Joint Health in Dogs
Introduction
There is one major threat to the health of your dog’s joints–arthritis. Arthritis is common in dogs and all dogs are susceptible to it, but that doesn’t mean that your dog has to endure a life of pain and discomfort. Many factors contribute to arthritis in dogs. Genetics plays a major role in causing it. But, good preventive care can save your dog from arthritis or limit the harm it does.
As with most health matters, preventive care starts with diet and exercise. Dietary supplements can also help delay, prevent or limit damage from arthritis.
What dog breeds are prone to joint problems?
It is likely that every dog breed is predisposed to joint problems, and any dog can develop osteoarthritis. However, according to the American Kennel Club, some breeds and profiles are more likely than others to have joint problems. According to their report and data collected by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the following dogs are more likely to have osteoarthritis: giant breeds, obese dogs, senior dogs, dogs that have injuries, fractures, or ligament tears, dogs that lack proper nutrition, dogs with congenital disorders, and those with elbow or hip dysplasia. In addition, the increased activity of some sporting and working dogs can also contribute to joint problems.
How can you assess joint health in dogs?
Veterinarians say that a dog can express the signs of osteoarthritis or any other joint problem as early as one year old. Keeping this in mind, it becomes obvious that a dog can suffer from joint health problems at any stage of life.
Here are some signs to look for to determine if your dog is having a joint problem: stiffness in joints, lameness, limping, irritability when you touch, change in eating behavior, lethargy, difficulty in urination or accidents or loss of muscle. These signs can help you assess joint health in dogs. If you see your dog expressing any of these signs, you should see a veterinarian.
What are the treatments offered for joint problems?
The best treatment strategy to treat arthritis is to manage the condition and minimize the pain. Your veterinarian will prescribe a course of treatment that is based on the specific signs and severity. During the period of treatment, most of the attention is typically given to the management of the dog.
The treatment strategies for arthritis include massage, weight management, non-steroidal antibiotics, acupuncture, joint supplements, low-impact exercise and surgery.
Veterinarians often focus on joint supplements because their regular intake can decrease the incidence of joint problems. There are many joint supplements available for joint health in dogs. most of them contain glucosamine and chondroitin as their main ingredient.
However, more recent studies have shown that eggshell membrane joint supplements can do better than those traditional joint supplements (glucosamine and chondroitin). Let us look at each of these supplements.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is widely used in supplements for joint health in dogs (and people). It is a naturally occurring substance and its long-term use has been proven safe. Therefore, glucosamine is preferred over NSAIDs. Glucosamine mainly reduces inflammation in an arthritic joint, boosts the repair of damaged tissue and reduces the degradation of cartilage.
Chondroitin
Chondroitin sulphate has also been proven safe for long-term use. It is mostly used in conjunction with glucosamine to stimulate cartilage repair. In addition, it improves joint mobility and function and reduces joint pain.
Eggshell membrane supplements
The eggshell membrane is the thin layer that separates the shell from the edible part of the egg. The point of giving eggshell membranes to dogs is to deliver the structural components that can help repair the joints. Eggshell membrane contains everything needed to maintain joint health, including the following components:
Elastin – Elastin is a protein present in the eggshell membrane that can help support the skin, cartilage, and spinal and cardiovascular health. It is responsible for providing the required elastic tension and the ability to recover its shape after stretching.
Amino acids – Eggshell membrane contains two amino acids that are mainly responsible for maintaining the properties of elastin. These are desmosine and isodesmosine.
Glycosaminoglycans – Eggshell membrane contains glycosaminoglycans. These include glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. As discussed above, these compounds have a wide range of beneficial effects for maintaining joint health in dogs.
What is it used for?
Eggshell membrane supplements have the following characteristics that are desired in maintaining joint health:
- Comprehensive – contains everything necessary to maintain joint health (including glucosamine and chondroitin!)
- Reduces inflammation
- Boosts cartilage repair and prevent its damage
- Chondroprotective
- Fast acting
- No side effects
Final thoughts – Which is better?
Research has shown that eggshell membrane supplements are more effective. As it has been evident that they contain more active ingredients to provide a wide range of benefits.
