Keeping dog joints healthy

Signs of joint pain in dogs

Dogs can't vocalise joint pain, so it's important to watch for subtle clues. Symptoms of joint problems include:

• Hobbling or limping gait: If your dog sometimes limps and then walks normally, this could indicate joint problems.
• Stiff posture: Your dog may move in an unlimbered manner when getting up.
• Refusing to move: A reduced interest in playing or walking can be a sign of pain.
• Biting at the joint: If your dog frequently licks or bites at its joints, it could be a sign of discomfort.
• Swelling around the joints: Watch out for visible changes or swelling that could indicate inflammation.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, it is important to act quickly. Make an appointment with your vet to get to the bottom of the problem.

How can osteoarthritis in dogs be treated?

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint disorders in dogs. It can cause significant pain and affect quality of life. Although there is no cure, there are many ways to help relieve pain and improve mobility, including:

• Regular exercise: To keep joints mobile, it is important to provide your dog with regular exercise. Make sure that the type and amount of exercise is appropriate for your dog's age, breed and state of health. Swimming or walking over soft surfaces, such as woods or meadows, are gentle forms of exercise.
• Nutritional supplements:

If your dog is getting older or already has incipient joint problems, it is time to actively support the health of their joints. Likewise, it can be useful to strengthen the joints with targeted nutritional supplements if they are subject to constant, heavy strain. Many natural substances help to maintain or improve the functionality of the joints and alleviate pain in a dog's joints. High-quality active ingredients are important here:

• Glycosaminoglycans: This joint nutrient can absorb a particularly large amount of water, making the cartilage tissue more elastic. They serve as a ‘biological lubricant’ in the synovial fluid.
• Chondroitin is a particularly important cartilage and synovial fluid component from the group of glycosaminoglycans.
• Gelatine hydrolysate supports the formation of cartilage mass.
• Devil's Claw: This African medicinal plant is known to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is also suitable as a dietary supplement due to its high glycoside content.
• Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata) is a traditional remedy that, among other things, relieves joint and muscle pain and has an anti-inflammatory, soothing effect.

DOG'S LOVE Vital Active powder contains the natural active ingredients of these ingredients and can promote your dog's joint health.

Treats that contain high-quality, natural ingredients can also promote your dog's joint health with their valuable active ingredients. DOG'S LOVE Smart Snacks Move focus on

• joint-supporting treats: products like DOG'S LOVE Smart Snacks Move contain natural ingredients that support joints and can relieve pain. These snacks are a tasty way to do something good for your dog while helping him stay active and healthy.
• Dietary adjustments: a healthy diet plays a crucial role in supporting joints. Make sure that your dog's food has the right calcium-phosphorus ratio and is rich in high-quality proteins.
• Medication: Painkillers for dogs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can help relieve pain. Your trusted veterinarian will be happy to advise you on this and put together the right treatment for your furry friend.

Tip: Healthy treats with valuable ingredients can also help your dog with other health problems. Whether it's bad breath, itchiness or digestive problems, you can support your dog's health and pamper him at the same time with our Smart Snacks!

What kind of nutrition supports my dog's joints?

It's never too early to start strengthening the important connections in your dog's musculoskeletal system. The right nutrition during the growth phase lays the foundation for healthy joint development. The right calcium-phosphorus ratio and the right energy density are particularly important. High-quality dog food for puppies and young dogs with a high meat content is particularly important during this phase of a dog's life. Even after that, nutrition has a major influence on keeping the joints and the entire musculoskeletal system healthy.

• Calcium: Strengthens bones and supports joint health.
• L-carnitine: Helps convert fat into energy, which is especially important for overweight dogs.
• Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids: Support cartilage health and have an anti-inflammatory effect. They are particularly found in fish and can also be added to the diet in the form of oil.
• Antioxidants: Berries and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation in the body, thus promoting joint health.
• Protein: High-quality animal proteins are important for maintaining muscle mass, which in turn supports the joints. Look for high-quality, bioavailable protein sources in your dog's food.

High-quality dog food with a high meat content contains these nutrients in a balanced proportion, thus supporting the joints in a natural way. With a healthy and high-quality diet, you can make a significant contribution to your dog's health and well-being.

Tip: Our light food menu Mobility Light Beef is specially developed for dogs with joint problems and supports your dog's mobility with a special recipe and low fat content!

Regular exercise for strong joints in your dog

Dogs have a natural urge to move. By regularly giving your dog the opportunity to exercise in a controlled way, you can create the best conditions for keeping your four-legged friend's joints healthy. This strengthens the musculoskeletal system and the muscles. Well-developed muscles in a dog, in turn, protect the joints, as they partially absorb stress. Furthermore, joints need regular use to stay mobile and to keep the breakdown and build-up of cartilage in balance. However, it is important to adjust the range of motion and the type of activity to the dog. Age, breed and state of health play a role in this. Because even if exercise is a fundamental part of a healthy dog's life, it can also be too much of a good thing! Excessive, one-sided or simply too strong physical strain can lead to overuse symptoms. In this case, the movement can even harm the joints. If you are unsure about what you can expect of your four-legged friend, talk to your vet about a healthy amount of exercise.

Avoid excess weight to prevent joint problems

Excess body weight puts considerable strain on the joints and increases the risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis in dogs. It is important to regularly monitor your dog's weight and, if necessary, develop an appropriate feeding and exercise programme. Swimming is a form of exercise that is easy on the joints and is an excellent way to reduce excess weight in dogs.

Tip: Our Senior Turkey & Light wet dog food is a complete food that is particularly low in calories and, above all, fat, and can help dogs with weight management.

Recognising joint problems in good time

Even if you pay attention to the optimal feeding and a healthy exercise routine for your four-legged friend, you are not immune to joint problems. The most common diseases that cause joint pain in dogs include inflammation (arthritis), injuries, and degenerative and hereditary joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. Our dogs do not always show us their pain; often they suffer in silence for a long time. That's why it's especially important for dog owners to watch their dogs closely to recognise the first signs of pain in their joints.

The symptoms of joint problems include:

• limping or lameness
• stiff posture
• refusal to move
• biting the joint
• avoiding jumping onto higher objects
• recoiling when touched
• difficulty standing up after lying down
• Swelling at the joints

In case of infections, fever, exhaustion and apathy can also be the first signs.

In many cases, joint complaints have a good prognosis if treated in time, and your four-legged friend can soon run around again without complaints. Even in the case of osteoarthritis, which is caused by the irreversible breakdown of joint mass, there are now many treatment options that can influence the course of the disease and improve the well-being of the affected dogs. So if you suspect that your dog has joint problems, don't hesitate to make an appointment with your vet quickly to get to the bottom of the symptoms.

Conclusion

Excessive body weight puts a considerable strain on the joints and increases the risk of diseases such as osteoarthritis in dogs. It is important to check your dog's weight regularly and, if necessary, develop an appropriate feeding and exercise programme. Swimming is a form of exercise that is easy on the joints and is an excellent way to reduce excess weight in dogs.

Tip: Our wet dog food Senior Turkey & Light is a complete food that is particularly low in calories and, above all, fat, and can help dogs with weight management.