Whether your senior pet still has tons of energy or is more of a couch potato, comfortable joints are key to maintaining your pet's mobility and lifestyle—after all, even jumping up on the couch takes a healthy range of motion!
Weight control and regular exercise are cornerstone measures for keeping joints healthy and pain-free in senior dogs and cats, but medications and nutritional supplements may also improve joint comfort.
New medications are now available that help relieve your pet’s arthritis pain and improve their quality of life. These medications, which are administered through a monthly injection by your veterinarian, block the pain signals to your pet’s brain.
Although each works through different molecular mechanisms, most joint supplements aim to do the same thing: protect cartilage. Cartilage is important for joint comfort because it is cushioning and stops bones from rubbing against each other when your pet moves, an issue that can lead to stiffness and pain.
There are four main veterinarian-recommended joint supplements that help protect cartilage in your pet's joints. Take a look at how each of them achieves this:
|
Supplement |
Prevent cartilage breakdown |
Encourage cartilage growth |
Reduce Inflammation |
|
Fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) |
X |
|
X |
|
Glucosamine |
|
X |
|
|
Chondroitin |
X |
|
|
|
Avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) |
X |
|
|
Joint supplements are usually complemented by one another, achieving greater success when used together, and are often formulated in combination.
Many diseases can affect joints, but osteoarthritis is one of the most common in senior pets and occurs from a gradual wearing away of the cartilage in the joint. Unfortunately, osteoarthritis can't be reversed once it occurs, but supplements may help slow down its progression and medications may relieve pain. If you suspect that your pet is developing osteoarthritis, see your veterinarian
Is your pet slowing down? Book an appointment today for a joint health evaluation. >>
