Why it’s time for your dog to quit the stick
Bondi Vet’s much loved veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown, talks why it might be time to ditch the stick when playing fetch with your pooch.
Here’s a surprise. Not all exercise is good for our pets. In fact, one is responsible for a worrying number of emergency admissions every week.
The problem?
The humble stick. So next time you’re at the park, it might be time to quit it. Despite many dogs seemingly being addicted to fetching sticks, they can be highly dangerous. Dogs running at full speed are speared by their sharp points as they try to pick them up off the ground or catch them in mid-air. Sadly, I’ve seen many serious and even fatal injuries caused by sticks stabbing dogs in the neck and throat.
What should you do?
Stop the stick and use a ball or frisbee instead. But try to limit fetching sessions to five minutes a day. Anymore and you risk wearing out their knees and hips.
Why should you limit fetch time to five minutes a day?
While your little mate might chase balls down like Lleyton Hewitt, there also comes a time where you have to say enough is enough. That repetitive act of sprinting, stopping, twisting and turning actually puts a huge amount of stress on their joints.
The effect can be so great that hips, knees, shoulders and elbows become damaged leading to early onset arthritis. In dogs that really overdo it, arthritis can be seen as young as four years of age. And sadly I see this relatively often. The risk is even greater when fetching games begin before dogs have finished growing.
If you’re still having trouble tiring highly energetic dogs, then try exercises that put less force through those delicate joints like swimming, soft sand running or even the humble leash walk.
Related links:
The many things grandparents sacrifice for their family
20 crucial pieces of advice from you, the Over60 Community
People aged 5 to 105 reveal the best advice they’ve ever received