Exercise is critical for physical and mental/emotional health. Properly exercised dogs are less likely to exhibit behavioral problems. When I do a behavioral consultation on a dog with separation anxiety, one of the most important prescriptions for recovery involves an exercise program.

• Regular mild exercise burns calories.
• Exercise improves mobility, and even pets with arthritis can benefit from exercise.
• Muscle and joint tone are needed to improve strength, especially when joint motion is limited by arthritis.
• Exercise maintains a properly functioning cardiovascular/respiratory system; even pets with heart disease can benefit from maintaining normal tone of the blood vessels.

Most pets can be safely exercised. Pets with special needs, such as arthritis or heart disease, may need medically prescribed and supervised programs. For example, pets with severe heart failure should be started slowly on an aerobic exercise program. Pets with arthritis can swim.

Even cats can benefit from exercise. Starting cats on an exercise/play program when they’re young will get them used to various activities as they age.

Here are some examples of exercises most cats enjoy:

• Consider getting a cat toy that is essentially a fishing pole with a string attached to a play toy such as a mouse. Most cats show a lot of interest if the toy is “fished” in front of them and will follow the toy and try and pounce on it.
• Cats enjoy trying to chase and catch the light emitted from a laser light pen.
  

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– Dr. Shawn P. Messonnier, author of the “8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog” and “The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats,” is a veterinarian and pet care advocate.