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5 Natural Solutions for
Dog Knee Arthritis
Arthritis is a problem that many dog parents will eventually have to deal with, and is especially prevalent
in older breeds. If you notice that your dog has unusual symptoms, such as difficulty moving, limping and
decreased interest in sports and other activities, or becomes very irritable when you touch some of his
joints, bites or growls, you should seek veterinary help and diagnosis immediately. While there is usually
no complete cure for the condition, natural solutions for dog arthritis can provide better mobility and
quality of life for dogs.
Managing Your Dog's Weight
Managing Your Dog's Weight
Weight management is the most important part of treatment. One way to determine if your dog is
overweight is to check dog’s body fat by hand. Start by getting your dog to stand up and then feel the
ribs behind his front legs. A dog's ribs should feel like the back of a human hand. If your dog's ribs
are as soft as your palms, it's a sign that your dog is too heavy.. If they stick out like your
knuckles, then your dog is too thin.
You can create an exercise and eating plan for your dog. Dietary feeding is recommended, and don't keep filling the bowl with dog food. You can divide daily dog food into smaller meals. Add more raw vegetables and whole grains to dog’s diet. Vegetables such as sliced cucumber, green beans and carrots are low in calories and high in fiber.
You can create an exercise and eating plan for your dog. Dietary feeding is recommended, and don't keep filling the bowl with dog food. You can divide daily dog food into smaller meals. Add more raw vegetables and whole grains to dog’s diet. Vegetables such as sliced cucumber, green beans and carrots are low in calories and high in fiber.
Providing Natural Supplements for Your Dog
When we think of natural dog supplements for joint health, first to mind often is glucosamine.
However,
many other natural anti-inflammatories help restore joint health by providing nutrients for cell
repair,
including chondroitin, green lipped mussel, deer antler velvet and colostrum.
There are also some natural supplements to help your dog manage arthritis pain:
Comfrey: Comfrey has pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. These shrubby herbs have long, slender leaves, and they’re available as dried herbs in food stores. The recommended daily dose of comfrey for your dog should be around 0.5-1 teaspoons.
Yucca:Yucca contains compounds that help dogs with inflamed joints and promotes the passage of nutrients to the digestive tract. It’s also rich in vitamins A, B, C, and contains calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. Introduce your dog with yucca root powder before giving it a concentrated dose of about 1/4 teaspoon.
Turmeric:As a type of spice rich in antioxidants, turmeric can help reduce inflammation and damage to your dog’s joints. The recommended intake is 0.5-1 teaspoon of turmeric powder per day or about 15-20 mg based on your dog’s body weight.
Administered at home via treats, pills, liquids and food additives, many joint supplements work to stimulate joint function and repair while reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
There are also some natural supplements to help your dog manage arthritis pain:
Comfrey: Comfrey has pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties. These shrubby herbs have long, slender leaves, and they’re available as dried herbs in food stores. The recommended daily dose of comfrey for your dog should be around 0.5-1 teaspoons.
Yucca:Yucca contains compounds that help dogs with inflamed joints and promotes the passage of nutrients to the digestive tract. It’s also rich in vitamins A, B, C, and contains calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. Introduce your dog with yucca root powder before giving it a concentrated dose of about 1/4 teaspoon.
Turmeric:As a type of spice rich in antioxidants, turmeric can help reduce inflammation and damage to your dog’s joints. The recommended intake is 0.5-1 teaspoon of turmeric powder per day or about 15-20 mg based on your dog’s body weight.
Administered at home via treats, pills, liquids and food additives, many joint supplements work to stimulate joint function and repair while reducing inflammation and relieving pain.
Giving Your Dog CBD Oil
Have you heard about the use of CBD oil for dogs? CBD is short for cannabidiol, which is a naturally
occurring compound derived from hemp. Science has identified more than 140 naturally occurring
cannabinoids, and these compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system in humans and
animals—including your dogs.
Cannabinoid receptors function to maintain homeostasis in the body, and they are located throughout the body and brain. These receptors are involved in everything from pain, mood and anxiety to appetite, inflammation and immunity. CBD found in hemp can help stimulate these receptors.
