Maintaining excellent joint health for pets is essential to ensure they lead a good quality of life.
There are a number of reasons why you should manage joint health for pets, which include, old age, being overweight, as well as trauma or injury. Joint stiffness tends to occur more often as your pet ages with dogs being more susceptible. However, young dogs can also develop joint stiffness. Some large breeds of dog in particular, are more prone to developing joint stiffness.
During the colder months, joint stiffness can appear more pronounced in your pet. They may need support when bending down to their food bowl and may not jump up as much. It is especially important to support joints in senior pets, as they may feel the cold more. If your pet has had any broken bones, this may also mean they are more sensitive to the cold.
There are common signs to look out for which include:
- Your pet may like resting more following exercise.
- Your cat may sleep a lot and not play or go out as much as you would expect.
- They may avoid performing certain tasks, such as jumping into the car or onto a chair.
- Your pet’s may seem irritable or sometimes aggressive.
- Your pet might seek out warm spots around the house, such as sunny areas, heat vents or near to radiators.
The mobility of your pet’s joints can have a dramatic impact on their quality of life, it can even affect your pet’s sleep. To help maintain optimum joint health pets, here are some positive things you can do:
Manage their weight
Excess weight can put pressure on joints, aim to reduce your cat or dog’s weight and keep them at a healthy weight for their breed and age. Speak to your vet before starting your pet on a diet, they can offer advice on the best way forward.
Exercise
It is important that your pet gets regular exercise to avoid stiffness and muscle wastage. Avoid long or infrequent walks and make sure your dog goes for several, short walks throughout the day. Think little and often to keep the joints mobile.
Diet
Feed your pet a good quality diet. Reassess your pet’s food and consult a veterinary professional who can recommend the best diet for their needs. Where appropriate raise water and food bowls so your dog or cat doesn’t have to bend down to them.
Comfort
Keep your pet warm and avoid cold and drafty or damp conditions that can aggravate joints. Provide a cosy warm place to sleep with enough room to find a comfortable position. Add extra bedding for senior pets and shorthaired dogs to help pad around their joints. Try to limit stair use and jumping on or off furniture
Grooming
Help to groom your pet when their joints become stiff as they may not be able to groom as freely.
Use ramps around the home
Continuously jumping on furniture or in and out of the car can easily cause injury. Install pet-friendly ramps to reduce the jumping and any damage to their joints.
Joint Supplementation
Your vet may recommend a natural supplement like Nutraquin+, which aids joint stiffness and supports the natural systems that control inflammation.
Key nutrients
Glucosamine HCL and Chondroitin Sulphate are essential for maintaining healthy joints, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and synovial fluid. Boswellia Extract supports the body’s natural anti-inflammatory process and plays an important role in maintaining smooth and comfortable joint movement.
Visit your vet
Regular vet visits ensure your pet’s joints can be monitored frequently and the best up-to-date advice can be given. Ensure you follow your vet’s advice.
Alternative solutions
You could consider alternative methods to help your dog or cat, such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. These can help to increase circulation and mobility in your pet.
If you are concerned about joint health for pets, consult your vet as they are best placed to offer advice and the best solution with regards to your pet’s health needs. Ask your vet about Nutraquin+, which is specifically formulated to offer natural joint support to cats and dogs. It contains high quality key nutrient that are essential for maintaining healthy joints.