Even people who are dog lovers tend to get shocked when they hear about the bevvy of health problems that can affect a dog if they are not properly taken care of. And we are not just speaking of worms and mange, or other problems that seem animal specific. Believe it or not, we are talking about heart attacks and strokes. Yes, that’s right. As fun as it may be the feed your dog every table scrap he begs for, you are perpetuating a huge problem that could just cost your dog its life. There are some truly simple steps that can be taken to avoid these tragedies, and we are here to ensure you are more aware of those steps.

First and the most obvious ways to avoid this is to take your dogs for walks and runs. Every day, no excuses. Even if running is something you despise, in getting a dog, you had to know you were willing to sacrifice your own comfort to ensure the longevity of this new found friend. Even the act of having a fenced in yard can make all the difference to the dog, and to your life, as a result. As long as that dog has time set aside every day to run and play, and just generally, be a dog, than you are adding years to that dog’s life. And in that off chance you don’t have enough free time to take the dogs for walks, there are still amazing ways to ensure that your dog doesn’t get so fat it runs the risk of a stroke. One may not know that dog treadmills are an option, but they are. And in many ways, they are the best option for ensuring a healthy dog, if you can’t walk it yourself, hourly, every day.

To some, it may seem silly talking about dog strokes and dog treadmills, but do you know just how widespread the problem is? The truth of the matter is far more heart breaking than most would think. Take this story for example. And that is but one story in the sea of hundreds of thousands of stories. So now you know, and you know what you need to do to avoid it, so why are there still so many people who allow their dogs to get fat and unhealthy?.

The sad truth is, we will never really have an answer for that. And the other reality is, we cannot allow ourselves to focus solely on that aspect of animal upbringing, because there are millions upon millions of people who adore their dogs, and treat them right. And in case you may think that your dog doesn’t want to exercise, watch this video and you realize, not only do they want to go for a walk, it is their instinct, and when they put their mind to it, nothing can stop them. Nothing except a lazy human, that is. Don’t be that lazy human. If you want to be lazy yourself, that is fine, there is little we can do. But being lazy can negatively affect your dog’s life and health, so remember that next time you want make an excuse to not walk your dog.

Or even better, just buy it a dog treadmill, and you can be as lazy as you want without ruining the dog’s life. Seems fair to us.