February 22 is “Walking the Dog Day,” a time to celebrate that ritual you enjoy every day with your canine companion. But just as with humans suffering from joint health issues, dogs with joint problems will have trouble with normal, everyday mobility. On this walk, pay special attention to how your buddy is moving. When you notice that your dog might be slowing down and becoming less active, there are options to help you improve the quality of his life.
Signs of Joint Problems in Dogs
There are some key signs to look for as you evaluate your dog’s joint health. You may begin to notice that certain movements or activities become more challenging for your dog. For instance, he may have trouble getting up and down between a seated and standing position. Perhaps you’ll notice hesitation and struggles climbing stairs. Maybe he can no longer get in and out of the car on his own. You might also notice he has less stamina for walks, playing fetch, or other exercise he once enjoyed so much. These are all signs of joints no longer working as well as they once did.
Common Treatment Options for Dogs with Joint Issues
There are prescription medications available from veterinarians to treat joint problems in pets. Those most commonly used are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids. These drugs reduce pain and inflammation, but they do not support your dog’s basic joint structure or replenish joint building blocks often in short supply for dogs with impaired mobility.
Alternative therapies are commonly used to support joint health in dogs. Nutritional supplements offer several important advantages over drugs. First, nutrition is better positioned to provide long-term rather than short-term joint support. Further, most joint supplements contain multiple active compounds to support all the underlying structural components of joint health, instead of only targeting the symptoms. Finally, regulatory laws require that supplements must not have adverse side-effects and joint supplement products as a whole have been shown to be very safe.
Pet Joint Supplement Ingredients for Total Structural Support
Selecting a pet joint health product that gives complete joint support will lead to more normal mobility for your dog. Look for a supplement with specific components necessary to support the development, health and maintenance of bones, joints, and other connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Pet health experts recommend the following ingredients:
- Glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid: These natural substances are critical for the production of larger glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), the biologically-produced building blocks of cartilage, connective tissue and lubricating joint fluids. There is a relatively new source of all these joint building blocks in one ingredient. NEM® is naturally-derived from eggs and contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, collagen, peptides and amino acids all in one source and in the appropriate biologic ratio.
· - Calicium, Phosphorus, Vitamin C, Vitamin D: These nutrients are required to produce new collagen and bone cells and are critical for normal bone growth and development.
· - Zinc, Copper, Manganese: These minerals promote the normal formation of bone and cartilage.
- Methionine: This amino acid is essential in the formation of the biomolecules that make up bones and joints.
· - Selenium: This mineral helps protect bone and joint cells from oxidative damage.
STEADFAST® by Arenus
STEADFAST® Canine provides a natural source of supportive nutrients for healthy joint function from Giving your dog STEADFAST® daily makes sure he gets all the critical components necessary for supporting joint and bone health. You can find more information about Steadfast at http://shop.arenus.com/c-5-steadfast.aspx.