Those paws were made for walking this month!

Monday, April 30, 2018 - 13:34

Summer is nearly here and with it comes the lighter evenings and warmer weather, making it the perfect time to get outdoors and celebrate National Walking Month. Throughout May everyone across the UK is being encouraged to get moving and experience the great outdoors by foot, whether that is a short trip you would normally do by car or a bigger adventure you need to dust off your walking boots for.

Lintbells, manufacturer of premium natural pet joint, YuMOVE, and skin and coat care supplements, YuMEGA believe no walk is complete without your four-legged friend.

During May Lintbells is encouraging dog owners to treat their pooch to a few extra ‘walkies’. To lend a helping hand here are a few important things to keep in mind when exploring the outdoors to keep pets happy and healthy, whilst looking after their skin, coat and joints. Lintbells has even put together a list of their favourite UK walks you can enjoy with your canine companion, which can be found below.

Joints

Throughout any increased level of activity with your pooch during National Walking Month it’s always important to keep in mind the affect this can have on their joints. This is particularly important if you are venturing onto unfamiliar or uneven terrain, where there may be steep hills, steps or rocks that your dog isn’t used to. However even when your dog is simply enjoying a long walk or run in their favourite park or along the beach this can still have an impact on their joints.

Signs that your four-legged friend may be experiencing stiff joints can include limping or struggling to walk or keep up with you, avoiding hills and steps. It’s important to keep an eye out for any of these signs after your walks and treat appropriately. High strength joint supplements such as YuMOVE PLUS can offer a tail-wagging difference for stiff or older dogs, supporting their joints, soothing stiffness and promoting mobility to help them go that extra mile.

Alethea Maillard, Marketing Manager at Lintbells, said:

“We are excited to take part in National Walking Month this year and want to encourage dog owners across the UK to increase their walking habits with their pooches. Treating them to new adventures outside is fantastic, but we also want to make sure everyone is aware of the risks this can bring to their dogs and that we are here to support their health and wellbeing.”

Skin and coat

Pollen

As well as warmer weather the spring/summer months also bring with them a rise in tree and grass pollen. This is one of the most important things to remember before venturing outdoors with your canine companion, as the increased level of pollen in the air can be a common cause for itchy skin in dogs. To reduce the risks of discomfort in your pooch you should ensure you wipe down their coat and paws after a walk, regularly bathe them using hypo-allergenic shampoo, and add a skin and coat supplement to their daily routine to reduce itching and scratching in your dog.

Fleas and ticks

Our four-legged friends may enjoy the great outdoors but it can also bring with it some uninvited guests such as fleas and ticks. These can be very irritating to your dog causing severe itchiness but there is help out there.

Although ticks to do not jump or fly they can be found crawling on tall grass or plants and as your dog brushes by they can attach themselves. To prevent this you should avoid letting your dog off the lead near any patches of long or overgrown grass, make sure you inspect your dog after the walk. Speak to your vet about tick prevention treatments or skin soothing supplements if there is a problem.

If your dog does appear to show signs of itchy skin like scratching, rubbing on furniture or are excessively grooming themselves after walks, a soothing skin and coat supplement rich in high grade Omega 3 and 6 oils, such as YuMEGA Itchy Dog is perfect for helping your furry-friend maintain healthy skin and coat.

Lintbells’ top 10 dog walks in the UK: