Dog joint pain

Every owner or potential owner of a dog needs to keep in mind that dogs are susceptible to joint problems, which result in pain and inflammation that can make the canine’s life quite unbearable. These joint problems could be developmental or degenerative.

Developmental dog joint problems are the joint issues present in the dog right from its birth. Genetic issues that cause the canine’s joints to develop incorrectly during its early years generally cause these problems. These problems usually result from a dog’s hereditary predisposition.

Examples include elbow or hip dysplasia. If not well-managed, developmental dog-joint issues could quickly result in the affected joints being painful. This can slow down the dog’s vitality and cause such other complications as obesity and its associated consequences.

Degenerative dog joint problems are joint issues that result from the gradual deterioration of a dog’s articular cartilage within the affected joints. They develop over time, usually due to a dog’s age or overuse of the affected joints, as in the case of sporting dogs.

Whether your dog’s joint pain arises due to developmental or degenerative problems, you need to be ready to help it manage the pain so as to live a comfortable life.

Strategies for relieving joint pain in dogs

When you notice that your dog is unable to engage in activities it used to enjoy, such as jumping onto its favorite chair or spending unusually long periods of time lying down accompanied by deep groans, there are high possibilities that it’s experiencing joint pain.

You also need to keep in mind that not all dogs will yelp or cry when they are experiencing joint pain. But as a dog owner, you will easily notice a change in your dog’s behavior, including atrophied muscles and stiff limbs.

What do you do when faced with such a dilemma? When I started having dogs, the thought of watching my fluffy friend suffer due to joint pain made me wince. Luckily, Antinol UK had an exhibition where I met my old-time friend who works there as a consultant veterinarian, and I used the opportunity to ask him all the questions I had regarding dog joint pain.

One thing I learned from my conversation with this old friend was that when it comes to dog joint problems, every dog owner must be prepared. That is because all dogs are susceptible to the problems, either due to hereditary reasons or because of overuse of the joints during the dog’s lifetime.

He also informed me that every dog owner needs to think about relief for their dog’s joint pain, which unfortunately does not entail reaching for a single big shot of help from a pharmaceutical company. The best results are usually realized by working with a trusted veterinarian to develop a plan that is tailored to deal with a particular dog’s specific joint issues.

Some of the joint pain relief strategies that we have developed with my veterinarian and that have helped relieve my dogs’ joint pain include:

• Providing orthopedic beds, steps, and ramps
• Massages and bodywork
• Acupuncture and alternative medicines
• Exercise and water therapy
• Therapeutic laser treatment
• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Giving your dog joint supplements

When it comes to joint supplements for dogs, it is important for every dog owner to be aware that the dog supplement market has been flooded with products that promise great dog joint pain relief but whose safety and effectiveness have caused many dog owners sleepless nights.

Dog supplements that are essential for relief of dog joint pain

Just as with the joint supplements for cats that are touted to be effective in alleviating joint pain in felines, effective joint supplements for dogs contain veterinary-balanced combinations of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, the green-lipped mussel, and other chondroprotective substances.

Because only a small number of the dog supplements available on the market are helpful in relieving dog joint pain, working closely with your veterinarian as well as networking with fellow dog parents can help you ward off unhelpful dog joint supplements.

As a dog parent, I am always grateful to my veterinarian, who introduced me to Antinol for dogs. This dog supplement has been a great tool in helping me bring comfort to my dogs whenever they are faced with joint pain issues. In fact, due to its effectiveness, I recently asked my vet whether a product with similar effectiveness existed to help my cat, which had begun to exhibit signs of osteoarthritis.

To my delight, the vet had a cat parent who shared with me his arduous journey in searching for effective supplements for cats joints until the vet introduced her to Antinol for cats. I did not need much convincing after that testimony! Now I can confidently say that my flurry friends are ever-happy thanks to these two amazing products.

Always work with your vet to determine a good dog supplement

While I have shared my experience with dog supplements as well as joint supplements for cats, I must stress that every dog or cat is different. What worked for me probably won't work for you. So, always work with your vet, who will diagnose the problems, your dog or cat has before helping you develop a relief plan.