Arthritis and other joint health issues affect millions of dogs and cats of every size, age, and breed.
Our #1 therapeutic goal with these pets is to keep them moving. Once pets (or people) become inactive they loose their ability to stretch and flex.
Other goals include management of pain and inflammation, joint lubrication, and slowing down the degenerative process of many joint diseases.
Weight control is also an issue
Treatment programs typically try to address all of the above.
Weight management if needed
Pain medications if needed
Anti-inflammatory medications if needed
Many of these goals can be acheived to some degree by special diets and supplements. This page is a discussion about some of these therapeutic products.
On This Page:
An introduction to the diets and supplements available that are very helpful with minimizing the destruction and discomfort of arthritis and other joint diseases.
This page is about the diets and supplements that we recommend for pets with joint disease. To read more about this problem and the treatments ... including laser therapy... that we recommend, please click here.
To include Femoral Head Removal, Hip Dysplasia, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Panosteitis, Radiographic Demonstrations, Disc Disease, and Bone Surgery
Cardiology Heart disease in Cats, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Valvular disease, Cardiac Insufficiency, Congestive Heart Failure, Heartworm Disease, and a little history about the milestones in treating heart disease
Cats: general information page and directory of diseases and problems specific to cats including vaccine recommendations, leukemia, feline viral infections, feline upper respiratory disease and cats that just aren't feeling well.
Hormone Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease
Intestinal problems: diarrhea, constipation, torsion, indigestion, and gas. Also pancreatitis, vomiting, esophagitis, colitis, parvo and other types of dysentery
Metabolic Diseases: Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, Cushing's Disease or Hypercortisolism, Addison's disease or Hypocortisolism, Pancreatitis, obesity as a disease
Skeletal-Muscular Problems Arthritis, Fractures, ACL, Ligament Injuries, Disc Disease, Pannus, and many other problems of the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
Surgery: Spays, Castrations, Testicle Recipes, Soft Tissue Surgery, Hard Tissue Surgery (Bones), C- Sections, Declawing, Tumor Removal and Cancer Surgery
Includes information about feline and canine heat or estrus, breeding, C-Sections, pyometra or Infected Uterus, dystocia, no milk, mastitis, & brucellosis
Also newborn care, undescended testicles, and alternative to spaying and castration
Hill's® Prescription Diet® j/d® Canine is an innovative dog food that helps maintain healthy joints and improves mobility in dogs. Its unique formula contains high levels of EPA (Eicosapentanoic Acid), an omega-3 fatty acid found in high concentrations in fish oil. Research has shown that EPA can help maintain joint function. Enhanced levels of glucosamine and chondroitin provide the building blocks of healthy cartilage, and L-carnitine, which helps maintain optimum body weight. j/d® Canine improves the quality of life by helping dogs run better, play better, and rise more easily.
Iams has a veterinary formula diet for dogs with joint and articulation problems.
This formula has glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, to provide the building blocks for healthy cartilage; L-Carnitine to help your pet metabolize fat; and micro-crystals to help reduce tartar buildup across the whole mouth during and after meals.
Glucosamine Supplements
The production and marketing of glucosamine and chondroitin products are unregulated and quality and effectiveness varies tremendously among brands.
Two brands that I trust for the good reason that they are independently tested and have proven to be effective in pet after pet are Glyco-Flex and Dasuquin. Your vet may have experience and faith in some of the other quality brands.
Dasuquin contains unique anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidants made from avocado and soybean extracts, MSM, high grade glucosamine, and low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate.
Dasuquin and Glycoflex make excellent products but I've had the best success using a product called joint support chews that contain therapeutic amounts of high quality glucosamine, MSM,Chrondroitin, Omega fatty acids, Perna Canaliculus, and Vitamin E. And dogs love them. It's called EZ Chews Joint Support.
Duralactin is not yet well known and your vet may not have it. But a salesperson got me to try this product several years ago and I'm very impressed. I now use it for both cats and dogs not only for arthritis but also to minimize the pain and inflammation of ear infections, bladder infections, and also to make pets feel better after surgery, trauma, or when dealing with chronic illness.
Duralactin contains MicroLactin®, a patented dried milk protein from the milk of hyperimmunized cows. MicroLactin® contains factors that appear to block cytokines to inhibit neutrophil participation in the inflammatory response. This reduces inflammation and helps prevent subsequent tissue damage caused by excess neutrophil infiltration. At this level, Duralactin® helps stop chronic inflammation at the cellular level and so avoid inhibiting protective prostaglandin activity.
Omega Fatty Acids Supplements: There's no doubt anymore that omega fatty acids are helpful in treating arthritis, heart disease, kidney disease, and skin diseases. It's the details I'm not too sure about. Which are the best brands? How much is appropriate? What is the best ratio of Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids?