Written by Michael Torchia

Over 45 million cats and dogs in the United States are considered overweight.

There’s no difference in how a human gains weight or how your pets gain weight. Too much caloric intake and not enough physical activity equal weight gain.

Healthy Pet Nation.com provides charts that show how many calories are burned as a result of common activities such as walking, jogging or strenuous playing with your pet.

Pet Exercise Tips Take your dog to the tennis court with you to retrieve your tennis balls or if they don’t know how to retrieve, let them just chase your serves.

Let your dog be your running partner! Bring them for all or part of your daily run.

Take your dog to the park throw a hard rubber pet exercise ball for your pet to chase after makes a great fun workout.

Cats are a lot more difficult because they are mostly indoor pets. Appeal to their hunting instinct by hiding treats and toys around the house. Give them multi level climbing ramps and hang play balls full of catnip at the top.

Pet feeding Tips and suggestions

Avoid feeding table scraps and snacks while you’re eating. Your pet will start developing bad eating habits and will tend to overeat. In addition, it will prevent your pet from eating their nutritionally well-balanced foods. Many dogs and cats love eggs, fruits and vegetables, so mixing these types of foods with your pet’s meals at times as a treat is fine. Remember, everything in moderation!

Don’t let your animal "help" with food prep. Keep 'em in a different area of the house while preparing and eating meals, especially if you over indulge them with table scraps.

The goal of Healthy Pet Nation Program is to eradicate this devastating problem by being pro-active and by using preventative measures. The key to success is by properly educating both children and adults how to take proper care of their pets.

Operation Fitness created the "Healthy Pet Nation Program" and established an elite team of health experts that conduct seminars at pet stores throughout the country. It is just as important to focus on preventing obesity, as it is to alleviating this rapidly growing disease affecting our nation.

Written by Michael Torchia

Treadmills provide numerous benefits beyond what can normally be achieved from walking or even running a dog. For example, dog show handlers use treadmills to perform simple gait analysis. The treadmill allows the handler to study the gait of a dog and make corrections while the dog is in movement. The treadmill also helps the handler find and develop the proper speed the dog should adhere to in the ring. The handler can then reinforce the dogs natural trot by training and developing the dog's muscles to the speed the dog should adhere to in the ring.

The incline of the treadmill, provides the resistance needed to develop strength and muscle. Likewise, by altering the resistance, the dog can achieve an excellent cardiovascular workout that is tailored to meet any exercise goal. Treadmill exercise also provides versatility while adding consistency to any exercise program. Along with walking your dog, playing Frisbee or fetch, the treadmill is an additional exercise that, when added to an existing regimen, will insure your dog uses all its muscles and is in peak physical condition. Regardless of inclement weather, (rain, sleet, mud, snow, heat, humidity, ice, hail) a treadmill allows you to adhere to a strict, controlled and consistent regimen that will guarantee results!

For typical pet owners, exercise is the key ingredient to good health, good mental agility and longevity. Additionally, it is important to understand that most pet dogs were bred to perform daily tasks, alongside humans, such as pulling sleds, operating equipment, herding sheep and performing rescue operations. If a dog does not get adequate exercise (adequate may be more than you might believe), this instinctive energy will build up and demand an outlet. So if your dog's chewing the couch and indulging in a little excessive barking, it may very well be that he's bored and under exercised.

Finally, when introduced appropriately, treadmill exercise is a fun activity that dog's thoroughly enjoy!

How do you get a dog to walk on a treadmill?

If your dog has never used a treadmill before, begin by first walking your dog over the machine while the treadmill switch is in the off position. This helps your dog gain familiarity with the treadmill and will ease any fears the dog may have of the machine. Repeat this process several times by having your dog step up onto the rear of the machine, walk your dog across the machine, then allow your dog to step down off the front of the machine. After two or three repetitions of walking your dog across the machine, your dog will be ready to go. To begin exercising, position yourself at the front of the machine (eye level with the dog). With one hand on your dogs lead, turn the switch to the on position. With the machine turned on in the slow position (creeping), the dog will unknowingly step forward and begin to respond naturally by advancing. Adjust the speed slowly to accommodate your dogs response to the treadmill. Be sure to allow adequate time, following each incremental change in speed, for the dog to adjust. After a few minutes your dog will gain confidence and begin lift his head. After about a week, your dog should be running without a lead.

At what age should I start exercising my dog on a treadmill?

Ideally, an exercise plan should be established when your dog is still a puppy and continue throughout your pet's life. The treadmills allow for a slope adjustment of 0 to 11 degrees. For dogs under two (2) years (until the growth plates have closed), we recommend that you not exercise your puppy on an incline. As your dog ages, exercise tolerance and requirements can be adjusted. Always consult your veterinarian before you change an existing program or begin a new exercise program for your dog.

