Dog Joint Supplements: Important Diet Add-Ons for Healthy Canine

Having a dog is similar to having a baby. You are by his side during potty training, trips to the vet, changing dog nappies to your female furry friend, countless walks in the park and hours and hours of cuddling. And before you know it, from a loveable little puppy, your dog turns to a sagacious senior. The good news is, thanks to modern science and medicine, today dogs live longer than ever. But as they get older, dogs are getting more and more prone to joint and hip pain.

Osteoarthritis is especially common among aging dogs, affecting 20% over the age of one. Joint supplements for dogs can help your pet experience less pain and retain more mobility as they get older. From the abundance of joint supplements dogs intended available on the market, you might get overwhelmed by choosing the right one for your pooch. Just as you have your own self-care routine, it’s important to support your dog’s health beyond gourmet chow.

When to Consider Joint and Hip Supplements

Dog supplements for joints are considered to be important health veterinary supplies for your furry friend. And giving your dog preventative supplements early on may work to maintain their overall joint health and delay the onset of joint pain, stiffness, soreness, and even arthritis. As dogs are getting older, the cartilage and fluids protecting their bones break down, leading to pain, irritation and inflammation.

If you notice that your dog has difficulty trying to sit down or stand up, lifting a limp in the air or has swollen joints, the chances are that he’s experiencing joint problems. Larger breeds of dogs may experience symptoms of arthritis and dysplasia earlier than others, which is why it’s never too early to start implementing dog joint care supplements into your pouch diet. Since dogs respond to different treatments, you can offer a broad spectrum of nutrients.

What Ingredients Are Essential for Joint Health

When you are looking for dog supplements scientifically formulated to improve joint mobility and flexibility for dogs, turmeric might be one of the best ingredients that are beneficial for your dog’s joint health. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and that’s why you may find it included in many joint supplements dogs made for pain relief. Some bone and joint supplements for dogs contain a highly bioavailable form of turmeric that is 30 times more absorbable than standard turmeric.

Green-lipped mussel is another powerful agent that is known to support healthy joint cartilage. Rich in omega 3-fatty acids, this ingredient is also known to support the health of your dog skin and hair coat. With regular intake, your dog might experience less pain and improve mobility. Some powerful formulas combine curcumin and Boswellia – triple-action anti-inflammatory support to help relieve arthritic symptoms in dogs. Make sure the supplement you choose has no artificial colours or flavours.

Glucosamine is one of the more extensively researched and vet-recommended joint supplements available on the market. This naturally occurring compound is scientifically proven to stimulate cartilage growth. It’s an anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps “padding” your dog’s joints. Glucosamine also may stimulate the production of proteoglycans which help maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue. Many glucosamine supplements also contain vitamin C, zinc, copper and vitamin E to be even more efficient.

Omega 3 fatty acids are vital for humans and dogs everyday health, strong muscles and healthy joints. As the body doesn’t produce enough of these healthy fats, make sure to choose joint health supplements for dogs that contain omega-3 EPA and DHA fatty acids, among other ingredients, to support a plethora of other canine health concerns. They also help your dog to digest things like glucosamine and chondroitin properly.

Methyl sulphonyl methane (MSM) is another powerful ingredient. This sulphur-based compound possesses both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It has also been shown to help in the repair of the joint cartilage.

Choose from Capsules, Powder or Chews

The taste and the format of the supplements you choose are very important. The best joint supplement in the world is worthless if your dog refuses to eat it. The most popular formats of delivery of joint supplements are gel capsules, chews and treats and powders.

Gel capsules are usually very efficient, but they need to be taken orally and require a bit more effort. The smartest way to make your dog take them is to mix them with his favourite treats. You can toss a few small treats that are approximately the same size as the gel capsule to your dog if he enjoys catching them. After a few, toss the capsule without breaking stride or otherwise drawing attention to it. Follow it with a few more treats, so your dog doesn’t have the chance to realise what happened.

Soft chews tend to please most canine palates. They should be given in conjunction with a balanced diet. Treats and chews can be mixed with food or given separately. If you choose joint supplements for dogs in the form of powder, make sure to sprinkle it on or mix it into your dog’s food. To ensure that your dog gets the entire amount, a small amount of moist food might be a good idea.