A walk to the food bowl is the only exercise many house pets ever get. Yet regular exercise is essential for optimal health. Sustained, vigorous use of the muscles stimulates all tissues and increases circulation. Blood vessels dilate and blood pressure rises. As a result, tissues become oxygenated, which helps to clean the cells of toxins.
Digestive glands secrete their fluids better and the bowels move more easily.
Join your pet in jogging, taking a walk, playing ball or chasing sticks and Frisbees. Nearly all dogs benefit from half an hour or more of daily vigorous exercise. If your pet is old and weak or has a bad heart, settle for slow walks around the block. A cat that can't perform this ritual is likely to become weaker and thus more susceptible to illness and degeneration. Pet stores sell many such toys for both cats and dogs.