Joint Care

Joint care is an important aspect of health care for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Arthritis is the number one cause of chronic pain in dogs. Starting a joint supplement early in predisposed breeds and highly active dogs can help maintain healthy joints. Common ingredients in joint supplements are glucosamine and chondroitin which can help support the cartilage in the joints and protect it, their effects are not always immediate and often require a number of weeks for results to be seen. Senior dogs can benefit from joint supplements as part of a multimodal approach to treatment of arthritis, meaning that several approaches combined yield better results than a single therapy. Other arthritis treatment options include mobility support dog food, medications from the vet if indicated as well as environmental support including orthopaedic beds and ramps. Furthermore, adjunctive therapy like physiotherapy and hydrotherapy can help maintain muscle mass while also minimising joint stress. And it goes without saying that extra weight puts additional strain on your dog’s joints which can predispose or worsen pre-existing joint disease, so maintaining an ideal body weight is a must.