It is time to know the available home remedies of arthritis which can give your dog a better quality of life.
Arthritis is a very debilitating condition. It can affect both humans and dogs. In my previous post, I had discussed the symptoms of dog arthritis, the causes behind it, the treatment for the same as well as the do’s and don’ts of a dog guardian caring for an arthritic dog. In the current post, I’m going to discuss 17 brilliant home remedies available to treat your dog’s arthritis and make his or her life easier.
Arthritis causes swelling and inflammation which can make the simplest of the things like walking or getting up a painful experience. In order dogs, arthritis most often is a result of an active and happy life, but it can also be due to some kind of injury, obesity or diabetes. The most common form of arthritis which affects dogs is osteoarthritis. This debilitating disease affects at least one in five dogs.
Arthritis is caused by deterioration of the cartilage which surrounds the joints of dogs. Due to constant use, the cartilage degrades away, and leaves a gap. The body fulfills this gap with calcium deposits causing joint pain, discomfort as well as limited mobility which is observed in dogs suffering from arthritis.
Many holistic veterinarians recommend the use of supplements to reduce inflammation, improve the structure of the cartilage as well as provide joint pain relief.
Chondroitin sulfate is a natural medicine present in the body. It generally works to prevent enzymes from causing degradation of the joint cartilages. This is a natural component of the cartilage. It is generally used along with glucosamine sulfate for the treatment of dog arthritis. This supplement helps in repairing the cartilage and prevents it from breaking down.
It is naturally produced by the body. This is the safest and the most commonly used remedy for arthritis. Glucosamine sulfate can help rehabilitate the damaged cartilage by stimulating glycosaminoglycan’s as well chondoitin sulfate’s production. Chondroitin sulfate is the essential component of cartilage. Glucosamine administration has been observed to exhibit an anti-inflammatory activity which has roles in reducing the joint pain in dog arthritis.
The sulfur present In MSM can be used up by the body for the formation of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate like compounds. This supplement is often recommended by veterinarians for arthritic dogs. MSM has the added benefit that it also helps in the formation of the amino acids cysteine and methionine. Joints with arthritis mostly have low levels of both of these amino acids. Studies have shown that MSM helps in the maintenance of normal articular cartilage.
Green lipped mussel contains glucosamine, proteins, Eicosatetraenoic acids (ETAs), minerals etc. ETAs belong to the family of omega-3 fatty acids and are responsible for anti-inflammatory effects which reduce joint pain.
Other natural ingredients which can be used to reduce joint pain in arthritic dogs are: