Dogs are our most trusted companions. However, adopting a dog is a big responsibility as it requires a lot of care to keep your furry pal healthy and happy. Taking proper care of your lovely pooch not only includes feeding and exercising, but also watching it carefully for subtle signs of illness, and acting to prevent them.
Some health problems are more prevalent than others, depending on the size and age of the dog. Just like people, as their bodies age, all organs, tissues, and bone structures in the body age as well. Thus, routine checkups and preventive health care are essential. Routine veterinary care for vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, grooming and protecting it from household hazards as well.
Dogs are very active species and engage in a lot of movements and exercises – from running after a tennis ball to jumping around and leaping off the porch. They may eventually struggle with pain and mobility, but dogs are really good at hiding pain. Your dog may not be able to communicate with you in words, but they can give you signs to indicate if they’re sick.
So, keeping an eye on your dog’s ability to run and jump is crucial. It will eventually help you spot developing any joint problems. Also, supplying them with the right dog hip and joint supplements can be of great help for their strength and overall health.
Why Joint Health for Dogs is Important
Since dogs are active species, their joints are impacted with every single movement. Thus, joint pain, arthritis, and bone degradation are common issues among dogs, especially among older ones. They often experience chronic joint pain as a result of many factors as well as a symptom of other issues. Some of these include old age, injury and accidents, diabetes and obesity, breed predisposition and so on.
Joint disorders can affect any size or breed of dog. However, some dog breeds have a higher risk of developing severe joint disease symptoms. For instance, large breeds such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers tend to develop joint diseases more frequently than smaller dogs. From an elbow or hip dysplasia to arthritis, or general joint inflammation.
In addition, the more dogs weigh, the greater the pressure on their joints. Therefore, overweight dogs are more likely to suffer bone and joint pain along with other issues. And as a dog gets older, its cartilage thins out and provides less cushion and support to the joint. Joints break down and as a result, arthritis, inflammation and decreased mobility occur. Canine arthritis causes inflammation and swelling that can make even the simplest efforts, like walking or getting up from a lying or seated position, quite painful. It can be as mild as hearing the click of a knee or as severe as a crippling of chronic hip dysplasia.
Sadly, there is no cure for arthritis, but it can be treated with anti-inflammatory medication and dietary supplements that will provide relief and ease your dog’s pain and discomfort. Hip and joint dog supplements are the ones most commonly purchased for dogs.
Improve Dog Joint Care by Using Joint Supplements
Depending on how early the joint disease is caught, certain joint disorders can be resolved. In this regard, preventive care and early diagnoses are very important to help your dog live an active and pain-free life. Adding preventive hip and joint care supplements to your dog’s diet can help reduce inflammation and pain, improve function, and slow the progression of joint damage and arthritis.
Even if your dog is not showing signs and symptoms of painful joints, it may benefit from starting on joint supplements early on. More particularly, dog breeds that have genetic predispositions for joint problems should start using joint supplements when they turn 1 year. If your canine companion isn’t predisposed to such problems, you should consider bringing them up to your vet before they reach their golden years.
Since joint supplements are designed to promote healthy cartilage and joint health, they contain joint-specific ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as green-lipped mussel (GLM). Glucosamine is used to alleviate pain and stiffness by suppressing the inflammation in the joints and can help to lubricate and protect existing cartilage. Chondroitin sulphate is aimed at stimulating cartilage repair and can be taken in conjunction with glucosamine to support joint health. Green-lipped mussel (GLM) is another proven joint supplement ingredient that contains beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals. All three joint health building blocks are anti-inflammatory, help decrease pain and preserve joint function.
When you look for dog hip and joint supplements, it’s important to focus on the manufacturing and product requirements as well as their dosage in addition to the ingredients. You should keep in mind that, just like people, a supplement that works for one dog may not have the same effect on another. That’s why, just as with most pet health treatments, it’s important to first consult a vet.