Does your dog suffer with hip and joint pain? Does your heart break as you watch them struggle to get up after lying down? Have they been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and/or arthritis? This is all too common but the good new is that it is possible to completely relieve the symptoms and reverse the cause of this pain. Without drugs or surgery.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is affected by diet and environmental factors. It can be found in many animals but is most commonly associated with dogs, and is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds. The causes of hip pain from dysplasia and arthritis are considered genetic, but new research conclusively suggests that diet and lifestyle also play a role. More and more evidence suggests that most dogs are allergic to wheat which is in most commercial dog foods. Environmental influences would include overweight condition due to lack of exercise and unhealthy diet.
Natural common sense interventions include three elements:
Weight Control, Exercise, and Diet.
Weight control is the single most important thing that we can do to help a dog with arthritis, and sometimes reducing the dog's weight can go a long way toward controlling all of the symptoms of arthritis in many dogs.
Exercise is vital for the health of all animals and dogs are no different. Regular exercise keeps the body functioning properly, and keeps weight in check. Think about the breed of your dog and what job were they bred to do. Are they genetically programmed for lots of movement, i.e, herding dogs, retrievers and hunting dogs. Are they getting the right amount of exercise for their body?
A healthy diet plays a crucial role in controlling weight issues and reversing the inflammation that is the cause of the pain. Ingredients in commercial dog foods can contribute to inflammation in the dog's body and cause an excessive level of blood uric acid. Uric acid is a direct cause of arthritis, as well as other joint disorders, such as when humans develop swollen and painful joints of gout. High amounts of uric acid in the dog's body (and humans), induce the formation of sharp, hard crystals that cripple joints. These crystals continue to accumulate unless dietary changes are made, eventually inflicting permanent damage to affected joints if nothing is done to eliminate them.
Important! Avoid any food containing corn gluten meal, wheat and artificial preservatives (BHT, BHA). Make sure that purchased commercial canned food is all meat and contains no meat-by-products or better yet make your own food. Combining regular doses of glucosamine supplements and omega 3's with homemade dog food specifically meant to promote joint health, is an effective measure that dramatically reduces the risk that your dog will develop osteoarthritis.
Some recipes to make for your dog's anti-arthritic meals include:
One pound of lean meat (chicken, turkey)
2 cups of cooked rice
1 cup of vegetables, such as carrots, peas or mashed potatoes
2 cloves of pressed garlic
1 egg
1 teaspoon of brewer's yeast
1 tablespoon of flaxseed or safflower oil
Cook meat thoroughly, mix all ingredients together and add water for consistency.
For variety, here is another homemade dog food recipe:
6 cups water
1 pound ground turkey
2 cups cooked brown rice
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
16 ounces of frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower combination
Incorporate fresh vegetables into the dog's diet, and include omega-3 fatty acids in the diet from fish oil. Changing a dog's diet and giving the animal a dog joint supplement like Hip+Joint that contains glucosamine/chondroitin, and methylsufonylmethane (MSM), will effectively reduce the presence of dog arthritis and allow dogs to live a normal, healthy and pain-free existence. Also make sure you incorporate fresh vegetables into the dog's diet, and include omega-3 fatty acids in the diet from fish oil.
Make these simple common sense changes and your best friend will pain be free and you will have many happy healthy years together.
No comments:
Post a Comment