There are many dog owners who spend a lot of time training them to compete in dog sports such as agility, tracking and retrieving. They also make sure their canine partners get good quality nutrition to provide the energy for them to work. Even if your favorite pastime is just hiking in the woods with your dog, it’s important that you also take care of him properly after exercise to reduce the chance of injury and speed up his recovery.
After a hard day’s exercise, your dog enjoys the same things as you do to help his muscles relax and be prepared for his next adventure. Here are some suggestions to help him recover well from a period of intense activity.
- Stretching the muscles of his legs will help him stay supple and prevent tension and cramping. Don’t stretch him when he has cooled down, but only work on his muscles when he is warm. If it has been some time since his activity, then trot him around for a few minutes to get the blood flowing to his legs and then start your stretching routine. You can work on each group of muscles individually by extending each joint on his forelegs and hind legs one at a time. Don’t use force, but use gentle pressure to stretch his muscles. Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds, and then release his leg. Your dog may be quite happy to lie down and let you stretch his legs, but if not, it can still be done effectively with him standing up. Always be guided by your dog; if he seems uncomfortable, ease off a little and don’t stretch the leg quite so far. Most dogs enjoy being stretched and appear to feel good afterwards.
- Massage is also a useful way to relax tired muscles. It’s easiest done with your dog lying calmly on his side. There are two techniques that are used in dogs. Firstly, you can use your open hand to rub firmly along the length of the muscles. This increases blood flow to area. The second method is using both hands to firmly hold and massage his muscles. This is very effective at loosening any tight areas. Be aware that if your dog has any sore spots, he may not like this at all.
You don’t need to use any massage oils or lotions on your dog but if you want to, make sure it’s registered as safe for dogs. Many human products aren’t designed to be licked. Arnica is a natural treatment for aches and bruises and may help your dog recover faster.
Stretching and massage don’t take a lot of time, and they don’t cost money. However, they can have many benefits for your dog including quicker recovery from exercise, improved performance in competition and even just a closer bond with you. Combine a gentle warm-up before exercise and these post-exercise techniques and you’re helping to keep your dog in the best physical condition for success.
This post is about Recovery For Dogs After Exercise. Which is something every dog needs. Thank you www.dogfencediy.com for this post.
