Promoting healthy joints

Winter seems to bring out the aches and pains in our older dogs or dogs with past injuries. While it's easy to blame the weather or natural aging for your pet's troubles, the symptoms are usually part of a bigger issue. There are some things you can do to help.

You Are What You Eat

As with many health problems, our pets’ joint problems often stem from an inappropriate diet.  Many commercial diets (especially inexpensive, grocery store brands) are made with low quality ingredients and protein.  Unfortunately, the effects of a poor diet are often long term and do not show up for many years.  For instance, severe arthritis in older dogs could be  prevented by feeding a healthy raw diet while the dog is young.  One huge step you can take in promoting joint health in your dog is to begin now feeding a healthy diet.

Weight also plays a large part in joint health.  Thin, fit dogs are less likely to suffer from severe joint problems and less likely to injure themselves in normal daily activity.  Old injuries are a common cause of arthritis.  If your dog already suffers joint problems, keeping him trim will increase his ability to get around without pain.  Extra weight puts more stress on the joints causing greater pain.  Weight can be the deciding factor between a dog who can lead a normal life with a joint disease (such as hip dysplasia) and a dog who can not.

Essential Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) Omega 3 and Omega 6 regulate the body’s inflammatory responses.  EFAs are needed to both build and maintain healthy joints.  A diet lacking in EFAs will cause the dog to have an impaired ability towards dealing with injuries and joint irritation.  EFAs are also important in promoting healthy skin and coat.  EFA supplementation can dramatically improve the symptoms of both allergies and arthritis.

Most pets can benefit from EFA supplements added to their food.  Pets fed dry or canned foods though especially need these supplements.  EFAs are destroyed by heat, oxygen and light so they do not survive the manufacturing of most commercial dry or canned pet foods.  Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids are easy to add to your pet’s food with products such as Grizzly Salmon Oil.

Glucosamine and Vitamin C

Glucosamine is a popular supplement for joint problems in both humans and animals.  It aids the body in repairing damaged joint tissue as well as lubricating and protecting joint tissue.  Glucosamine is most efficiently absorbed if it is given in a liquid form.  Glucosamine supplements such as that by Liquid Health suggest a dosage based on your pet’s weight.

Though Vitamin C is produced in the dog’s body, supplementing with it can support collagen synthesis which is needed for bone and tissue repair.  Vitamin C also improves the body’s use of glucosamine. Vitamin C has been shown to slow the progress of hip dysplasia in predisposed dogs and ease the symptoms in dogs already suffering from it.  Ester-C is the best form to supplement with because it will not upset your dog’s stomach and contains additional metabolites which may have further health benefits.

Good Exercise

Good exercise is another important factor in preventing and treating joint problems.  The right exercise throughout life will help decrease the risk of arthritis and the severity of joint diseases which dogs may inherit.  Exercise also plays a key role in managing a dog, young or old, who already has joint problems.
Dogs should “warm up” before any hard exercise the same as humans do.  Have your dog spin in circles both clockwise and counter clockwise several times each.  Ask your dog to shake hands with both legs and teach him to bow which stretches many muscles.  Start off with a nice easy walk.  Stiff joints and muscles can be injured more easily then warmed up joints and muscles.

Puppies need plenty of exercise but the type of exercise is very important especially in joint problem prone breeds.  Certain precautions should be used with puppies under 14 months old  (the approximate age the last growth plates close).  If you chose to exercise your dog with jumping or take part in agility training, keep the jumps elbow height or lower until your dog is over 14 months old.  Also, avoid forcing your puppy to exercise by taking them for long runs or jogs.  Once your puppy is over 14 months old you can begin slowly increasing the amount of high impact exercise he is getting. There is no need to limit the exercise your puppy gets naturally through play.

Good muscle condition can make a huge difference in symptoms of joint disease. However that doesn’t mean your dog with joint problems should be climbing over rocks in the river or dashing down cliffs after a rabbit.  Keep exercise low impact if possible.  Swimming is ideal if your dog is willing.  Walking and running are still appropriate forms of exercise providing the dog is warmed up and not pushed past his physical limitations.