Pet Owners Urged to Keep Pets Fit in the New Year

Now That Christmas is Past Us Pets Need to Stay Healthy, Just Like Us

Keeping pets healthy, feeding them right and ensuring they have a good safety net in the form of pet insurance is not enough at this time of year as Direct Line unveil a new press release urging owners to review the health of their pets following the Christmas period. After all, it is a part of the year when everyone lets their guards down in regards to what they eat, but that does not mean that our pets are immune to the problem and those that might have been feasting on scraps or festive treats will need to get back into shape.

Direct Line is warning that the health of pets is just as important as the health of people this time of year, so more exercise for dogs could apply and this could mean ensuring they get the right amount of walks, which is dependent on the size and breed of the animal. As such  they will need to keep excess weight off.

“Many of us eat far too much over the festive season, and often make resolutions to hit the gym in January,” says Adam Whitely, the head of Direct Line Pet Insurance. “However, we often neglect to increase the exercise levels for our pets, who may have also gorged on holiday treats.

“A dog’s health can be damaged by obesity just like a human’s can. It is important that owners realise that pets may need more exercise to burn off their festive indulgences. It is important to appreciate the needs of different breeds and our tips on exercise by breed are a great starting point.”

The press release outlines the amount of maintenance certain breeds might require, splitting them into high maintenance dogs (such as Jack Russels, Springer Spaniels and more), medium-maintenance dogs (such as Boxers, German Shepherds etc) an low-maintenance dogs (like Chihuahuas). Those that are considered high-maintenance, for example, have been originally bred as workers and as a result will require a lot of exercise. Low-maintenance dogs, on the other hand, may be able to get their exercise from running around the home.

So unless owners want to be heading to the vet any time soon and making a claim on their pet insurance, then they will need to keep the health of their pets in check.