Depending on the dog breed, knowing how to keep dog joints healthy is important.
Perhaps you have a large dog – such as a German Shepherd known for hip dysplasia and other joint-based health concerns. Or, maybe your dog has been overweight for a large portion of their life and has put a lot of strain on their joints. Your dog’s joints matter for mobility and overall health and wellbeing. So, understanding how they function and what you can do as a pet parent to help matters.
Pawt4Paws is here to help facilitate both an understanding of dog joint-related concerns, as well as the remedies and preventative measures to keep them healthy!
Is Hip Dysplasia a Joint-Related Issue?
As mentioned in this article by the American Kennel Club:
Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition, often seen in large or giant breed dogs, although it can occur in smaller breeds, as well. To understand how the condition works, owners first must understand the basic anatomy of the hip joint.
The hip joint functions as a ball and socket. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit or develop properly, and they rub and grind instead of sliding smoothly. This results in deterioration over time and an eventual loss of function of the joint itself.
So in short; yes. Hip dysplasia definitely affects dog joints.
Common breeds, apart from the German Shepherd, known for hip dysplasia include:
- Great Danes
- Saint Bernard’s
- Labradors
That being said, your dog’s joint concerns can also be a factor in smaller dogs too.
Dog Joint Health: Nutrition & Supplements
Dog joint health is about more than just ‘good luck’. A lot of your dog’s joint health comes from nutrition too. Or, to aid in regaining their joint health – supplements.
Whether you have a young active dog that you wish to proactively seek help in caring for the health of their joints or an aging larger dog – here are some of the best nutrients to include for optimal joint care.
Water. As the vital source of life, freshwater is at the top of the list of ways for pet parents to help promote healthy joints in their pups. Dehydration can lead to a variety of concerns, so keeping your dog hydrated is vital to their vitality, as well as the longevity of joint health.
Omega 3’s. Another great nutritional aid in dog joint health. Whether tackling arthritis or overall inflammation, Omega 3-Fatty Acids are a great way to maintain healthy joints or manage joint pain.
Protein. Is another key ingredient for joint health. This doesn’t necessarily contribute to joint care directly, but rather – builds the muscles and soft tissue around the joints to adequately support them. Helping your dog build and support their muscle mass will help combat joint issues, and preventative care is always the best approach to overall health.
CBD Oil for Dogs. Acting similarly to Omega 3’s and including coconut oil, CBD is an excellent anti-inflammatory for dogs.
As mentioned in our article CBD oil for Pain Management in Pets: Step by Step Guide, CBD can interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors in your pet’s body and helps the ECS work better and more efficiently. Think about CBD as a support system for an animal’s body support system!
Sometimes your pet’s body has a deficiency in cannabinoids as the result the animal might experience different types of pain. CBD can easily increase missing cannabinoids, restore the balance in the ECS and help to relieve modulate pain in pets.
So, overall for both joint management, as well as joint pain – CBD can be another supplement that tackles both the symptom a well as the pain caused by joint concerns.
Other Supplements to Support Dog Joints Include
- Glucosamine
- Chondroitin
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Cetyl Myristoleate
- Vitamin C
If you want to combine Omega 3’s along with CBD, our Wild Salmon CBD dog Treats offer a way to both reward your dog and treat them to great health too!
INGREDIENTS INCLUDE: Brown rice flour, filtered water, wild salmon, sardines, and coconut oil
- All ingredients are certified organic and fair trade, fish is Ocean WiseTM certified
- No artificial colors, flavours, additives, or preservatives
- GMO-free
- No wheat or soy
- Gluten-free
Curious to know more about our CBD products to help treat dog joint concerns? Feel free to contact us via email info@pawt4paws.com, phone 1-888-898-9080, Facebook, Instagram or our contact us page.
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