How to Help Your Dog Maintain Healthy Joints

Is your dog starting to resemble an aging man? Is he limping through the house? Can you practically hear him moaning when he gets up from his bed? If so, it’s time to pay attention to his joints.  Your pup’s joints can erode over time and may become inflamed as a result of too much activity. In order to minimize the pain and damage to his joints, while still maintaining a healthy exercise routine, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Don’t start exercising your puppy too soon. You’ll want to maintain a light exercise routine of walking until his joints have grown and developed a bit. Consult your veterinarian regarding the appropriate age to begin increasing the amount and intensity of your dog’s routine.

Step 2: Research your breed of dog in order to familiarize yourself with the tendencies the breed might have toward injuries. For instance, many breeds have the tendency to suffer from hip dysplasia and require earlier interventions.  Being familiar with certain behaviors of the breed will also help you help your dog. For instance, Golden Retrievers are so loyal they will run themselves to the point of exhaustion rather than “admit” to you that they are tired. It’s your responsibility to look out for these tendencies and behaviors.

Step 3: Look out for signs of joint damage. Your dog might walk or run slower than usual. He might also appear stiff or you might see him limp from time to time. Another tell tale sign that your dog is experiencing joint discomfort is that he will “bunny hop” when he gets up after lying down for a long period of time. 

Step 4: Make sure you are feeding your dog a healthy balanced diet. The first ingredient in his food should be meat, not corn or some other processed ingredient.

Step 5: Vary the type of exercise you experience with your dog. Swimming is great therapy for sore joints. If your dog is your running companion, vary the surfaces he runs on. Try to stay off the pavement and sidewalk and stick to trails and grass to minimize the impact on his joints.

Step 6: Consult your vet to see if it’s time to supplement your dog’s diet with a vitamin product. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been known to ease the pain related to hip dysplasia as well and maintain healthy joints and repair other joint ailments.

This article was provided by the authors from pet super store. An excellent website for orthopedic dog beds and dog training collars.