Joint Health for Dogs

All organs, tissues, and bone structures in a dog’s body mature as it ages, much like humans. You’ve come to the correct place if your dog is exhibiting arthritis symptoms or if you want to put your puppy on a joint supplement early on.

Dogs are very active animals. Every time a dog moves or exercises, his joints are engaged, whether it’s racing after a tennis ball or jumping from a porch. A cartilaginous surface covers every joint in a dog’s body. Cartilage is the soft, moist cushion that absorbs stress when a bone moves. Dogs experience discomfort when cartilage and bone are destroyed as a result of arthritis.

As a dog gets older, his cartilage thins down, providing less cushion and support to the joint. Arthritis and inflammation develop as joints wear out. When a dog’s joint becomes inflamed, enzymes have produced that tear down the cartilage. Every time and with every action that dogs run, play, leap, and stroll, their joints are affected.

Dogs will typically conceal the fact that they are in discomfort, so knowing the symptoms to watch for is essential since taking action early may assist improve their mobility and decrease suffering.

• Stiffness, particularly after getting rest;
• Walking up and downstairs with hesitation
• Walks slowly;
• Instead of sitting or standing, he prefers to lie down;
• His joints make him whimper, snarl, or snap.
• Nail wear that is scuffed or uneven
• Joint pain, especially in the knees and hocks
• When groomed or towel dried, the dog will not cooperate.

Controlled exercise will help arthritic dogs. Gentle lead walks regularly are preferable to an hour spent racing around after a ball or with another dog.

When it comes to exercising arthritic dogs, ‘little and often’ is the ideal strategy. It may be preferable to take them on many short walks throughout the day rather than one lengthy stroll.

Maintain a consistent exercise schedule, avoiding short walks throughout the week and lengthy walks on weekends.

We must consider not just the distance we walk our arthritic dogs but also the ground on which we ask them to walk. Underfoot, sand, gravel, and pebbles may aggravate an unsteady gait and make it more difficult to manoeuvre if your dog is attempting to protect specific injured joints as they move.

Dogs get benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For example, they may offer relief to a dog with arthritis or just had surgery.

However, do not feed your dog anything from your medical cabinet. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen should not be given to your dog.

Some of the NSAIDs available for dogs are as follows:

• Carprofen
• Firocoxib
• Deracoxib
• Meloxicam

Other Medications

Because NSAIDs are generally effective at alleviating pain, veterinarians seldom prescribe other types of medicines. However, your dog may need additional choices at times. Your veterinarian may suggest gabapentin or tramadol.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine occurs naturally and is composed of glucose (a sugar) and glutamine (an amino acid) required for good cartilage and joint function. It is a component of the cartilage matrix that promotes the development of cartilage cells and has been shown to normalize the synovial fluid that lubricates joints.

Dog joint supplements containing glucosamine may have a significant impact on your dog’s joint health. Overall, research shows that glucosamine:

• Aids in the lubrication of your dog’s joints, resulting in less uncomfortable movement
• Reduces joint inflammation (chronic inflammation is the number one enemy of healthy joints)
• Improves overall joint health for greater mobility

This is how it works: Our bone ends are covered by a small layer of spongy cartilage that serves as a stress absorber in both dogs and humans. Synovial fluid, which serves as a lubricant around the bone and cartilage, makes joint mobility easy and pain-free.

Chondroitin

Additionally, chondroitin sulfate is an essential cartilage-building component that helps maintain the viscosity of the synovial fluid. Chrondroitin sulfate is an important structural component of cartilage that contributes significantly to its compression resistance.

Chondroitin may be obtained from various sources, including fish, pig trachea, and avian cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate E derived from squid cartilage is the most ethically sourced type of chondroitin, with independent trial evidence to back it up.

Chondroitin sulfate coupled with glucosamine for dogs may assist in providing additional joint protection while also serving as an essential building component for cartilage and supporting joint structure. When combined with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate has become a popular joint supplement for dogs.

Curcumin

Curcumin is often administered to dogs suffering from common inflammatory joint problems. Arthritis in dogs, which affects thousands of pets in the UK and causes stiffness, discomfort, and sometimes agony, is one example.

According to research published in the international journal Veterinary immunology and immunopathology, curcumin may serve as an alternate anti-inflammatory for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Another research of dietary curcumin in dogs with osteoarthritis discovered anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and modulating immunological response.

Green Lipped Mussel

Green-lipped mussels are high in glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as vitamins E and minerals like selenium, zinc, copper, and antioxidants, which are all critical for your dog’s joint health.

Mussels with green lip membranes are particularly well-known for their Omega-3 fatty acid. These fatty acids function by reducing inflammation, which is related to diseases like osteoarthritis. However, even though it is the same molecule present in fish oil, it is coupled with additional compounds that help combat joint inflammation and discomfort in green-lipped mussels.

References

1. Hielm-Björkman A, Tulamo R-M, Salonen H, Raekallio M. Evaluating Complementary Therapies for Canine Osteoarthritis Part I: Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Sep;6(3):365–73.
2. Greene LM, Marcellin-Little DJ, Lascelles BDX. Associations among exercise duration, lameness severity, and hip joint range of motion in Labrador Retrievers with hip dysplasia. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013 Jun 1;242(11):1528–33.
3. Colitti M, Gaspardo B, Della Pria A, Scaini C, Stefanon B. Transcriptome modification of white blood cells after dietary administration of curcumin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in osteoarthritic affected dogs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 2012 Jun 30;147(3):136–46.

Contact us!