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A dog’s joints will change as they age, but did you know that certain types of activity and exercise can also impact healthy joints? Find out how and what you can do to support your dog’s joint health!
One of the best things about being a dog parent is having a loyal companion who’s always up for a walk, hike, swim, game of fetch, or other activity. Your dog relies on healthy joints to stay game for adventures, and a healthy diet and regular exercise help keep them happy, healthy, and fit. However, excessive activity and age can both impact the health of your dog’s joints. The good news is nutrient-rich joint supplements can help support healthy mobility for dogs of all ages and activity levels. Let’s look at how age and exercise can impact your dog’s joints.
Joint Health When Dogs Are Young
Healthy joints have plenty of cartilage that cushions the joints and absorbs shock during activity. This helps joints stay flexible, loose, and mobile. Similarly, synovial fluid lubricates healthy joints, and this helps to reduce friction between bones, keep movements smooth and comfortable, and prevent injury. Joint health also relies on muscle strength, so younger, stronger dogs tend to have more joint stability and support.
Older dogs may have less cartilage between the joints, and age can impact the production and quality of synovial fluid. Further, older dogs may have lower bone density and be more prone to inflammation, which can impact joint health and mobility.
High-Impact Activities Can Strain Healthy Joints
Regular exercise helps dogs to maintain joint health. Exercise builds bone density and strengthens the muscles around the joints, providing better support and stability, reducing the risk of injury, and relieving pressure. What’s more, movement during exercise stimulates the production of synovial fluid and increases blood flow to the joints. Moderate exercise can also have anti-inflammatory effects.
At the same time, excessive or high-impact activities can cause sprains, strains, wear and tear, inflammation, and traumatic injuries.
You can help minimize the impact on dog joints by:
- Striking a balance between exercise and rest
- Tailoring activities to your dog’s age, breed, and fitness level
- Providing appropriate warm-up and cool-down periods
- Incorporating low-impact activities such as swimming or gentle walks
Spirit Paw Has a Nutritional Supplement to Help Support Joint Health for Dogs
Dogs need a nutrient-rich diet to maintain joint health. Joint + Mobility from Spirited Paw™ is a whole food-based supplement that helps support healthy, comfortable movement in dogs. The delicious liver-flavored chewable wafer provides research-supported ingredients that support healthy joints, normal inflammatory response, and immune system function. Made with glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin, vitamins C and E, bovine liver, organic alfalfa, organic beet, and turmeric extract, it can help provide additional nutritional support to large breeds, performance dogs, growing puppies, and aging seniors.
Visit Spirited Paw today to learn more.
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
