Does your dog have any of the following symptoms:
- Walking awkwardly
- Has Difficulty standing
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Refusal to jump or climb steps
- Swelling of the joints
If so they may be suffering from joint problems. There are a number of causes for joint pain, including: Hip dysplasia, developmental problems, metabolic disease, lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and hyperparathyroidism.
Degenerative joint disease is the more common cause, which mostly affects cartilage, the hard but slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they meet to form a joint.
Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from the shock of physical movement.
In dogs with degenerative problems, the surface layer of cartilage breaks and wears away.
This allows bones under the cartilage to rub together, causing pain, swelling, and loss of motion of the joint. Over time, the joint may lose its normal shape.
Fact: Joint problems affects 1 out of 5 dogs over the age of 1 year.
So how can you help relieve the pain your dog may be suffering on a daily basis?
1. Avoid sugar Sugar - Sugar is one of the biggest causes of inflammation in the body, and this can make things a whole lot more painful.
But you might be thinking, well my dog never eats sugar...
But what you may not know, is that 80% of dry foods contain a massive amount of sugar.
2. Use turmeric daily - Oh my Goodness. If there was ever a plant or herb you should be including in your dog's diet, it is Turmeric.
Either in powdered form or fresh. You only need to add small traces of Turmeric to your dog’s food bowl and they will get a considerable improvement in arthritis and joint pain.
3. Exercise daily - Although this sounds rather counterintuitive for a dog with joint issues, exercise is one of the best ways to relieve pain.
Now, I’m not talking about a marathon, but keeping your dog active will keep their joints flexible and mobile and allow more blood flow.
Even though your dog might be ageing, they still need walks often.
4. Eliminate processed foods - They are full of additives and fillers are a big cause of inflammation and pain in dogs. Switching up your dog’s dry food diet for freshly made raw food is going to give you massive results in more than one way.
If you're on a budget and dry food is all you can afford, then simply add some kelp, sardine oil, or fish oil to their bowl.
It’s better than nothing and combined with exercise and Turmeric you’ll be doing your dog a big favour.
5. Supply Omega 3's in abundance - Unlike processed foods and farmed meats like chicken and beef, Meats containing Omega 3’s will reduce inflammation and therefore relieve some of the pain.