May is National Arthritis Awareness Month and while we realize there are many humans suffering from this painful joint disease, but there are also dogs who suffer too. Humans and dogs are alike in that once arthritis takes hold of our joints, it is very painful. While you cannot get rid of this disease, there are things you can do to improve your mobility in both humans and dogs. Read on for key tips on how to improve your joint health for you and your dog!
There are good similarities between dogs and humans, which is why we get along so well. We are both social animals and enjoy the company of our fellow man or dog. We both love food, and a good nap when the opportunity presents itself. We both are smart and have unique personalities. So it should be no surprise to us that we both have joint issues as we age, or due to the genes we inherited at birth. Another similarity between dogs and humans is the fact that our joint health is of utmost importance. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are some shocking facts about the impact of arthritis, such as:
- 1 in 4 (approximately 54 million) US adults have arthritis.
- 24 million adults are limited in their activities.
- Almost 300,000 babies, kids, and teens have arthritis or a rheumatic condition.
While the national foundation does not include four-legged friends in the statistics, Glyde™ Mobility Chews is made by Parnell Living Science and our expertise is vast in the ability to fight the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. We have found there are some similarly shocking statistics in dogs:
- 4 out of 5 dogs will have arthritis by age 8,
- 1 out of 5 dogs will have arthritis by age 1.
The good news is you can do something to help your joint health and that of your dogs!
What can you do?
Learn more about arthritis in dogs. Not surprising, the symptoms of arthritis are very similar to human illness. While arthritis cannot be reversed once the disease begins, there are things you can do to relieve the symptoms. For dogs, a supplement added to their diet can help tremendously. But just as in the human versions, all joint supplements are NOT alike. Here are some tips on what to look for in a joint supplement for dogs.
Stay active
Physical activity can improve your joint health. Dogs and humans are alike in this. The more you both move, the better your joints will do. According to the CDC, physical activity can decrease pain and improve physical function by about 40%! Still, 1 in 3 adults with arthritis remains inactive due to the pain. If you cannot move as easily due to joint pain, start small with a few minutes walk daily. Work your way up to at least 30 minutes a day. It's good for you — and your dog!
We recently celebrated Active Dog Month in the month of April. We put many new resources together with ideas for you to stay active. Did you miss any? Here's the list of ways you AND your dog can stay active:
- Active Dog Month: Keys to Walking Your Dog
- 5 Tips to Keep Your Dog Active
- 6 Active Dog Activities to do Indoors on an April Rainy Day
- Dog Park Etiquette Do's & Don'ts
Having a dog is the best way to stay active! You always have a partner.
Add joint supplements to your dog's diet
Protecting your dog's joints from the painful symptoms of arthritis can begin at any time. Find a top-quality joint supplement, with key ingredients that help joint health such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Plus the powerful ingredient of Green Lipped Mussel (GLM) from the shores of New Zealand will help protect joints and heal as they recover. There are other ingredients that can help, as well. The key is to do the research and find what works for your dog.
More Resources
Do you know if your dog has arthritis? Here is a quick and easy quiz to get personalized results on your own dog when you answer just a few questions.
Your veterinary clinic is also the best resource for information on arthritis in dogs. Let your veterinarian know the results of your quiz. Or ask if they suspect your dog has arthritis based on what you are seeing at home.
Ready to learn more? Check out our new e-book: “Arthritis in Dogs: A Guide for Pet Parents.” It’s chock-full of all the information you need to know about the topic and a real-life story you may relate to.
No matter what, make a promise to yourself that you and your dog will stay active and get the exercise you need, along with making great diet choices to combat arthritis for as long as possible. It’s never too early to start improving your health or that of your dog’s. Remember your dog can’t talk so be looking for those signs of arthritis in dogs. While you can’t change the effects, you can relieve the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. If you are noticing signs of arthritis in yourself or your dog, be sure to find out more and work to combat these signs of aging for a better life as we all age.
