With time and dogs’ aging, our beloved pets get prone to arthritis and other joint-related issues that lead to severe health problems. The situation worsens for some breeds usually bred to have certain traits, but eventually, they face trouble with overall bone health. Joint problems in dogs mainly happen because of wear and tear and overstraining on the joints.
In some cases, it is seen that injuries at early stages in life have led to showcase consequences with the aging of dogs. Through this post, we have tried to help pet owners maintain healthy joints for their dogs. The post discussed below in the post help the dogs to remain exuberant, enthusiastic, and fit. Let’s begin!
Try to Maintain Ideal Weight for Your Pet
If your pet is obese or overweight, the bones and the joints will eventually have to bear the consequences with more strain, which will cause damage to the joints. It is extremely important for you to maintain your ideal dog weight in order to promote better joint health as well as mobility. You can do this by measuring your pet’s overall food intake and giving a balanced diet.
Keep Moving
Pain in joints tends to develop into arthritis quickly in case your dog doesn’t get regular exercise. You must let a sleeping dog lie, but if your dog remains in the lying down position for too long, the muscles can stiffen up. And in the long run, it will put additional stress on the joints. In a nutshell, you must go for gentle exercise for your dog and consider it as important as for humans.
In case you feel that walking or running for your dog is too difficult to do, you can try an underwater treadmill or dog pool. Spending 15-20 minutes every day can have a positive impact on the joints. You can take your dog outside for a brisk walk but make sure that you do not let him/her go outside alone. You can install the best electric dog fence in your garden area so that your dog remains in the perimeters.
Massage the Joints
When you wake up, you feel that your joints are stiff and it takes a couple of minutes to come out of bed. The same happens with your dog as well. Ask your vet or yourself also to give a gentle massage to the joints.
Make sure to choose from different techniques available but remember to stick to any one of them that makes your pet feel relaxed and active. It is advised not to put additional pressure on the areas that cause pain and also keep a close watch on inflammation.
In case you find that the joints are inflamed, make sure to wrap that specific part of the body in a cold towel and ensure that swelling does not stay back. In extreme cases, do not wait for the miracles to happen and get in touch with a professional veterinarian.
Add Glucosamine to Your Dog’s Daily Intake
Glucosamine and Chondroitin are the two most useful compounds that can be very effective for the overall joint health of the dog and protect from getting arthritis. Both these compounds are made of glutamine and glucose and help in the creation of molecules that constitute the cartilages of the bones.
It also helps in reducing stiffness as well as inflammation. These work great in alleviating stiffness in the joints and inflammation-causing agents. Chondroitin plays an important role in offering a cushion-like feel to the joints of your dog and protects it from further weakening.
You can use synthetic supplements given by the concerned vet. Also, there are many natural food sources available in the industry that has both compounds. You can let your pet enjoy the trachea as a chewy meal, or you can give a scrumptious broth of bone as both are very rich in glucosamine. Animal bones with gristle are considered to be a very useful source of Chondroitin.
Now that you can, you are aware of how you can ensure better health of your dog’s joint health; make sure to try them and integrate in the daily life of your pet. Please share your insights with us below in the comment section and how you have benefited from the tips.
Photo by Stas Svechnikov on Unsplash.