Joint & bone problems
Žiga Oražem dr. vet. med. about prevention, identification, and treatment of joint & bone problems.
Main causes of
Joint and bone problems
Dogs showing joint and bone problems are brought to us in all stages of life.
A common reason for those problems is an unbalanced diet lacking proper nutrition for the development and nurturing of bones and articular cartilage.
How to identify
Joint and bone problems
Recognising joint & bone problems at an early stage can be very beneficial for your dog. Observe them after a long walk or other activities.
Lameness, limping, whining, swelling, and painful joints and bones are all common symptoms of arthritis.
To prevent joint problems in dogs, we follow some simple preventive measures.
✅ We do not physically overload young, growing dogs until they are ready for more difficult activities.
✅ We also adapt the activity of older dogs to their abilities, and if problems arise, we offer them adequate rest and timely treatment.
✅ We follow a suitable diet for dogs of all ages and prevent obesity with it. By reducing body weight, the load on the joints is reduced, the dog can move more easily and has more will to be active.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are most often used to treat arthritis and its symptoms.
Like many other drugs, these can also have a negative effect on the liver, kidneys, and bone marrow.
In severe cases, their use is unavoidable, but we can help alleviate and eliminate problems with quite a few safe and functional food supplements.
Probably the best-known are glucosamine and chondroitin.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino sugar and an important building block of the cartilage matrix. It stimulates cartilage growth and regeneration. It is a representative of glucosaminoglycans (GAGs), which provide structural support for tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. It is also found in the synovial fluid in the joints.
Chondroitin sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate is a GAG, a large molecule that inhibits enzymes that destroy cartilage. Both work synergistically and reduce the production of inflammatory mediators, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote the correct structure and function of the joints.
We can help our dogs by adding other supplements, such as Boswellia serrata, green-lipped mussels and omega-3 fatty acids, MSM, devil's claw, curcumin, CBD oil, amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin D3, and others. Boswellia serrata - the extract of the tree is said to have a similar effect to NSAIDs.
The main purpose of these is to reduce inflammatory processes, relieve pain, and provide adequate care for the joints during recovery.
Based on the extensive research we decided to packed all of the above listed ingredients in one product - OptiJoints.
Despite the fact that dogs of larger, heavier breeds are more prone to these problems due to inherited defects and greater pressure due to weight, joint problems can also occur in any other breed.
Use this text to answer questions in as much detail as possible for your customers.
Our team of veterinarians is here to answer all your questions! Solve a short quiz that will help them understand your dog's current condition and your question better. You can find the quiz on our home page!