How to Keep Joints Healthy for a Dog or Cat

• Posted on 6 October 2021
• By Louise's Pet Connection
• Posted in Joint Health
• 0

Getting older is unfortunately that part of life you just can’t keep your pets from experiencing. As our 4 legged family members get closer to their golden years their chances of arthritis and other joint related issues increase.

Getting older is unfortunately that part of life you just can’t keep your pets from experiencing. As our 4 legged family members get closer to their golden years their chances of arthritis and other joint related issues increase. But our seniors aren’t the only ones at risk, the harder your pets are on their joints the more likely they are to experience some damage to their joints over time.  Adding supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin, MSM, bone broth, or using oils rich in omegas can help to ensure your pets joints are in perfect form.

Being proactive about your pets joint health is the first step into keeping your pets moving! Your pet doesn’t need to have experienced an injury nor do they need to be a senior to start caring about their joints. Our pets bodies are meant to be active and agile but over time their skeletal system weakens. Joints are always remodeling due to the constant wear and repair on them. Damage to the cartilage is what allows elbows, hips, and other joints to become weak and lose elasticity. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are structural components of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints. Both are produced naturally in the body but sometimes your pets need help. Glucosamine is made up of glucose and glutamine which helps in the creation of molecules that form the joint cartilages. It’s basically a natural building block of cartilage that can help to prevent cartilage degeneration. Glucosamine influences the production of hyaluronic acid, the main source of synovial fluid which is the lubricating liquid between joints that allows bones to move smoothly past each other. Glucosamine helps in reducing inflammation and stiffness. Chondroitin helps protect joints by inhibiting the degradative enzymes that destroy articular cartilage. Chondroitin decreases the degradation of cartilage as glucosamine rebuilds it. Adding a raw version of glucosamine and chondroitin like one of our supplements can help to combat this process while providing support and comfort to their hips and joints. Which means building your pets joints back up to where they should be for easier movement.

As we’ve mentioned in our previous blog, hydration is key to keeping your pets healthy but it's also important to their joints. Proper hydration keeps the joints lubricated which allows them to move and flex as needed. Dehydration leads to inflammation, and stiff tendons and ligaments which can cause pain and higher risk of injury. This is where adding Bone Broth comes in. Bone broth is easy to use, incredibly tasty and comes in a variety of proteins that can be added to your dog or cat's diet! Like everything we carry, our bone broths are free of any antibiotics, steroids or added hormones. It's full of so many beneficial nutrients that support your pets joints but also digestion and liver health and of course helps keep them hydrated. Our bone broth also has the addition of turmeric which can serve as a natural anti-inflammatory and detoxifier. Bone Broth is full of joint protecting compounds like glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid which means it'll help keep your pets up and moving through all stages of life.

Now Inflammation can be incredibly harmful to your pets and their joints which is why it's so important to protect your pets from it. Using oils rich in omegas or adding MSM can help to combat this in your pets. Just to name a few, oils like sardine, salmon, or cod liver oil are excellent sources of Omegas! Sardine oil in particular is very rich in omegas, EPA, and DHA! This oil is perfect for arthritis based on its anti-inflammatory properties. Another great form of Omegas is Green lipped mussels. Green-Lipped Mussels are shellfish native to New Zealand and are rich in glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate, all of which contribute to the viscosity of the synovial fluid and help joint lubrication. These highly nutritious shellfish also contain the purest form of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help promote joint comfort, plus essential vitamins, minerals, and other natural marine micronutrients that help maintain proper joint function. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) in its purest form is a natural source of dietary sulfur and is critical to maintaining the connective tissue’s elasticity and flexibility in joints. Not only does MSM take care of inflammation in the joints but it also helps to alleviate any inflammation throughout the whole body. 

Whether you have a younger pet and are being proactive about their joint health or have an animal who is starting to slow down, these safe and natural options are essential to keeping your pets and their joints healthy and happy.  Because omegas are a powerful natural way to reduce inflammation they will help your younger pets maintain healthy joints and help to decrease joint pain in seniors. While using supplements rich in glucosamine, chrontdorion and MSM will ensure your pets joints function properly through all activities and stages of life.