Found in products from edible treats to oils or liquids to topical creams, CBD works with a dog’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) by binding to the ECS’s receptors to help create calm and balance so the body can self-heal. It can provide relief from pain and inflammation for many dogs.
Cannabinoid receptors function to maintain homeostasis in the body, and they are located throughout the body and brain. These receptors are involved in everything from pain, mood and anxiety to appetite, inflammation and immunity. CBD found in hemp can help stimulate these receptors.
Found in products from edible treats to oils or liquids to topical creams, CBD works with a dog’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) by binding to the ECS’s receptors to help create calm and balance so the body can self-heal. It can provide relief from pain and inflammation for many dogs.
Giving Your Dog A Massage
Massage can benefit our dogs by increasing circulation to the muscles, tendons and ligaments around
the joints. It can improve the health of your dog and relieve joint pain by increasing circulation,
relaxing muscle spasms and tension, correcting muscle imbalances, improving posture and gait, and
promoting relaxation. A dog that is in physical balance is likely to be in emotional balance, so massage
can provide many layers of benefit for your dog. Massage for your dog can improve his connection through
his body, so that dog is more aware of where his body is in space, and more able adjust to shifting
environmental factors or emotional stresses.
Since massage is a relatively new therapy in veterinary medicine, many of the techniques are borrowed from human massage therapy. They include acupressure, trigger-point massage, craniosacral therapy and passive range of motion. In addition, the gentle touch and focus of a dog massage also help dog parents gain a deeper understanding of their dog's body, allowing them to identify any problems that need to be addressed.
Since massage is a relatively new therapy in veterinary medicine, many of the techniques are borrowed from human massage therapy. They include acupressure, trigger-point massage, craniosacral therapy and passive range of motion. In addition, the gentle touch and focus of a dog massage also help dog parents gain a deeper understanding of their dog's body, allowing them to identify any problems that need to be addressed.
Getting Physical Therapy for Your Dog
Another way to help your dog cope with knee arthritis is physical therapy. Physical therapy, designed to
strengthen the dog's muscles, improve joint range of motion and reduce overall pain, can help improve
flexibility in the affected area and improve blood flow. You can also refer your dog to acupuncture.
Using acupuncture can reduce swelling and inflammation. The veterinary acupuncturist inserts fine
needles into the dog's body to stimulate the nerve pathways along the meridians. In doing so, the body
releases chemicals such as endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that also reduce pain.
As in humans, heat and cold can also greatly help the dog’s body heal. A cold compress can reduce inflammation and pain after exercise. For daily exercise, it’s good to use a heating brace to help prepare the muscles. Heat therapy works by improving the circulation and blood flow to a localized area. Increasing the temperature of the area even slightly can decrease pain and muscle spasms, and increase muscle flexibility. You only need a 1-2°C increase in tissue temperature to increase local tissue metabolism by 10-15%. This will take approximately 10mins with a heating brace to achieve. The resultant increase in blood flow facilitates tissue healing by supplying proteins, nutrients, and oxygen to the site of injury.
As in humans, heat and cold can also greatly help the dog’s body heal. A cold compress can reduce inflammation and pain after exercise. For daily exercise, it’s good to use a heating brace to help prepare the muscles. Heat therapy works by improving the circulation and blood flow to a localized area. Increasing the temperature of the area even slightly can decrease pain and muscle spasms, and increase muscle flexibility. You only need a 1-2°C increase in tissue temperature to increase local tissue metabolism by 10-15%. This will take approximately 10mins with a heating brace to achieve. The resultant increase in blood flow facilitates tissue healing by supplying proteins, nutrients, and oxygen to the site of injury.
Although arthritis cannot be completely cured, your dog can still live a happy and good life thanks to different treatments such as natural solutions. Heating therapy brace is a good tool to help your dog manage pain, increase mobility, slow joint degeneration and promote cartilage repair.
When applying heat therapy, you can choose to use local, regional, or whole body treatment. Local application is best for small areas of pain, like one stiff muscle. Regional application is best for more widespread pain or stiffness (e.g. arthritis of the knee), and could be achieved with a heating therapy brace.
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