One in 4 dogs is in pain as we speak. Arthritis, or inflammation of the joints leading to constant chronic pain irritated by both movement and long periods of non-movement, is shockingly prevalent. It’s not even limited to elderly dogs! Large dogs and overweight dogs are especially susceptible. 70% of joint disease stems from developmental disorders and a shocking 22% of cases occur in puppies under one year old.

Even a well-bred dog is vulnerable. Nutrition is not what it once was. Consistent walking and running on hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt wreck havoc on the soft tissues. Our personal protection dogs for sale and in homes are active dogs that have been trained to take on significant challenges in and around the home. It’s safe to say they will be significantly hindered by joint pain in her activities. Even young active dogs are at risk of minor injuries even from a regular daily fetch session, hike, or other exercises.

Commercial joint supplements are available to suit most budgets. They’re also readily available in natural food form. There is no way your personal protection dog should not be on some form of joint maintenance, whether it be via food or commercial supplement. Let’s get into some background on joint inflammation so you can make the best choices for your situation and your unique personal protection dogs!

The Cause of Joint Problems in Dogs

The sources can be divided into two types: developmental and degenerative. The forms of developmental joint disease are hip or elbow dysplasia, HOD (hypertrophic osteodystrophy), and OCD (osteochondritis dissecans. Degenerative joint disease is osteoarthritis and worsens with age when justify untreated. Both types are characterized by inflammation of the soft tissues. It’s important to note that inflammation is the body’s attempt to heal, sending antibodies and white blood cells to the affected area. However, inflammation is very painful and uncomfortable to live, especially long term, so it’s integral to eliminate the need for the body to invoke inflammation in the first place.

What are Joints?

Joints are the soft tissues between the bones that are the pivot points for movement. They are lined with a thin layer of cartilage. Here, fluid is made to keep the joint lubricated and moving smoothly to eliminate friction between bones which leads to pain. When they are chronically inflamed, our own antibodies begin to attack the joint lining!

Don’t call your vet for pain meds! Although they play a role in the most extreme cases, these should be your last resort. Unfortunately, the drugs prescribed by the vet are loaded with side effects and can cause a host of other problems. These drugs, called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories), include Rimadyl, Metacam, Deramaxx, and Previcox. They are cox-2 inhibitors. They numb joint pain by putting a wrench in the natural inflammatory process via the cyclooxygenase pathway, which happens to be a vital bodily pathway necessary for stomach acid production, mucus lining, blood flow to kidneys, inflammatory response, blood clotting, and blood vessel constriction. Without these natural processes, overall body function is tremendously compromised, and that means the development of diseases as fatal as renal (kidney), hepatic (liver), and gastrointestinal (gut) toxicity. Adverse reactions leading to death occasionally happen.

Ironically, NSAIDs can actually accelerate and worsen arthritis. According to renowned prolotherapy specialist, Dr. Ross Hauser, “one of the most serious adverse reactions to NSAIDs, that is little appreciated, is that as a class of compounds they cause the breakdown of articular cartilage, thereby accelerating osteoarthritis, the very disease for which they are most commonly prescribed! The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is accelerated by NSAIDs.”

So let’s talk about the top 6 natural joint supplements for our personal protection dogs for sale and in-home:

1. Astaxanthin

This is the substance that makes shrimp, salmon, and flamingoes pink! It comes from red algae and produces a red pigment. Astaxanthin has multiple benefits is tremendously popular. Not only does it prevent pain and inflammation, but it also cleanses the body’s cells. It blocks and transforms several different pain-creating substances. Other benefits include heart health, cancer prevention, immune system charge-up, and anti-aging.

2. Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the most timeless and well-researched anti-inflammatory herbs of today. Its key component, curcumin, decreases inflammation, pain, and stiffness and is warming in the winter. It has outperformed steroids, arthritis medication, pain killers, and other anti-inflammatory drugs in many scientific studies. It comes as an orange powder that can be sprinkled on your personal protection dogs’ food or in capsule form. It is one of the more affordable options out there, although there are different quality grades on the market.

3. CBD Oil

This is one of the marijuana-based miracle substances. However, although it contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the content is 0.3 percent or less, so your dog won’t be getting “high,” but she is will experience tremendous pain relief. Choose CBD oil to reduce pain, decrease chronic inflammation and stop premature aging from oxidative stress. It also serves to manage seizures and anxiety and fight cancer.

4. Crominex 3+

This is a naturally sourced blend of three joint support ingredients: Chromium protects the bones by reducing the loss of calcium. Phyllanthus Emblica, or Indian gooseberry, is an antioxidant superfruit that reduces inflammation. Shilajit relieves pain and inflammation with fulvic acid and humic extracts.

5. Chondroitin

This substance is found naturally in cartilaginous parts of animals like cow trachea, shark fin, and chicken feet and in the cartilage of bones. Bone broth is a great source of it! Chondroitin is commonly combined with glucosamine. It’s been known to help repair damaged cartilage, renew joint integrity, aid in shock absorption, protect cartilage from further deterioration, hydrate cartilage tissue, and block destructive enzymes in cartilage and joint fluid.

6. Glucosamine

Glucosamine, a combination of glucose (a sugar) and glutamine (an amino acid), is actually produced naturally in our bodies. It actually helps create cartilage molecules. However, as we and our personal protection dog’s age, our bodies get less and less efficient at glucosamine production, so supplementation really helps us. Its supplement can fix damaged cartilage and tissues, replace joint fluid and restore our joints’ ability to glide painlessly. We can find it in shellfish shells, raw bones, trachea, chicken feet, pigtails, oxtails, beef knuckle bones, wild shrimp shells, and green-lipped mussels (they come in powdered form), and bone broth.

Joint Pain Prevention and Management for our personal protection dogs for sale and at home is a lifestyle! Here are four final guidelines to keep your beloved canines pain-free, performing their duties at peak potential and thus enjoying life:

1. Feed a raw diet.
2. Maintain your personal protection dogs at an ideal weight.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Avoid NSAID drugs.

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