Are certain breeds better suited for a jog on a treadmill?

A walk around the block or a 15 minute romp in the backyard several times a day is minimal exercise and is NOT enough to meet the average dog's needs. Active breeds such as dogs from the sporting, herding, hound and terrier groups, northern breeds and any mixture of these ( i.e. the vast majority of pet dogs ) and virtually all adolescents require much, much more exercise!!! Like people, all people need exercise, some require more exercise than others to maintain good health. Always consult your veterinarian before you begin a new exercise program for your dog.

At what age should a dog discontinue jogging on a treadmill?

Ideally, an exercise plan should be established when your dog is still a puppy and continue throughout your pet's life. As a dog ages, exercise tolerance and requirements will change. Always consult your veterinarian before you change an existing program or begin a new exercise regimen for your dog. Your veterinarian will want to perform a complete physical exam on your pet and discuss exercises that are appropriate.

Why is exercise important for senior dogs?

Exercise is important for your elderly dog for many reasons. First of all, exercise helps maintain a healthy body weight. Being overweight may lead to a number of health problems. It places excess stress on your pet's heart. When the heart doesn't function properly, other organs may suffer including the brain, lungs, liver and kidneys. Over time, these problems may become severe enough to cause life-threatening conditions.

Osteoarthritis is degeneration of joints. This problem may develop during a pet's geriatric years causing pain and discomfort. Excess weight on these joints can speed up the disease. Believe it or not, moderate exercise can help to delay the continued degeneration of joints that are affected with osteoarthritis. Your elderly dog's mental health may also benefit from exercise. Activity keeps oxygen and other nutrients like glucose (blood sugar) at optimum levels in the brain. The brain is like every other organ in the body in that it requires good nutrition. As mentioned above, DO discuss your dog's exercise program with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can let you know if your pet has any health problems that might be exacerbated by some types of activity but not others. You need to know what type of exercise is safest for your elderly dog; you also need to know how frequently and for how long it should be done.

Can my dog use a regular/human treadmill?

There are many things to consider before running a dog on a treadmill designed specifically with the human in mind. Keep in mind, humans have a shorter gait than most dogs and thus require a shorter treadmill. Many human treadmills offer shock-absorbent platforms that are more suitable for humans than dogs. Other factors to consider are treadmill durability, tread comfort and side enclosures to keep the dog focused and centered on the treadmill.

What happens if I run my dog on a treadmill of improper length?

Exercising your dog on a treadmill of improper length may constrict the dog's movement by shortening its stride. This may result in a peculiar gait behind.

What happens if I run my dog on a treadmill of improper width?

A treadmill that is too narrow will restrict body movement. Additionally, a treadmill with sides that are too narrow will wear the dogs coat.

Add versatility in your dogs exercise regimen that will insure the dog uses all its muscles to the full and is in peak condition. There are a number of things you can do along with the use of a treadmill to keep your dog in excellent shape. Here are a few ideas:

1. Take your dog for a walks.

2. Use a dog walking service. A large number of metropolitan areas offer them.

3. Do you bicycle? If so, and your dog knows how to heel, you can find a device that hooks directly to your bicycle for 'roading' your dog. It is spring loaded so a jerk from the dog shouldn't cause a crash.

4. If your dog loves to play fetch, do it outdoors and really let your pet stretch out into a full run.

5. If you have access to a grassy or sandy hill, allow your dog to run up and down it.

6. Take your dog swimming! Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for dogs.

Written by Michael Torchia

Playing with your cat is the simplest way to maintain your cat's overall health. Playtime helps increase metabolism, minimize weight gain, and boost circulation. To get your housebound kitty moving, try these CatAge-approved exercise activities:

Follow the Leader: If your cat likes to follow you, lead him or her on a walk through the house. Don't stop moving until your pet stops. Climb stairs or walk from room to room. This playful, low-impact exercise routine will benefit both of you.

Hide and Seek: Awaken curiosity and reward ingenuity in your inquisitive cat by hiding treats inside a favorite cat toy or in unexpected locations around your home. The thrill of this treasure hunt will get your cat moving.

Natural Instinct: Channel your pet's pouncing instinct by providing tempting prey made of noisy crumpled paper or colorful cat toys. Shoelaces can be stalked as they're dragged across the floor, and "cat-fishing" with feathers attached to a wooden rod can inspire very aerobic cat-acrobatics.

Home Alone: Left alone, many cats would happily sleep until your return. Encourage solo exercise by offering an irresistible challenge. Safely stacked-up books or sturdy boxes become a jungle gym leading to a favorite perch. Noisy, colorful cat toys reserved only for special occasions provide distracting fun while you are away.

Written by Michael Torchia

Coming when called is perhaps one of the most important exercises that your dog needs to learn as it is not only useful but essential for his/her safety. The following are some exercises to strengthen and instill this behavior.

