Your pet’s joint health may be the last thing on your mind when you adopt one. However, joint pains in pet dogs are a common ailment that can affect them at some time in their lives, and bigger breeds are often the most susceptible. Through joint pet care practices, fortunately, you can prevent a life limited by stiffness and discomfort to your pet and improve their general well-being.
So let us discuss a few simple guidelines on maintaining your pet’s joint health so they can keep doing their favorite activities for a long time.
How to Keep Your Pet’s Joints Healthy
Pet parents might assume everything is okay if their dogs aren’t whining in pain. However, pets exhibit pain differently than human beings, and they are experts at hiding it. This is why we must proactively prevent joint problems, so our companions won’t suffer serious conditions like arthritis.
Here are five tips to keep your dog’s joints and bones in the best and optimal condition:
1. Introduce Supplements to Their Regular Diet
In addition to keeping your pet’s healthy diet, ask your vet about including joint supplements into their regular food. When your dog is a year old, start giving them fish oil; when they are two years old, feed them joint supplements. This is vital even if you don’t see symptoms of arthritis yet.
If your dog reacts with an upset stomach or responds adversely to whatever joint supplements you are giving them, have them checked by vet internists in facilities like Ace Animal Hospital. Some joint supplements have excessive amounts of glucosamine sulfate, which often leads to toxicity. This is why it’s always best to consult your vet before starting joint supplements to ensure your pet’s safety if they have health conditions that might conflict with it.
2. Prevent Injuries
Canine arthritis commonly develops due to injuries, even when your dog is just a puppy. Jumping too high, overexercising, and running too hard before a puppy’s bones and muscles can develop might only hurt their joints, so it is necessary to supervise your dog’s exercise routine. Always observe moderation, exercise properly, and avoid overworking your pet to prevent injuries that may lead to severe joint conditions.
3. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Good joint health in canines begins with a healthy and nutritious diet. Canine obesity and weight gain are among the most common culprits of joint-related issues in pets. Overweight dogs carry extra weight, which puts additional pressure on their joints, supporting muscle tissues, and spine. Top-quality canine foods, fruits, and vegetables free of harmful additives and added sugar can help maintain their weight, promote overall health, and support healthy joints.
To keep your dog’s chompers and weight healthy, their oral health is one thing you should maintain. Routinely take them to a veterinary dentist in Fermont, CA, to prevent oral health problems that may affect their well-being.
4. Weigh Them Regularly
When you take your companion to the vet for kitten shots and parasite prevention, don’t forget to weigh them. Always record their weight to know if they’re gaining too much. The veterinarian can advise the best weight for your pet’s size and breed to keep them in the healthy weight range.
5. Treat Injuries Immediately
Vets recommend immediate treatment of suspected canine injuries to prevent joint problems as they age. Pets that suffer fractures from car accidents might need special treatment, surgical attention, or forced rest to recover properly. Disregarding any injury may only exacerbate in the future and cause many more undesirable situations.
To End
Taking simple proactive procedures throughout your dog’s life can help minimize discomfort and even prevent arthritis. By observing regular veterinary checkups, proper weight and diet management, and giving them joint strengthening supplements and vitamins, your pet can live a healthy, happy life with strong limbs that can take them anywhere.
