Sore muscles shouldn’t stop Fido! Helping your dog stretch out their muscles consistently can help improve their mobility and range of motion, increase breathing capacity, and decrease pain associated with aging and arthritis.
Bark & Fitz’s Top Stretching Tips
- Consistency is key! Stretch a little every day to help strengthen muscles!
- Always stretch slowly and gently! If Fido seems uncomfortable, adjust your stretch accordingly.
3 Key Areas for Fido to Stretch: Hips, Shoulders and Back
Hip Stretch
Step One: With your dog standing still, grasp one of their back legs just above the knee.
Step Two: Slowly move the leg backwards so it stretches out behind your dog’s body.
Step Three: When you reach the point of resistance, stop and hold the leg in place for
15 – 30 seconds. Repeat for each back leg.
Shoulder Stretch
Step One: With your dog standing still, grasp one of their front legs just above the elbow with one of your hands. Place your other hand under the elbow to stabilize it.
Step Two: Slowly move the leg so it stretches out in front of your dog’s body.
Step Three: When you reach the point of resistance, stop and hold the leg in position for 15-30 seconds. Repeat two or three times for each front leg.
Back Stretch
Step One: Grab some of Fido’s favourite treats. With your dog standing still in a ‘Stay’, move to one side of their body.
Step Two: Holding the treat in your hand where Fido can see it, move your hand slowly along his body from his face toward the direction of the tail.
Step Three: Encourage your dog to follow the treat using only their head, which will result in Fido bending his body into a C shape.
Step Four: Hold this C shape for 15-30 seconds, then reward with their treat. Repeat two or three times on each side.
Help Fido loosen his muscles and maintain the benefits from stretching with Thermal Therapy!
Made of lightweight textiles infused with ceramic powders, Thermal Therapy includes Far-Infared (FIR) Technology to help improve circulation, muscle and joint pain as well as reduce inflammation.
As Fido ages, his body produces less glucosamine, leading to stiff joints and loss of shock absorbing cartilage. Adding a natural joint supplement can help increase Fido’s mobility and protect against age-related aches. Always consult your veterinarian before making a change
to your dog’s diet.
