Is your dog slow to get up, doesn’t want to go for a walk anymore or having problems with stairs?
Learn how to help a dog with joint pain. Joint problems like arthritis and inflammation affect dogs as they age. It can slow your dog down and make movement painful, reducing their quality of life and long-term health.
Let’s take a look at how to help a dog with joint pain and signs your dog is suffering from joint pain. It is possible to give them some relief.
Table of Contents
Understanding Dog Joint Pain
Research indicates 20% of all dogs will suffer from some form of arthritis during their lifetime. These conditions are especially prevalent with large breed dogs and overweight dogs, but it can affect any dog, no matter the breed or their size.
Joint pain can be caused by either developmental or degenerative problems. Developmental problems are hereditary predisposition. The most common and well-known is hip dysplasia. But your dog can also develop degenerative problems which develop over time, usually due to age or overuse. Usually in older dogs, and overweight dogs.
Arthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic pain that veterinarians treat.
8 Signs That Your Dog is Suffering From Joint Pain
- Difficulty sitting, standing, getting up from the floor or lying down.
- Trouble climbing the stairs.
- Slowness or stiffness when getting up.
- Reluctance to jump or run.
- Is sensitive to touch.
- Cry out, yelp or growl when moving or being touched.
- Limp or be reluctant to walk.
- Are quiet, less active, or hide.
Understanding The Ingredients In Joint Supplements
First lets understand what your dog needs to help reduce their joint pain. There are plenty of diet supplements for dogs that can improve joint issues your dog might be suffering with.
Although, unable to provide a total cure, the best supplements can relieve pain, and if started early enough, even serve as a preventative measure. They need a non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID’s to help reduce swelling, stiffness and joint pain.
The supplements to help with this are glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, omega-3, fatty acids, vitamin E, selenium and MSM (methylsufonylmethane). These are the ingredients that you will be looking for when choosing which supplement is best to help your dog gain joint pain relief.
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound found in the connective tissue and fluid around the joints. The supplement is simply a synthesized version of this.
Omega 3 includes flaxseed oil, canola oil, and soybean oil. Fats such as Omega 3 provide energy and help the body absorb fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), and they control hormones and play a huge role in inflammation.
MSM (methylsufonylmethane) is a sulfur compound that has vitamin-like normalizing function on the body. It is an antioxidant, cell rejuvenater and joint healer.
Chondroitin sulfate is similar to glucosamine, but it is a larger molecule used by the body to make cartilage, ligaments tendons, and bone.
All the joint pain supplements will have some form of the above ingredients. This should help you know what to look for when reading the ingredients in the supplements you are looking to purchase. Most Vets recommend that you use some type of joint supplement with MSM as an ingredient.
Best Glucosamine Supplements for Dogs
- Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM – improves the joint health of your dog and beneficial effect on your dogs immune system. Considered the best product available, but also the most expensive. Chewable tablets. It is available for small/medium sized dogs and large dogs. Made with hydrochloride, glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin sulfate.
- Helps support cartilage matrix production.
- Helps inhibit cartilage breakdown.
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- Nutramax Cosequin DS Plus MSM – designed to offer the optimal support for the dog’s joint health. This product has been proven to be very effective and not as expensive as Dasuquin. Chewable tablets.
- Ingredients include Glucosamine Hydrochloride, MSM and Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate.
- Improves your dog’s joint cartilage by aiding in cartilage production in the body and shielding existing cartilage from breakdown.
- Comes with a fish oil supplement to promote a stron silky coat.
- Pets-are Human-Hip Joint Relief Chews – Provides improved mobility for dogs with hip dysplasia. Made in the U.S.A. Chewable.
- Ingredients include Glucosamine, Omega 3 Fish Oil, Chondroitin and MSM.
- 100% guarantee that you will see improvement with your dog’s mobility or your money back.
- Vetri-Science Laboratories Glyco-Flex III – This product is considered Stage 3 for maximum joint support. Bite sized chews.
- Ingredients include Glucosamine, MSM and Perna Canaliculus for joints and Manganese, Vitamin C and Glutathione for better absorption and immune support.
- Great for very active dogs, working dog breeds and senior dogs. Also for dogs in recovery after an orthopedic surgery.
- Designed to support bone and joint health and the functions of joint and connective tissue.
- Clinically proven to increase hind leg strength in dogs up to 41% within 4 weeks.
Are there any side effects for dogs taking Glucosamine?
It is rare, but not unheard-of to have side effects. Follow the dosing advice from your veterinarian to help avoid this.
- Allergic Reactions – dogs who suffer from shellfish allergies may also be allergic to Glucosamine.
- Interactions with blood sugar – Glucosamine can interact with your dog’s blood sugar levels.
- Gastrointestinal upsets – Glucosamine can be harsh on your dog’s stomach and digestive system.
- Loss of appetite – usually lasts for a short period.
- Dizziness – usually lasts for a short period.
Conclusion
There are several good supplements that should help you with how to help a dog with joint pain. Watch for the key ingredients in whichever joint medicine you choose for your dog to make sure it will have real benefits in helping your dog with his joint pain.
Watch for the signs your dog is suffering from joint pain. May times dogs are very good at hiding when they are in pain, and it is our job to notice the slight changes that they may be having with movements.
Having a dog with joint pain can be a very sad thing to watch. They go from running full speed, jumping on couches or beds and eager to always want a walk, to a dog you barely recognize when they are slow moving, having problems getting up, problems on the stairs, and no longer able to stand very long.
When it happens, it happens very quickly. Speaking from experience of 3 dogs having this problem, the joint supplements do help relieve some of the pain they are feeling, and you will notice that your dog has more energy and freedom to move. They will enjoy a better quality of life.
Some other things you can do for your dog to help them out is raising their food and water dishes. Set them on a foot stool or anything that can help raise their dishes up.
Keep your dog warm and dry, since cold and damp conditions can aggravate arthritis. Padded dog beds also really help them. If your dog used to go on the furniture, you will start noticing that they no longer do, and a nice padded dog bed will relieve some of the pressure they are feeling. Apply warm compresses to where you notice their joints seem to be most painful.
Make sure to consult your veterinarian so they can advise the best dosage for your dog’s particular needs.
Please leave any questions or comments that you may have below, and I will be sure to address them. You can follow justforyourdog.com on Pinterest, FaceBook or Twitter for all the latest updates on dogs.
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It’s a shame what some dogs have to go through. Thanks for all these tips. Now I know what to look for when getting the right joint paint supplements!
It is hard to watch. They go from being so crazy to suddenly an old dog. It happens to quickly.
Our dog recently passed away. She was definitely suffering from joint pain, as she demonstrated many of the symptoms you discussed, trouble getting up, laying down, etc. My wife and I loved taking her for walks in the evening after work. Even up until the week before she died, she loved her nightly walks. Dogs don’t really show their pain or discomfort, no whining, or whimpering. We did try some of the recommendations in this article, but old age got the best of her. I love that you are getting the word out, you obviously care deeply about your pets. Thanks for sharing!
I am sorry for your loss. I also lost one in November, but I still have his brother. He has joint pain also, and is starting to shorten the distance of our walks. He is hard to watch them age. Thank you for your comments.