It’s hard to imagine a dog without joint pain.
Dogs are just like people. They can have joint discomfort and joint disease.
Joints are where two bones meet in a joint to move, and the joint is stabilised by cartilage.
Osteoarthritis, joint inflammation, injury or ageing can cause joint cartilage to break down (degenerating).
This condition causes joint pain and stiffness that range from mild to severe. There are three types of joint disease: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Arthritis is the most common type of joint disease which can be treated with painkillers like ibuprofen.
Gout is caused when excess uric acid builds up in the blood and crystalises in joint tissues.
What joint pain is and what causes it
Joint pain in dogs is a condition that affects joint health.
Joints act as the “hinges” of your pet’s body and allow for movement.
When joint pain occurs, it can be caused by an infection or other conditions such as arthritis.
It may also occur due to factors such as joint injury, joint overuse, joint malformation or joint trauma.
Joint pain may lead to joint inflammation, joint degeneration and joint destruction, which is irreversible.
The most common places joints become painful are the knee, wrist, shoulder and elbow joints.
1.) Pets with excessive weight gain can put added stress on their joints
2.) Hip dysplasia is a condition where the hip joint is not held securely by the pelvic bone.
This joint weighs about 20% of the dog’s total body weight, and when a joint becomes misaligned, it can cause joint pain.
3.) Arthritis is joint inflammation.
It is also a widespread joint problem in dogs, especially senior or older dogs.
Other contributing factors include injury to the joint, infection, mechanical trauma and joint degeneration.
4.) Inflammation of joint structures such as cartilage, tendons and ligaments can cause joint pain.
5.) Joint disease is joint degeneration.
This joint problem causes thinning of joint cartilage, which results in joint pain.
How joint disease can affect a dog’s life
Dogs with the joint disease might need to take medication or undergo surgery to replace the joints.
The weight of the dog and the severity of arthritis will affect how long it takes for these treatments to work.
Dogs that are overweight are more likely to have problems with arthritis later on in their lives. In some cases, the joint disease can cause so much pain that it becomes difficult for a dog to walk.
In these cases, a veterinarian may recommend a surgical procedure called arthroplasty, which replaces damaged joints with artificial ones.
These procedures come with risks and are not always successful.
Dog owners need to get their pet dogs checked on by a veterinarian if they notice any change in their pet’s movements or if they find that their pet is favouring a particular area.
In some cases, the joint disease can cause so much pain that it becomes difficult for a dog to walk.
In these cases, a veterinarian may recommend a surgical procedure called arthroplasty, which replaces damaged joints with artificial ones.
These procedures come with risks and are not always successful.
Dog owners need to get their pet dogs checked on by a veterinarian if they notice any change in their pet’s movements or if they find that their pet is favouring a particular area.
The seven best joint supplements for dogs
1) Nutramax’s Cosequin Maximum Strength Joint Supplement Plus MSM with Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
Why it’s the best joint supplement for dogs?
This joint support formula is a joint health product containing MSM and Glucosamine to make joint pain easier.
It also has Chondroitin Sulfate, which helps build cartilage in your dog, giving them more cushioning over their bones, helping the joints move smoothly.
Cosequin is made right here in the USA by NutraMax Labs.
It can be used with other joint medicine such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx without seeing any side effects.
Cosequin offers long term joint relief that starts working fast! Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
2) NaturVet Senior Wellness Hip & Joint Advanced Soft Chews Plus Omegas.
This joint support formula is a joint health product that contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate to make joint pain easier.
It also has Omega 3, 6 & 9 for joint lubrication, which helps build cartilage in your dog, giving him or hethemhioning over their bones, helping the joints move smoothly.
It can be used with other joint medicine such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx without seeing any side effects.
These NaturVet joint supplements offer long term joint relief that starts working fast! Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
3) ElleVet CBD + CBDA Chews.
This joint supplement helps give your dog the joint support they need and deserve.
It is a joint health product that contains Omega 3, 6 & 9 for joint lubrication, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate to make joint pain easier.
These joint supplements also have natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as CBD and CBDA, which may help with joint inflammation.
ElleVet joint supplements offer long term joint relief that starts working fast! Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
4) WoofWell Health Supplement.
This joint health supplement supports both joints and cartilage as it contains Omega 3 and 6 oils, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate.
The joint supplements can be used with other joint medicine such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx without seeing any side effects.
These joint supplements for dogs offer long term joint relief that starts working fast! Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
5) Vet’s Best Aspirin Free Aches + Pains Dog Supplement.
This joint support supplement contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and omega 3, 6 & 9 and is a valuable part of pet health care.
The joint supplements can be used with other joint medicine such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx without seeing any side effects.
These joint supplements for dogs offer long term joint relief that starts working fast! Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
6) Zesty Paws Senior Advanced Mobility Bites.
These joint supplements for dogs are joint health supplements that contain Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Omega 3, 6 & 9.
They also have Ginger Extract, which helps joint inflammation as well as joint mobility!
The joint supplements can be used with other joint medicine such as Rimadyl and Deramaxx without seeing any side effects.
These joint supplements for dogs offer long term joint relief that starts working fast!
Some users of this joint supplement report result within two weeks after using the product on their pets.
7) Fera Pet Organics Hip + Joint Support for Dogs.
These joint supplements for dogs are joint health supplements containing Omega 3 & 6 oils, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin.
It also has MSM which helps joint inflammation, Ginger Extract, which supports joint mobility and is Gluten Free!
Symptoms of joint diseases in dogs
Symptoms of Joint diseases in dogs include decreased activity, inability to sleep, and various other symptoms.
