Relieving Joint Pain in Dogs

A dog with hip or joint pain can be one of the most terrifying concerns a pet parent will ever face.

Aside from knowing that your dog is in pain, this also prohibits them from moving, running, jumping and playing freely.

That's terrible and no pet parent will ever want that.

That's why we've created a guide about the list of the common joint health conditions and several efficient ways on how to relieve joint pain in dogs.

Causes of Joint Pain in Dogs

The following are just some of the common causes of joint pain in dogs:

Joint Injuries. Some joint pain in dogs is caused by traumas and injuries they got from accidents. These joint injuries can be dislocations, fractions, and tearing - causing joint pain in your fur-baby.

Osteochondrosis. This is one of the most commonly diagnosed joint disorder in canines which has something to do with how the bone and cartilage form together. In Osteochondrosis there is a separation of immature joint cartilage from the bone, causing fluid to penetrate the space and forming cysts under the cartilage.

Elbow/Hip Dysplasia. In elbow/hip dysplasia, there is an abnormal development of the elbow joint/hip socket in your dog, particularly the growth of cartilage. This, then, causes pain and crippling.

Canine Arthritis. Yep, arthritis can be diagnosed in dogs, too. Not just for the senior dogs but also for puppies and young ones. This is the most common source of the pain of our fur-babies, both for the senior dogs and the young ones. This is one of the causes of the wear and tear on the joints of our dogs. It can be septic (caused by bacteria), immune-mediated (caused by the immune system itself), and cancerous (caused by a tumor).

Joint Pain Management

Get Active. Overweight and obese dogs can easily develop joint problems that's why it's important to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. A healthy diet and fitness routine (like swimming) is good for your fur-baby's joints because swimming or hydrotherapy increases the hind legs' strength and allows your dog to properly work his muscles without causing any additional stress on the hips.

Massage. Massaging your fur-baby will help loosen up the muscle surrounding the joints and will help relieve your dog's joint pain. Using your hands, massage the area of the joints in a circular motion for about 10 minutes daily.

Make sure to keep him warm. It is in cold weather that joint pain worsens so it's always important that you keep your dog warm and dry. Also, see to it that his bed has the right cushioning f0r him to be able to move freely and comfortably while sitting or lying down.

Supplements. Improve your pet’s overall joint health by adding a daily Hip and Joint supplement with Glucosamine and Chondroitin into your dog’s daily routine. Glucosamine helps to rebuild cartilage and helps to ease the pain caused by arthritis. Chondroitin helps to relieve joint pain and increase overall mobility in the joint.