6. Once your dog can do all of the above exercises with good reliability, try practicing at other people's homes.

Outdoor Exercises:

1. If you have a fenced in backyard, have the dog on leash and practice your recalls by calling the dog toward you while you back up. Use plenty of praise. Ask for a sit, take the collar and food reward. Once he is reliable ‘on leash' you can practice the exercise ‘off leash'.

2. When walking the dog, turn around and call the dog toward you while you back up. Use plenty of praise. Ask for a sit, take the collar and food reward.

3. Take a long section of clothesline and attach firmly to the dogs collar. Go to an open area with no other distractions. Call the dog and praise as he is coming toward you. If he deters and does not respond, go get him and gently bring him back to the spot where you originally did the recall. Ask for a sit, take the collar and treat. Do not drag the dog toward you by the line. You want the dog to associate the experience as being pleasurable not unpleasant.

4. Once he is reliable in the above exercises, add more distractions. For example go to places where there may be other dogs or people. Repeat the same procedure.

5. Go to enclosed areas where you can safely have the dog off leash. Repeat the above by starting off with no distractions. Once reliable, add distraction.

6. Call your dog off a moving target such as a ball. Begin by doing so while on leash. Roll the ball and as he begins to go toward it, say ‘fido come' and praise and treat when the dog sits in front of you. Do not allow the dog to get to the ball as he will be reinforced for ‘not' listening to you. Once reliable, practice ‘off leash'. As mentioned in the home exercises, any situation whereby there is eagerness on the part of the dog, such as going into the dog run or park, are invaluable to do a recall away from. The reward then becomes entrance to those areas.

Remember the following:

a) the more you practice in all environments, the better and stronger the recall.

b) provide the verbal feedback the dog requires. Praise him throughout his coming toward you and 'verbally mark' him when he does not respond by saying 'ah ah ah'.

c) use ‘novel' food rewards along with praise. Extra special treats that the dog doesn't normally get such as liver treats, small pieces of cut up slightly cooked beef etc..

d) go slowly, don't expect too much too soon. Initially keep dog on leash and distractions at a minimum. Only progress when the dog reliably ‘comes' on leash before doing ‘off leash' exercises.

e) as with all training, make it fun for both you and the dog. Don't train when frustrated or in a bad mood. Keep training sessions short and pleasurable.

f) while continuing to verbally praise, begin to decrease the amount of food rewards by asking for two recalls for 1 treat, then 3 recalls for 1 treat etc.. Do not begin to do this until recalls are quite reliable. Do not have high expectations. Do this gradually over weeks.

g) make it happen. If you ask for a 'come' and the dog chooses not to, it is up to you to get the dog and bring him to where you originally called.

Written by Michael Torchia

Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions that are very similar to those experienced by humans.

These days, emotional and psychological problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioral problems are just as prevalent in pets as they are in their owners. Similarly, physical ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems are becoming more and more common in domesticated animals.

Many, if not most of these conditions can be prevented by helping your pets to live a healthier lifestyle. For pets already suffering from existing conditions, a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicine can work wonders!

While it has its place, conventional medicine for animals and 'modern technology' have failed our pets in many ways. Most holistic veterinarians and animal health care professions list annual vaccinations and commercial pet foods as the major contributory cause in the rising rates of chronic illness in pets today.

Similarly, Michael Torchia, points out that contrary to the belief that mass vaccination and antibiotic use will contribute to a decrease in disease, the opposite has in fact proved true. Like their human counterparts, today's pets are becoming more and more vulnerable to chronic disease and ill health. This has led many veterinarians to search for alternatives and to utilize more holistic methods of keeping our pets healthy.

"In the wild, animals instinctively seek out healing herbs to help them when they are ill or undernourished. In fact, Asclepius, the ancient Greek god of medicine, respected dogs very highly for their ability to seek out and eat medicinal herbs in the wild. This ability is shared by other animals, including cats. We are coming to realize that nature often has the answers - but animals have always known this! Natural medicine can help your pet just as it can help you. While there is always a place for conventional veterinary medicine, natural medicine can compliment conventional veterinary care and in many cases cure your pets just as well - without the side effects and damage to health that can accompany synthetic drugs and antibiotics. I have applied the same care and research that have gone into our Native Remedies range for adults and children to the development of pet-friendly, safe and effective natural remedies for animals. As always, all remedies are formulated to the highest therapeutic standards and manufactured under strict pharmaceutical conditions for your peace of mind and the well being of your pets. " Michael Torchia".

"When a veterinary surgeon practices the use of homeopathic medicine and is asked why he does so, he may give one of several answers. The simple answer would be that the results are good, an emphatic answer would be that homeopathic treatment has no unpleasant or dangerous side effects, while still achieving successful results.