Protecting Your Dog Against Osteoarthritis

There are a few things you can do to help your dog’s body protect itself against canine osteoarthritis, which occurs as a result of age, injury or obesity. The best time to start taking care of your dog’s joint health is today – right now.

1.  Find your dog’s healthy weight, and maintain it

One of the most critical aspects of the prevention of arthritis is maintaining a healthy weight for your dog. Excess weight puts unnecessary pressure on joints. In addition, the problem is circular. Increased weight leads to increased joint pain. Increased joint pain leads to less activity, which leads to even more weight gain. Don’t let your precious pup get stuck in this vicious cycle!

2.  Don’t over-exercise your pup

Regular exercise can help your dog maintain a healthy weight, but don’t overdo it! Too much exercise increases the wear and tear on your dog’s joints, and heightens the risk for injury. Injuries, even seemingly minor injuries, can weaken and harm joints in the long term.

Talk to your vet about the appropriate amount of exercise recommended for your dog’s breed and age to make sure you don’t overdo it.

3.  Get your pup swimming                             

It’s been proven that taking your dog for a swim can be therapeutic for her joints. Doggy patients suffering from advanced arthritis can use aquatic therapy to exercise without putting pressure on painful joints.

Swimming is a form of exercise that improves cardiovascular health and burns fat, with a reduced risk of injury due to the gentle nature of the activity. So get your pup in a pool and watch her have a blast while improving her health.

4.  Feed quality, nutrient-rich food

One of the most effective ways to positively impact your dog’s health is to feed him nutritious, wholesome food. You should feed your pup as much all-natural food as possible. There are many different schools of thought on the proper canine diet. Your dog needs to eat a diet that is species-appropriate and nutritionally balanced. Dogs are carnivores, so carb-based diets, even those marketed by pet food companies as “weight management” or low fat, are not what your pet should be eating. Also, carbs promote inflammation and are the last thing your pet with an inflammatory joint problem needs.

Remember:

• The amount of food that you feed your dog will be based on its size and activity levels.
• Older dogs may not need to eat as much as younger dogs.
• Exactly how much you need to feed your dog will be unique to your specific dog. Talk with your veterinarian to learn more.

Some dog parents find themselves considering a raw food diet for its many benefits, or at least incorporating raw foods into their dog’s diet. Dogs’ digestive systems can tolerate raw meats, unlike ours, and may cope better with, if not extract more nutrition from that food source, compared with cooked meats. That nutrition boost provides a dog’s body with more resources for maintaining healthy joints and the right type of energy to ward off obesity and injury.

5.  Give your dog joint supplements

The easiest thing you can do to help your dog’s body bolster itself against arthritis is to provide your pup with a joint supplement. A supplement provides your pooch’s body with the specific nutrition it needs to build up and maintain the ligaments and cartilage that get worn away causing arthritis. Reinforcing the joints in this way can prevent injury, as well. Early injuries in a pet’s life can trigger arthritis later down the road. That’s why you need to make sure your pup’s body has all the resources necessary to grow and maintain its joint function.

Adding certain supplements to your pet’s diet can provide the raw materials for cartilage repair and maintenance, among them:

• Glucosamine sulfate with MSM
• Ubiquinol
• Fatty acids, such as Omega-3 fatty acid
• Natural anti-inflammatory formulas (herbs, proteolytic enzymes and nutraceuticals)

You can try a veterinarian recommended brand like Osteo-Pet® Glucosamine Chondroitin Supplements for Dogs that has an established reputation and a proven track record.

Also, there are many other quality brand supplements, which include Glucosamine HCI, MSM, Chondroitin, Organic Turmeric and other vital nutrients that help your dog’s body rebuild cartilage, reduce inflammation and maintain overall joint health.

Keep an eye out for symptoms. Arthritis is a condition that is best treated early on. Since it cannot be cured, arthritis will need to be managed and prevented from worsening. Catching the symptoms of arthritis early on can go a long way in keeping your dog comfortable later in life, and preventing it altogether is the best way to ensure your pup’s maximum health . Check out some of these common symptoms of arthritis in dogs to help you in identifying any arthritis trouble in your dog:

• Stiffness
• Dragging an arm or leg or using some limbs more than others
• Signs of pain
• Inflexible joints
• Being nervous about jumping up or climbing down stairs or steps