Southern Utah is built for adventure. Whether you’re exploring local parks, hiking scenic trails, or enjoying daily neighborhood walks, many of us bring our four-legged companions along. Like human athletes, however, pets can experience strains, sprains, and overuse injuries if they aren’t properly conditioned.
Many injuries occur in “weekend-warrior” pets that spend most of the week inactive before suddenly tackling a long hike, run, or vigorous game of fetch. Fortunately, a little planning and consistency can help keep your pet active and injury-free for years to come.
Why Activity Matters
Regular exercise is essential for your pet’s overall health. It helps maintain a healthy weight, strengthens muscles and joints, supports cardiovascular fitness, and provides valuable mental stimulation. Consistent activity can also reduce boredom-related behaviors and improve overall quality of life.
The key is regular movement throughout the week. Daily exercise, even in smaller amounts, is generally safer and more beneficial than occasional bursts of intense activity.
Warm Up and Cool Down
Just like people, pets benefit from warming up before exercise. A 5-to 10-minute walk before a hike, run, or vigorous play session helps increase blood flow, improve flexibility, prepare muscles and joints for activity, and ultimately decrease the chances of injury.
Cooling down is equally important. After exercise, gradually decrease activity with a slow walk for several minutes. This helps normalize heart rate, reduce muscle stiffness, and support recovery.
Avoid going directly from resting on the couch to intense exercise—or from a strenuous hike straight into the car without a brief recovery period. Be sure your pet has plenty of water before, during, and after any type or duration of exercise, particularly in hot weather.
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Excess weight places additional stress on joints, particularly the hips, elbows, and knees, increasing the risk of arthritis, mobility problems, and injury.
A simple way to assess body condition is the “rib test.” You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs easily with gentle pressure, but they should not be prominently visible. If the ribs are difficult to feel beneath a layer of fat, your pet may be overweight.
Maintaining a healthy weight starts with portion control and balanced nutrition. Measure meals, limit table scraps, and be mindful of treats, which can quickly add excess calories. If you’re unsure about your pet’s ideal weight, contact a professional who can assess body condition and develop a nutrition and fitness plan.
Beyond Hiking and Running
Exercise doesn’t always have to involve high-impact activities. Swimming is an excellent low-impact option for senior pets, those with degenerative joint disease or arthritis, or pets recovering from injury. Water supports body weight while providing a full-body, low-impact workout, improving strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Another effective option is hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill. These specialized systems allow pets to exercise in a controlled aquatic environment where buoyancy reduces stress on joints while water resistance helps build muscle and improve mobility. Hydrotherapy is commonly used for arthritis management, weight loss, conditioning, and pre- and postsurgical rehabilitation and is available locally at WOOF! Wellness Center.
Use caution when considering natural bodies of water. Harmful algal blooms can develop in warm, stagnant water and may produce toxins that are dangerous or even fatal if ingested by pets. Supervised swimming facilities and hydrotherapy programs are often safer alternatives.
When to Call Your Veterinarian
Even with proper conditioning, injuries can still occur. Contact your veterinarian if you notice:
• Limping that persists beyond 24 hours or comes and goes
• Repeated licking or chewing at a specific leg or joint
• Reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or get into the car
• Stiffness that doesn’t improve with rest
• Unusual panting or signs of discomfort
• Swelling or heat around a limb or joint
• Decreased activity levels or reluctance to exercise
Common musculoskeletal injuries include muscle strains, ligament sprains and tears, tendon injuries, and worsening arthritis.
Never give human pain medications unless specifically directed by a veterinarian, as many can be toxic to pets.
Annual wellness examinations are another important tool for injury prevention, helping identify mobility changes, arthritis, and weight concerns before they become more serious problems.
A Lifetime of Adventure
By focusing on regular exercise, proper conditioning, healthy weight management, and early recognition of injuries, you can help your pet stay active, comfortable, and ready for life’s adventures.
With consistent care and preparation, your best friend can enjoy many years of safe movement and memorable experiences by your side.
Visit woofcenter.com, call 435-275-4536, or stop by the Santa Clara location for more information.
Relationships & Connection
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Anita DeLelles, LMT, is a certified equine and small animal acupressure practitioner with accreditation from the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute and a member of IAAMB. Her Tallgrass training has included two consecutive summers in Bath, England, near where she lived as a child, as well as coursework in Colorado and northern California. Additionally, Anita is certified in animal massage from the Northwest School of Animal Massage as well as human massage in the state of Utah and is a graduate of UNLV.
In 2013, Anita and her husband, Ron, opened WOOF! Wellness Center & Training Academy to serve pets and their health-conscious pet parents. WOOF! is dedicated to improving the quality of life for companion and competitive animals through fitness and conditioning, education, and proper nutrition. Anita shares her life with Ron and their overly-pampered cats in Santa Clara, Utah