Joint health is very important for your dog to be energetic and live a healthy life at all ages. Joint disorders, which can occur especially in old age, can reduce your dog’s quality of life by restricting its mobility. Likewise, by causing you to burn fewer calories, it can invite many health problems, especially obesity.
Joint health in dogs is an important issue at all ages and requires attention. Joint diseases, which can often be prevented with proper nutrition and diet, will negatively affect your pet’s life if left untreated.
Which Dogs Are More at Risk of Joint Disease?
Joint diseases are a problem that can be seen in every dog. Although it is more common in older dogs, joint disorders are encountered at all ages in dogs that are unbalanced and do not get enough exercise.
Dogs that have previously experienced problems such as joint disorders, fractures and ligament ruptures, and hip dislocations are more prone to joint diseases in their old age. Likewise, it is known that some dog breeds are more likely to suffer from various joint problems, especially osteoarthritis.
Regardless of your dog’s age and breed, it is important to feed it properly and protect its joint health. Paying attention to your pet’s diet, especially from puppyhood, will help your pet live a much healthier life throughout his life.
Nutrition is Very Important for Joint Health in Dogs
It is very important to offer the right diet to strengthen your dog’s joints and help him live a healthy life.
PRO-VET Mobility dog food, which protects your friend’s health with its vitamin C support, chondroprotective substance mixture and formula that increases joint mobility, can be safely consumed by all dog breeds. You can strengthen your friend’s joints and prevent joint pain with this food formulated by Dutch veterinarians and experts.
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What Are the Symptoms of Joint Disorder in Dogs?
Symptoms of joint disorders and arthritis in dogs often appear similarly. Understanding whether it is a general joint disorder or a problem in a specific area is very important in making the correct diagnosis. For example, symptoms such as your dog constantly lifting its front leg and reacting when you apply pressure to that area may be a sign of injury in a single area, rather than a general discomfort.
Veterinary supervision is essential for accurate diagnosis of diseases such as joint disorders and osteoarthritis. Apart from this, joint disorders in dogs usually manifest with the following symptoms;
- swelling in joints
- Pain
- Your dog licking leg joints
- Don’t limp
- incoordination
- Howling, crying and similar sounds
- Redness around the joint
When such symptoms are observed, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian and undergo an examination. As with all other diseases, treatment of joint disorders is much easier if early intervention is made.
How to Treat Joint Diseases in Dogs?
Joint diseases in dogs can be treated in different ways depending on the type of disease. While some diseases can be treated with simple changes in the dog’s diet and physical therapy exercises, in some cases surgical intervention may be required.
Common treatment methods for joint diseases in dogs are as follows:
- cold laser therapy: Especially in joint diseases where inflammation and similar problems are encountered, cold laser treatment performed by the veterinarian helps your dog regain its health. This treatment method reduces the pain felt by the dog and helps the healing process go more smoothly.
- Antibiotics and special drugs: Sometimes antibiotic and drug treatment may be needed for joint disorders. After the veterinarian’s examinations, your friend may need to take medication for a while.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture can be used to reduce the pressure on dogs’ joints and speed up the healing process. It should not be forgotten that such treatments must be performed by a specialist.
- Joint supports: The healing process can be accelerated with bandages and various medical accessories that support your dog’s aching and injured joints. This method, which is generally used in cases of hip dislocation, fracture or similar injuries, contributes to your pet’s healing process by reducing the pressure on the joints.
- Surgical intervention: Advanced joint disorders and injuries may sometimes require surgical intervention. Although most veterinarians see this as a last resort, your friend may need surgery to recover.
Before arthritis and disorders occur in dogs, it would be best to take preventive measures and strengthen your friend’s joints. In order to avoid problems, especially in later ages, it is recommended that you choose the right diet and use dog food with quality ingredients.
How to Strengthen Dogs’ Joints?
It is very important to strengthen your friend’s joints to prevent potential joint disorders. As long as you pay attention to certain points from a young age, you can prevent your friend from experiencing joint disorders and help him live a healthy life.
- Offer a balanced diet: Nutrition is of great importance not only for your dog’s joints but also for preventing all other diseases. The risk of disease decreases in dogs fed the right diet, and they appear to have a stronger immune system at all ages.
- Keep your dog’s weight balanced: Joint disorders are quite common in overweight and obese dogs. To prevent this, it is very important to keep your dog’s weight under control and feed it correctly.
- Don’t neglect the exercises: Exercising your dog will help its joints develop more properly and help you prevent discomfort.
- Apply joint massage: After consulting your veterinarian, you can massage your dog’s joints to relax and strengthen them.
