dog’s health, life-stage, activity levels, and dental health.
- Some owners like to add wet food, look for one with good quality ingredients.
- Measure/weigh your dog’s food portions to ensure they are getting the right amount for their daily needs. Remember that more exercise may need more food. Ask us if you are unsure.
- Ensure your dog drinks plenty of water, you can always put some in with their food.
- Reduce treats and switch to healthier options like carrots and cooked green beans.
- Write down the exercises you want your dog to do and when, so you have a clear guide to keep you bothon track.
- Even if weight loss isn’t the focus, it is a good idea to write down weight goals (lose/gain/maintain) and measure changes every 2 – 4 weeks. This way, you can adjust the exercises or nutrition quickly if any issues arise. Pop into our Stanley Road practice to get your dog’s starting weight. We can also do a body condition score to understand where your dog is at on the scale – just request a Nurse appointment.
- Increase the time, speed, and/or incline of your dog’s daily walk to burn more calories, give muscles more of a workout, and mix-up their regular routine.
- Try something new like dog agility if your dog is up to the challenge – be careful with older dogs and take it slow to start with.
- Consider a dog fitness app that lets you track routes, activities, and achievements.
Now you are ready to create your dog’s ‘healthier in 2022’ plan.
Don’t forget to make time for rest and recovery in your plan to avoid injury, burnout, or loss of interest for you both. Dogs do need daily exercise, so it is a good idea to do standard walks on some days (or all days if you have a very energetic dog) and try something more up-tempo on others. We hope you enjoy your new plan as much as your dog will!
Call us if you would like more advice or to book a body condition score appointment with our Vet Nurses on 0208 943 2303.
Help your friends and family, and other Greater London dog owners by either sharing our article on your social media profiles or,
