Just like us humans, as our pups grow older they may begin to experience issues with their joints. But don’t just think that it’s older dogs that have problems! Start to think about joint health care for dogs from an early age and you’ll be able to set yourself up for caring for a dog that suffers from arthritis or joint pain. Although many people rely on certain prescription drugs, you should always try to give your pup more natural solutions. Plus, think about what you can be doing at home to give your dog a comfortable living environment, such as providing them with a luxury dog bed to keep them off the hard floors or ground.
Firstly, let’s jump into some of the typical causes of joint pain dogs, so you can keep a close eye on how your pup is feeling and whether they may be a little bit more vulnerable than others.
Causes of Joint Pain in Dogs
These joint issues may be degenerative or developmental. Degenerative joint pain in dogs is commonly from osteoarthritis, which is essentially an inflammation of the joint as a result of deterioration of cartilage. This type of dog joint inflammation can begin to get more painful and severe for your dog if you don’t do anything to combat it.
The joints in your pup have a layer of cartilage which creates a lubrication fluid for the joint so that they can function without any discomfort or friction. Unfortunately what happens is that as time progresses chronic inflammation will result in antibodies being sent to the area. Even though they’re meant to heal the injury, they can actually be detrimental for the joint lining that they’re trying to preserve.
Is your pup at risk?
Any kind of dog has the potential to experience osteoarthritis, especially as they get older. Large dog breeds such as Golden Retrievers or German Shepherds are more at risk of developing some form of joint pain. If you do have a larger dog you should keep a watchful eye on how your dog is moving and if you notice them beginning to slow down when they’re out on a walk.
Obesity is another risk factor and so you should check how much you’re feeding your pup and how active of a lifestyle they have. Speaking of food, make sure that you’re providing them with a great nutritious diet as poor nutrition may also lead to more inflammation for your dog.
Tips for Reducing Joint Pain
Now that we have a bit of a better understanding of joint pain in your dogs, let’s have a look at some key tips for joint health care for dogs.
1. Take them for regular walks
The last thing you want is for your dog’s joints to seize up entirely from living a lazy lifestyle at home. Taking your pup out on regular walks around the neighbourhood will help to tone the muscles around the joints and make sure that joint fluid remains viscous. Another great way to keep them active while reducing some of the weight from their joints is to take them swimming down at the beach. If you do notice that your dog is in a bit of pain, try and take them on shorter walks throughout the day, instead of a big one which may be doing more harm than good.
2. Avoid NSAIDs
Many people may want to give their dog non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to help lower the pain that your dog is experiencing. This also limits your pup’s ability to heal themselves and can make the problems in their joints worse over time.
3. Add some turmeric to their food
You might already be familiar with turmeric, as just as it can help with inflammation in humans, our favourite orange powder can reduce pain and stiffness in your dog. Try and buy an organic turmeric powder that you can add to their food every day. Make sure to be cautious with how much you give them based on their weight and find the sweet spot for them.
4. Keeping Them Lean
Reducing the amount of weight that your dog is carrying can make sure that they aren’t putting any unnecessary pressure on their joints. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight will lower the stress their joints experience and reduce the amount of joint inflammation that is being created by fat.
Your pups should be able to enjoy an active lifestyle without experiencing joint pain. Make sure to see a vet if you’re ever worried about the condition of your dog.
How can a dog bed help with joint health care for dogs
One of the best ways that you can help to manage joint pain in your dogs is to set them up with comfortable dog beds for them to rest in throughout the day. If you’re leaving them to sleep on the hard floorboards at home or out on the cold ground outside you’re encouraging more inflammation in their joints.
Buying a Creatures of Comfort dog bed should be one of your top priorities when looking at what you need for a new dog. We also sell orthopaedic dog beds which can help look after your dog’s joints and ensure they’ve got a nice place to rest after a hard day of playing and eating. (Must be nice right?)
