How Do Joint Supplements Help Your Dog's Mobility

We want our pets to be healthy, active and happy. It is important to know that whether you have a running puppy or an older dog, joint health matters for their well-being. Just as with humans, as dogs grow older, the wear and tear on their joints can make getting around uncomfortable or painful for them. A good way to reduce pain and inflammation and support their joint health, without the harmful side effects of long-term pain killers, is by incorporating joint supplements into your pets’ regimen.

Let's take a good look at why joint supplements are one of the keys to giving your dog their zip, vitality, and playfulness back. This blog highlights the benefits of joint supplements and what they do for our dogs to stop them from feeling sore or achy!

Understanding Joint Health in Dogs

Joints are the sites where bones come together to allow for movement. Cartilage is a smooth, rubbery tissue that forms the cushion in between joints and acts as a shock absorber, protecting bones from grinding against each other. This cartilage, in combination with joint fluid, helps movement to be smooth and pain-free. As they age, or due to genetic factors and injury, the cartilage can begin to wear down over time. This causes pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, eventually leading to dog arthritis. No surprise here... Joint issues—such as osteoarthritis (OA)—are one of the most common health problems in dogs and are especially prevalent dog ailments affecting large or older breeds. Besides degenerative conditions like OA, there are developmental disorders like hip dysplasia that can affect dogs of large and heavy breeds- German Shepherd, Labrador, great Dane, etc.

Now that you have an idea of how their joints work, let us explore the benefits supplements can provide to your pet in case they suffer from joint issues. 

What Are Joint Supplements for Dogs?

Supplements for dogs are nutritional products made with particular ingredients/ nutrients that help to relieve joint pain, maintain healthy joints, and support mobility. These supplements nourish the cartilage, decrease inflammation, and support repair and long-term health of joints. Some supplements also contain ingredients  to help movement and prevent more wear and tear of joints.

While useful for dogs of any age, these supplements are particularly vital to the diet of senior canines and those susceptible to joint problems (Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Beagles, etc.), as well as pets who have undergone surgery or had a severe injury involving their joints

What Makes a Joint Supplement Work?

Most joint supplement blends incorporate a number of ingredients that work synergistically to promote better joint health. Here are some of the most popular and effective ingredients:

Glucosamine

One of the most widely recognized ingredients in joint formulas is glucosamine. It is a naturally occurring compound found in healthy cartilage that aids its structure. Glucosamine helps create and repair the cartilage that cushions and lubricates pets' joints, ensuring they work properly. Giving your dog glucosamine supplements will slow down and repair joint degeneration and enhance motion.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin is a naturally occurring compound which forms the structure of cartilage. It inhibits the breakdown of cartilage. It enhances the water content of cartilage and improves shock absorption. Glucosamine and chondroitin work better combined rather than as individual ingredients. They slow the progression of joint diseases such as arthritis and help your dog be more comfortable.

MSM (Methyl sulfonyl methane)

MSM occurs naturally and has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is a natural anti-inflammatory, lessening joint pain that makes dogs with arthritis happier pups. Not only does MSM provide your dog with support for mobility and flexibility, it also helps in the regeneration of cartilage and strengthens connective tissues.

Omega Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fats, particularly EPA and DHA, have potent anti-inflammatory benefits. Omega fatty acids can minimise joint inflammation and stiffness, which is beneficial if your dog has arthritis. Since omega-3 fatty acids promote better health, including healthier skin and coat as well as a healthy heart, they are added to most joint supplements and can be incorporated into your pets’ diet.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a natural chemical that serves as a lubricant for joint tissues and assists in sustaining smooth mobility by enabling the joints to function together properly. It also serves to cushion the joints, decreasing their force throughout impact and hence preventing wear on the cartilage. Hyaluronic acid increases joint suppleness and comfort, which is why it should be a supplement in your dog's nutrition.

Turmeric

Its key ingredient, curcumin, is an antioxidant with powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This ingredient is known to improve joint pain and inflammation in dogs, so it makes a popular addition for joint supplements.

 

Joint Supplement to Help Move Without Pain

Joint supplements work with a dog in many ways to increase mobility. They also support the nourishment of cartilage while decreasing inflammation to reduce stiffness and pain, enabling your dog more freedom of movement.

How Joint Supplements Work to Help Mobility

Pain & Inflammation Management

Whether from ageing or as a result of joint issues, inflammation is often the root cause of pain and stiffness in dogs. Ingredients like glucosamine, MSM, and omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation to make your dog move better and without pain.

Supporting Cartilage Repair

Over time, a dog's joints experience the natural loss of cartilage. Joint supplements help support the repair and maintenance of healthy cartilage, slowing down further degeneration and allowing better function in an arthritic joint. They are most useful in helping to repair damaged cartilage and slow the progression of joint diseases.

Improving Joint Lubrication

Hyaluronic acid, for example, can enhance the lubrication of joints so that motion is more fluid and free. Properly lubricated joints are the least likely to generate friction in movement, so your dog can move easily without pain.

Reducing future damage to the joint

Joint supplements can help repair damaged joints and protect against further breakdown. This is particularly essential for dogs that have an active lifestyle, are elderly, or are recuperating after surgical treatment. The improved joint health is going to give your pup precious additional years of life to enjoy and keep them mobile for as long as possible

When to start joint supplements? 

This is a question most pet parents think about—when to start their dog on joint supplements? Although it is never too late to start, in many cases, the earlier you do so, especially with breeds predisposed for joint problems, the better. The same goes for joint health, as starting your dog on a supplement before stiffness or pain or decreased movement can stave off the advent of these much nastier symptoms.

Experts recommend consulting your veterinarian, though, particularly if you have a senior dog or one with joint issues in the past, or even those just showing some stiffness. Always consult your vet if your pet is on any long term medical treatment.

Final Thoughts

The benefits of using joint supplements for dogs are numerous to help enhance your pup's overall mobility, comfort, and quality of life. 

We believe that it is crucial to maintain the health of our pets and have created Flexi+ at Venttura Bioceuticals—an excellent composition of nutrients that repair and strengthen joints and reduce pain and inflammation, for maintaining your dog's joints in top form. A blend of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and other proven ingredients including herbal extracts, aid in pain reduction and increased mobility while protecting your doggos' joints for their golden years.

Let us make your dog's life as active and good as we can. Consider adding joint supplements to their daily regimen and notice how they become more active!