3 Effective Ways to Take Care of Your Dog's Joints
If you notice your dog prioritize using its front legs, your furry friend may have a case of hip dysplasia, which occurs when the ball and socket fail to develop properly until they gradually deteriorate and become dysfunctional over time. If left unaddressed, your four-legged pal may lose its ability to go on walks, play, or even greet you at the door. Growing old is part of life, but the negative aspects of growing old like joint discomfort, arthritis, or lack of mobility can be delayed or even prevented with the right proactive measures.
Fortunately, there are various ways to improve your dog’s joint health. Here are some techniques to take better care of your pet’s joints:
1. Improve Your Dog's Diet
A healthy gut biome is key to improving your dog’s overall health. To do so effectively, feed your pet with nutritious foods packed with vitamins and minerals. That way, you can enhance your dog’s quality of life, and keep their joints healthy and strong. We carry a variety of dog foods that are specifically meant for senior dogs, with ingredients that enhance and support joint strength.
Additionally, you must do your research about your dog’s ideal diet and other health-boosting supplements to enhance good joint growth. Not all dog foods are created equally, but we do our best to carry dog foods here that don't have any agenda besides providing the best support for our four-legged family. Visit your local pet store to get the best food options your furry companion needs!
Our staff here at EarthWise Pet Marysville all have over 300 hours of training on pet nutrition and pet industry foods. We can help you choose the right food, at the right stage of life, with the right ingredients for your pet. Contact us today for a free consultation! You can reach us through our website, Facebook page, or by phone!
2. Low-Impact Exercise Activities for Dogs
High-impact activities, like playing fetch, running, and jumping, can destabilize your dog’s joints. It's a lot of fun, but for pet parents of older dogs, they know that a long walk, or some extra play during the day, can have knock-on effects of stiffness and tiredness over the next 24-72 hours. High-impact activities can lead to serious injuries if your dog is already diagnosed with arthritis.
Not to worry, though, your dog can still stay active and have fun if you guide them through low-impact exercises! You just need to learn about the appropriate physical activities that are doable for your dog, especially when you consider their joints.
For instance, incorporate regular walking into your daily routine. In addition, indoor games, such as hide and seek and trick training, can teach your furry friend to find toys using their sense of smell, help it learn new tricks, and expand its vocabulary. These tricks are low-impact and can maintain your dog's health both mentally and physically.
You and your fluffy buddy can also make light swimming and modified games of fetch around the backyard as alternatives to rigorous exercises. To make your play session even more fun, shop for high-quality pet supplies and toys.
3. Joint Supplements for Your Dogs
You can use joint supplements for dogs to protect them from further deterioration. Fortunately, there are different types of medicines and vitamins available at your local pet store here in Marysville! You just have to remember that your main goal is to influence your furry friend’s healthy joint tissue growth to correct movement issues.
When shopping for dietary supplements to boost your dog’s joint health, make sure that they contain omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, proline, or collagen. Another primary ingredient for joint-supporting supplements is glucosamine. Glucosamine is one of several natural substances, or nutraceuticals, that are known as chondroprotective agents, used in the treatment of arthritis in humans, dogs, horses, and other animals. In dogs, glucosamine is also often used to alleviate pain and joint wear caused by hip dysplasia or other structural changes.
These nutrients effectively help deal with arthritis, retain water in cartilage to keep tissues moist and well-lubricated, repair tissues, form collagen, reduce joint pain, and enhance the cartilage’s integrity. Some supplements you can consider buying are The Missing Link pet kelp formula joint and bone dog supplement, Grizzly salmon oil, and hemp-enhanced Grizzly Joint Aid.
If you have questions or need help, don't be afraid to ask! We're here to help.
Conclusion
Treating your furry friend’s joint can be tricky, especially when you consider a dog’s basic anatomy. To improve their health and prevent the condition from getting more serious, you can follow these effective and proactive ways to take better care of your pet’s joints. That way, you can be a responsible pet owner and be a model for other dog parents out there! Start preserving your pet’s joint health today to minimize pain later!
When you need supplements, go to a trusted pet store like EarthWise Pet—a pet store in Marysville specializing in natural pet foods, raw foods, treats, and more! Gain access to the best dog-friendly products and services to keep your pet’s health and wellbeing in check!