Condition your hunting dog to prevent injury

Hunting season is upon us! Don't let an injury keep you and your beloved hunting dog from enjoying your favorite time of the year. Dogs that are not properly conditioned before their first hunting trip each season are at higher risk for sustaining soft tissue injuries such as muscle, ligament and tendon strains. A great way to thoroughly condition your working dog is the water treadmill here at West Ridge Animal Hospital. Using the water treadmill creates extra resistance, building more muscle in a shorter time; similar to walking in the pool for us bipedal humans. Another bonus of the treadmill is that it is low impact, the buoyancy of the water makes it an ideal exercise for dogs that are older or have arthritis.