Lots of us decide that January is the time to turn over a new leaf, eat better, exercise more and generally take better care of our well-being, so why not get your pets on board this year too?
Involving your pets in your efforts to keep fit can make it much more enjoyable and give you that extra motivation to get up and active! Our pets are also great at improving our mental well-being, boosting our mood and helping us to de-stress.
Getting Out and About
Running is a very popular way to keep fit with your pet. Dogs love a good run-around and taking them along will be sure to make the exercise much more enjoyable! If running is not your thing then why not try upping the pace on your dog walks? Power walking is a great way to keep fit without exerting the pressure onto your joints that comes with running. Covering that extra distance will also keep your dog in great shape too!
Whilst out walking or running in the winter be sure to be safe and be seen by using a beacon light on your dog's collar or harness.
A Poop Pouch can also be ideal when out exercising with your dog if your sports gear does not have pockets. Green & Wild's sell a couple of stylish leather and suede Poo Bag Pouches which hold 3 or 4 bags. Comes with a chrome spring clip in which to attach to a lead, treat bag or clothes.
Long Paw's also make a very handy Poo Bag Carrier which is a lightweight caddy, that attaches to your dog lead or bag, and holds the knotted end of a used poop bag, leaving your hands free to do whatever they want, other than holding the poop! It can easily hold two full poop bags at a time, and that include those from the big dogs.
Activity Toys
If getting out in the cold wind and rain isn't your cup of tea then why not invest in some new activity toys to keep both you and your pets active throughout the winter months. Indoor play can be a great form of mental stimulation for your dog and is brilliant for practising training exercises. But many dog toys contain chemicals. The toys we sell at Healthful Pets are made from natural materials, so your dog can enjoy healthy playtime, knowing that they won’t be ingesting any harmful chemicals.
US brand West Paw dog toys are ultra-durable, BPA-free, phthalate-free and non-toxic. Their puzzle range includes the Tux, Toppl, Rumbl and Qwizl, great for challenging dogs and stimulating their senses. Perfect for mental exercise and alleviating boredom on rainy days.
Soft toys can also be ideal for scent training, playing hide and seek with your pet and using as a reward when practising training exercises. We sell high quality eco-brands from Green & Wild's and Green Elk.
Indoor play is also especially great to keep cats active during the winter months as they spend much more time inside. Toys filled with catnip will stimulate your cats sense of play through touch, sight and smell!
Foraging Mats & Lick Mats
Another great idea to keep pets stimulated is to use a Foraging Mat / Lick Mat. West Paw have a Feast Mats, which is an all-in-one, innovative enrichment product that brings together a Slow Feeder (deep grooves for foraging) and Lick Mat (soothing licking for boredom busting mental stimulation) to provide an engaging variety between feeding and treating. BPA-Free. Available in Bubble and Wave varieties.
Lick Mats also sell a wide variety of Lick Mats.
Healthy and Nutritious Food
Having a high quality, well-balanced food will keep your pets in great shape as well as giving them all of the energy and nutrients they need to keep going through the winter months. Ideally feed your dog a species specific raw or home-cooked diet, but if this is not appropriate for you then buy the best food you can, containing a high percentage of REAL meat, vegetable and other human grade ingredients.
Why not also use the new year as an excuse to try some nourishing new treats for your dog or cat that will also benefit their health? Treats made of all natural ingredients such as liver for shiny coat, beef treats as a source of protein, or even carrot and pumpkin for dogs healthy skin and digestion or lobster to maintain your cats bone health.
Supplements
Keeping your pet moving in the winter months is especially important for pets with stiff joints. Avoiding hills, walking on even surfaces and walking at a gentle pace will help ensure your pets do not injure themselves this winter whilst out and about. Joint supplements can also be a useful addition as well as topical ointments to help sooth aching joints - such as TLC lotion, Muscle Magic from Hilton Herbs and Basic Elements Joint Rub.
Other supplements can also be introduced in order to keep your pets healthy throughout the winter including immune supporting supplements and supplements to help maintain a healthy skin and coat in the cold weather.
We hope that this blog has been useful to you and has inspired you to keep yourself and your pet fit this winter. If you have any queries about any of our products, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team by emailing [email protected] or calling 01565 740777.
