Exercise for Dogs with Diabetes

For every dog owner, nothing is more important than the health of his/her darling pooch. In any normal circumstances, paying close attention to your dog’s diet and physical fitness is very crucial. When dog owners are aware of what their dogs need from their masters in order to stay healthy and fit, various illnesses and health conditions can be averted. However, dog diabetes is quite common in some breeds. One of the main reasons for dog diabetes is heredity. Other common causes also include obesity, certain tumors, consumption of particular medication, interference in estrogen levels, and pancreatitis (inflammation of pancreas). Any of these causes can trigger diabetes in a dog.

Even though it would be tough for any dog owner to suspect something out of the blue, diabetic dogs do demonstrate certain symptoms. Take your dog to the veterinarian to rule out any/all complications or health risks. In general, there are 2 different types of diabetes in dogs – Canine Mellitus I & II and Canine Diabetes Insipidus. Once you learn about what kind of diabetes your dog is suffering from, the veterinarian will advice you on the proper diet and treatment method. Besides these two necessary factors to improve the health of your dog, proper exercise is also required.

Tips on Diabetic Dog Exercises

What we are looking to achieve with the diet and exercise routines is to help your dog reach its ideal weight (if required), maintain it, and improve overall blood circulation. Now there are certain dos and don’ts which have to be followed while exercising your dog. The following tips will help you understand exactly what kind of exercise we are recommending for your pooch.

• First thing is, you are not going to substitute exercise with extra numbers of walking the dog. We want the dog to indulge in moderate to strenuous amount of exercise, so that it can help burn up glucose.


• Regular exercise is important. Schedule a time everyday to take your dog into the park and work it out properly. Take a ball and Frisbee, and play catch with your dog for at least half an hour. Initially, begin with 10 to 15 minute workouts, and then increase the time to 30 minutes.


• In the park, you can also help your dog workout in a different manner. Wear roller skates, grab your dog’s belt, and make him run after you. Take breaks in between to let your dog catch its breath, and start again.


• Take your dog to the beach. There are special dog beaches where dogs can run around the beach and play in the water as well. This will give your dog a great workout. If you have a pool in your home, do water exercises there instead.


• Finally, be careful as to not to overdo the exercising either. With too much strenuous exercises, the blood glucose levels in your dog can decrease which inversely results in hypoglycemia.

Of course, your dog must not be accustomed with this kind of strenuous workout. Which is why, you need to take it slow and steady. Don’t push your dog to such a level with these exercises that it just can’t handle it. Seek advice from the veterinarian and follow the suggestions given to you, to the tee.

When you follow the proper treatment, diet, and exercise instructions provided to you by your dog’s veterinarian, you are not only bettering your dog’s health and life, but also giving yourself peace of mind. Taking proper care of a dog is a huge responsibility, and your love, care, and support, will mean everything for your pooch.