The most common joint disease in dogs is arthritis, which is a degenerative disease. There are two types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Osteoarthritis can be found in the joints of any age or breed of dog. It usually occurs in large breed dogs over the age of 5 years.
It often affects an older dog’s hips, elbows or spine, causing stiffness and pain with movement.
It may take longer for them to get up from lying down than before they developed arthritis symptoms and have trouble going upstairs because their hips hurt so much.
Osteoarthritis usually does not cause lameness or any change in gait; however, it may worsen as your pet ages.
The main goal is to control pain and improve your dog’s quality of life.
There are many different OTC pain relievers that you can use, such as Rimadyl (generic: Carprofen), Deramaxx (generic: Piroxicam) or Previcox (generic: Firocoxib).
Taking these medications regularly will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain and stiffness associated with the condition.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that affects 1% per cent of all dogs in the U.S.
This joint disorder causes symptoms similar to osteoarthritis, including weight loss, lethargy, lameness after exercise and reduced range of motion in the affected joint.
It is more common in large breed dogs and usually appears after the age of 5 years.
Like osteoarthritis, it causes pain with movement, and arthritis can worsen as your pet ages. The main goal is to control the pain and improve your dog’s quality of life.
There are many different OTC pain relievers that you can use, such as Rimadyl (generic: Carprofen), Deramaxx (generic: Piroxicam) or Previcox (generic: Firocoxib).
Taking these medications regularly will help reduce inflammation and relieve pain associated with the condition.
How to take care of a dog with joint problems
It is essential to make sure that you are feeding your dog the correct type of food.
In many cases, it is recommended that you feed your dog more vegetables and fruit in addition to their regular food.
The goal should be for your dog to have a 2:1 ratio of vegetables and fruit to their food.
The next important step for a dog with joint problems is going to be exercise. It’s important to focus on exercising different body parts not to overwork one group more than another.
This includes things like swimming in the pool or walking them on a leash if you are limited in space at home.
You may also give them the option to play games indoors, such as fetch, or find it where they need to search for a toy you have hidden.
It is crucial to make sure that you are feeding your dog the correct type of food.
In many cases, it is recommended that you feed your dog more vegetables and fruit in addition to their regular food.
The goal should be for your dog to have a 2:1 ratio of vegetables and fruit to their food.
Many different types of joint supplements are on the market today, but all will work differently for different dogs.
If one doesn’t seem to be working for your dog, try switching to another supplement or even going back to a page we talked about earlier with increasing vegetables and fruits into your dog’s diet.
Some types of supplements are given once daily, while others can be given twice a day. With others, you can give the dog the same dose three times daily based on their weight and how they are responding to the supplement.
It would be best to do your homework and read into each product as discussed above before giving it to your dog.
We also want to mention something called glucosamine/chondroitin in this section because many people believe that this would be the first thing to try when trying to help a pet with joint problems.
In most cases, it takes several weeks for these products to work, but it should not be longer than three months before you see any benefit from them if they will work at all on your dog or cat.
The weight of your pet will typically determine the dosage amounts.
These would need to be given along with different types of joint supplements mentioned above.
How to groom a dog with joint problems so they are comfortable during the process.
If your dog has joint problems, you will want to groom them at a time of day that they are most comfortable.
Typically, I have found that they are more comfortable during the evening.
They may not be as flexible on their joints, and also, because it’s cooler, they may be warm and tired from being outside in the sun all day.
Ensure that your grooming tools are well maintained.
The tool you should mainly use is the comb with the metal teeth, which is excellent for removing mats and caked-on dirt.
If you’re using a brush with bristles, ensure that it does not have a harsh or prickly texture because that can irritate their skin.
It’s best to use brushes with soft bristles.
When grooming your dog with joint problems, you want to focus on the areas of their body that are not as flexible.
For example, if they have trouble bending over, you will want to comb their legs from the top and work downwards towards the paws.
Check for any matted fur, trying to keep it tangle-free. Comb this out gently but make sure you get every part of it because mats can be uncomfortable and may cause your additional dog pain, which is why you avoid them altogether.
Wash these parts of your dog’s body as well, so those areas are clean before moving onto their face and head.
This should help reduce itching in those sensitive areas, such as on their tailfins or near their ears.
Make sure that you thoroughly rinse the shampoo out of their fur because if left in, it could cause some irritation.
You can also use moisturising conditioners to help reduce any itching and dryness your dog may experience during this process.
By using these products, you will be protecting joints from further damage and pain.
It’s essential to keep your dog’s skin soft and supple so they do not rub against furniture or scratch themselves.
You want them to smell great and feel comfortable going anywhere with you! Most dogs love being brushed, so try making it a regular part of their routine to distract them from discomfort when brushing or combing out sensitive areas.
I hope this helps you have a more effortless grooming experience with your dog.
Joint problems in dogs are much more common than you might think. The symptoms can range from mild to severe, and you mustn’t simply ignore them because joint issues will not go away without treatment.
Dogs will continue suffering until anything is done about it. In some cases, the problem may be solved with simple home remedies or prescription medication such as glucosamine for dogs.
If this does not work, they may need surgery of some kind, depending on the severity of their condition.
Conclusion
Dogs are our best friends, and if they suffer from joint pain, we want to do all that we can for them.
The seven supplements listed here may be able to help your dog with its joints.
For more information on specific diseases or how you should care for a dog with joint problems, contact an animal hospital near you as soon as possible.
We hope this list will make caring for your pup easier! Thankful that there is something out there to try?
Let’s get started then!
