Keep Pet Moving Once you have modified your pet's environment, you can modify her lifestyle as well. A little exercise can go a long way toward making your pet more comfortable. Light activity helps strengthen muscles, keeps ligaments and tendons flexible, prevents obesity and helps blood circulate to stiff joints. Many arthritic animals move more easily and with less pain after they "warm up" with a minute or two of walking or gentle playing. Your pet may be reluctant to move at first—it can be hard to convince animals to get up when their joints are aching. You may have to provide an incentive—trail Kitty's favorite feather toy across the floor or fill a Kong ball with food for your pup and make him chase after it. Make the exercise as positive an experience as possible by including lots of petting and affection before and after, or perhaps a healthy treat afterward. Exercise has a flip side for arthritis patients, however. While a little moderate exercise is vital to your pet's health, exercise that is too strenuous can cause damage to their joints. You may have to keep a close eye on your pet to prevent her from overexerting and injuring herself, particularly if she has always been used to a lot of activity. Monitor her while she's exercising—watch for signs of exhaustion or pain, and stop the activity if you notice any discomfort. Your pet will also benefit from a healthy diet and weight management. Obesity makes arthritis hard to manage. It increases the stress on an animal's joints and makes it harder for them to move. Arthritis patients do well on high quality diets, fed in controlled portions, which maintain their weight at a healthy level. If you can't feel your pet's ribs easily, consult your veterinarian about dietary and exercise management to bring her weight down to normal. There are a lot of options for coping with a pet with arthritis, and sometimes they can be overwhelming. Your closest ally in your battle against the disease is your family veterinarian. Talk to your veterinarian: he or she will know which treatment or combination of treatments is best for your pet's individual needs. Most importantly, try not to get discouraged. Arthritis may well change your life with your pet, but it certainly doesn't mean that that life is over. You may not be able to jog with your dog like you used to, for example, or get your cat to jump up after his feather toy, but you can replace these lost activities with time spent petting, grooming, massaging, or simply being near your animal friend. As you spend time caring for your pet with arthritis, you may find your bond with your pet actually increasing. Your energetic, playful friendship may eventually be replaced with the joy of a gentle, caring life together.