Apple is a four-year-old long-coat Chihuahua who weighs 4.5kg (10lb) – twice as heavy as what is considered the preferred standard for the breed in terms of her size and age. And this morning, she is sporting a limp in her right hind leg.
A trip to a veterinary clinic later reveals there is a ligament tear in her leg, most likely caused by being overweight.
The diagnosis comes as no surprise to her owner who, by coincidence, has scheduled a swimming session for Apple at Paw by Paw – a multipurpose pet hotel that offers spa, grooming and boarding services – in Hong Kong’s Ho Man Tin neighbourhood that same day.
The pool exercise could not have come at a better time.
According to the US-based Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, swimming – along with walking, playing, running and fetching – can be a good way for dogs to shed some pounds.
“Swimming is a great, low-impact exercise that can reduce stress and inflammation in the joints,” it says on its website. “Swimming is a great exercise for dogs that are prone to overheating, have a history of injuries, are overweight, or have obesity.”
Hydrotherapy – which comes in the form of swimming in a pool, or walking on an underwater treadmill – is said to be effective in both weight control and rehabilitation for dogs.
