3 Ways To Care For Your Dog’s Joints In 5 Minutes Or Less

As pet parents, we take good care of every aspect of our pet's life. But most pet parents ignore their dog's joint care. So taking some proactive approaches to caring for your dog’s joints – before issues arise - is critical.
For your dogs, a few small lifestyle changes can prevent unnecessary stress on their joints. Small problems can add up to big triggers for future problems if you're not careful.
Here are 3 ways to care for your dog’s joints in 5 minutes or less. Not only can these simple tips prevent joint disease in your dogs, but for some dogs already suffering from arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other joint issues, they can also relieve their joint pain and improve the well-being of your dogs’ life.

Pamper Your Dog with a 5-Minute Massage

Pet massage can balance an animal’s muscle tone, which aids in joint flexibility and mobility, helping to reduce the risk of injury. Plus, dog massage can decrease pain associated with arthritis or other issues (by releasing endorphins), reduce stress and anxiety, and improve circulation and lymphatic flow (which helps remove toxins and supply a healthy blood flow to the vital organs). Plus, it is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your canine companion.
Step-by-Step: Daily “Maintenance” 5-Minute Dog Massage
Here are simple step-by-step instructions for a basic “maintenance” massage that can be done daily.

STEP 1
Have your dog lie down on their side on a soft but even surface.
STEP 2
With your entire palm, start at the head and with smooth, sweeping strokes, move down towards other parts of the body. Repeat this about four or five times.
STEP 3
Once your dog is relaxed, massage your dog’s neck using circular motions.
STEP 4
Continue massaging in circular motions down towards your dog’s shoulders.
STEP 5
Move down to their chest and front legs, still using circular motions.
STEP 6
Massage your dog’s back using circular motions, moving the muscles on both sides of the spine up and down.
STEP 7
Move down to the back legs and tail area using the same circular motions.
STEP 8
Squeeze the tail gently and firmly without pulling, from base to tip.
STEP 9
If you feel a tight muscle knot, you can press evenly on the top of the knot with your thumb, hold for about 20 seconds, and release.
STEP 10
Making long gliding strokes down the length of the body to end the massage.

You need to use gentle, slow pressure during the massage. If your dog does not like the massage process, please honor your dog's wishes.

Make a Healthy Meal Swap

Adding some steamed veggies, fresh fruits, or leafy greens into your dog’s regular meals is a great way to reduce the inflammation in their joints naturally. Here are our favorite joint-friendly whole foods to give to your dog:

Fiber-filled veggies: Sweet potato, acorn squash, pumpkin

Antioxidant-packed fruits: Blueberries, cherries, peeled apple, cantaloupe

Vitamin-rich veggies: Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini

Leafy greens: Spinach, kale, collards

Fatty fish: Salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines

Lean protein: Chicken, turkey

Give Them Green Lipped Mussel Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids are good for dog’s joints. green-lipped mussel oil has three kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA and ETA. ETA not only helps block the enzymes that contribute to inflammation, it actually goes one step further to lower the production of these enzymes at the gene level. Also, it contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fats, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, and many more nutrients.

Other tips for protecting your dog's joints

Keep your dog at a healthy weight

Dogs who are overweight can put undue stress on their joints, which over time wreaks havoc on the whole musculoskeletal system. Not to mention that being overweight can lead to a whole slew of other non-joint related issues for you pet like hypertension, diabetes, heart and kidney disease, and cancer. Here are a few tips for keeping your dog at a healthy weight:

Cut down on kibble.

Provide regular exercise.

Cut treats into small pieces to reduce your dog's calorie intake.

Relax your dog’s joints and muscle after exercise

Heat therapy is one of the effective ways to relax after exercise. Hyperthermia can be used to dilate capillaries to help improve blood circulation, as well as relieve nervous tension and relax muscle spasms after exercise. At the same time, it can also relieve the pressure on the joints caused by exercise, thereby preventing arthritis.

Arthritis in dogs may be common, but that doesn’t mean our pups have to be resigned to a life of pain and discomfort. The best treatment is prevention, even if they may not have significant arthritis at this point.
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While your dog's joints experience natural wear and tear as they age, a few simple aids from you can give your dog a more comfortable and active life. At the same time, you can save money when it comes to medical treatment or surgery for your dog.