How to preserve your dog's joint health

You can preserve your dog's joint health through a combination of diet and exercise.

Why healthy joints are important

As dogs grow older, they face many of the same challenges humans do - stiff joints, reduced mobility and the need for a little extra support to stay comfortable and active. Just like us a dog's quality of life depends on maintaining their independence by keeping their joints healthy and lubricated without restriction of movement or pain.

Symptoms of Joint Pain in Dogs

Signs your dog may be suffering from joint pain include:

• Slowness to get up from laying down
• Favoring a leg when walking i.e. limping
• Avoiding stairs
• Inability to jump on couch or into vehicle
• Crying when picked up
• Loss of play.

Treating joint health problems in dogs

Treat your dog's joint health problem by preventing them in the first place.
Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Excess weight puts pressure on the dogs joints.

Dog Food for Joint Health

Support your dog's joint health through diet and targeted supplementation.

Weight Management is Critical
Excess weight puts direct pressure on joints. Keep your dog lean and trim - you should be able to feel their ribs easily without seeing them prominently.

Fresh, Whole Food Approach
Homemade dog food using fresh whole ingredients provides excellent nutrition with minimal processing, no preservatives, and no chemical treatments. This approach reduces the inflammatory burden on your dog's system.

Wet vs. Dry Food Considerations
Both wet and dry foods can support joint health, but moisture content does affect the gut microbiome independently of nutrients. If feeding commercial food, consider your dog's individual needs - some dogs do better on dry, others on wet, and many thrive on a combination approach.

Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients
Include richly colored vegetables like kale and broccoli that contain natural compounds to reduce inflammatory factors throughout the body.

Fiber Diversity Matters
Include a variety of fiber sources in your dog's diet rather than relying on just one or two. Diverse fibers support a broader range of beneficial gut bacteria, each producing metabolites that help reduce inflammation and support joint health. This variety is more effective than large amounts of a single fiber type.

Bowl Booster Supplements for Joint Support

The gut-joint axis means that inflammation starting in the digestive system can travel to joints, perpetuating arthritis and pain. Support both with:

Probiotics Gut Health - Our 3-in-1 prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic blend strengthens gut barrier integrity and reduces gut-driven inflammation that affects joints. By improving the gut microbiome, you address inflammation at its source.

Green Lipped Mussel - Provides naturally occurring anti-inflammatory compounds, glucosamine, and chondroitin that directly support joint structure, mobility, and comfort.

The probiotics turn down the inflammation signals coming from the gut (addressing the root cause), while Green Lipped Mussel provides direct joint support (addressing the symptoms). Together, they offer comprehensive joint support from multiple angles.

These "bowl booster" supplements can be sprinkled on any diet - homemade, kibble, or raw - to provide comprehensive joint support from multiple angles.

Joint Supplements for Dogs

Supplements that Help Ease Arthritis Symptoms of Pain, Joint Swelling and Lameness in Dogs

Green Lipped Mussel - Naturally occurring bioactive compounds that reduce inflammation, plus a whole-food source of glucosamine and chondroitin that support cartilage structure and joint mobility.

Probiotics (Gut Health) - Add beneficial microbes that support the gut-joint axis. By improving gut barrier integrity, probiotics dial down inflammatory signaling from the gut that travels to joints and perpetuates arthritis pain.

Prebiotics (Gut Health) - Feed beneficial bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids that strengthen the gut lining and reduce systemic inflammation affecting joints.

The Gut-Joint Connection - Supporting gut health isn't just about digestion. When the gut barrier is compromised, inflammatory signals reach the joints, creating a cycle of pain and stiffness. By addressing gut health, you tackle arthritis at its source.

Alternative Remedies for Treating Arthritis in Dogs

Beyond diet and supplements, these therapies can help manage your dog's joint pain and improve their comfort:

Gentle Massage - Brings blood flow and circulation to aching joints, helping to reduce stiffness and improve mobility.

Acupuncture - A complementary therapy that many dogs respond well to for pain management and inflammation reduction.

Temperature Management - Keep your dog warm on cold days with a sweater or jacket. Cold weather can make joints stiffer and more painful.

Supportive Bedding - Provide a comfortable orthopedic bed with a mattress that cushions and supports the joints, reducing pressure points.

Therapeutic Heat - Electric blankets or heating pads designed specifically for animals can soothe aching joints. Always use pet-safe products with automatic shut-off features.

Best Results: A Multi-Modal Approach

Combining these supportive therapies with gut health support (probiotics), direct anti-inflammatory supplements (Green Lipped Mussel), weight management, and appropriate exercise gives your dog the best chance at managing arthritis and maintaining quality of life.

Joint Friendly Exercise

Gentle movement keeps your dog active.

• Walk for twenty minutes at a gentle pace
• Swim in a pool the water takes the stress off the dogs joints.
  
  

Joint Surgery for Dogs

Joint surgery on dogs is a an available remedy where damaged cartilage is removed- but the act of surgery may create further problems.

Dog Breeds that are Prone to Joint Health Problems

Genetics does play a role in joint predisposition. The prenatal care the mother receives impacts the litter of puppies for their entire life. But the factors that most affects the dogs joint health are diet, exercise and environmental.