As the winter season settles in, the chill of the cold air often make
us more aware of our joint health problems- the same goes for your pet.
Though commonly bothersome in the winter, joint discomfort can be a year
round-pain that affects your pet’s quality of life.

“Joints are areas where bones come together,” explains Dr. Sharon
Kerwin, an associate professor at the Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “They are a combination of
bone, ligaments, cartilage, and the joint capsule and fluid. If anything
damages the cartilage or another structure in the joint then arthritis
or deterioration results.”

Unfortunately, at this point in time, there is no cure for arthritis.
Symptoms can be treated but arthritis is often progressive and gets
worse with time.

Though no cure has been found yet, there are ways to prevent or
postpone the onset of your pet’s joint problems.

“While genetics do play a role in the development of some joint
issues, weight control and proper diet are essential in both prevention
and treatment,” notes Kerwin. “Keeping a young dog, particularly
large breeds, on a diet that does not have too much energy from
carbohydrates and fat is essential to keeping them from growing too
quickly. This is important because if they grow too quickly it can
result in both excessive fat and the formation of a “mismatch”
between bone growth and muscle development, which can lead to excessive
stress on cartilage.”

The specific ingredients in your pet’s food, and the amounts of each
ingredient can have astounding affects on your pet’s joint growth and
health.

“One of the main ways diet can be a contributing factor for joint
health issue is if there is an imbalance in the ratio of calcium to
phosphorous,” explains Dr. Dan Bauer, a professor of animal nutrition
at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science.
“For growing animals an imbalance in this ratio can result in
metabolic bone diseases which greatly affect joint health.”

Making sure your pet is getting a complete and balanced diet can help
to prevent joint problems in younger pets or ease joint health problems
for older animals.

Large dog breeds such as German Shepherd’s, Golden Retrievers,
Labrador Retrievers and Irish setters are especially susceptible to
joint health problems, such as hip dysplasia. Getting your pet the
proper nutrition at an early age can potentially help avoid such
problems.

Dietary supplements such as glucosamine and Omega 3 fatty acids can
also help ease your pet’s joint pain.

“Recent research has shown that the dietary supplement glucosamine,
which is an important dietary adjunct that supports joint health,
increases mobility and decreases pain,” adds Bauer. “It is not a
cure, and more research needs to be done, but many people believe it
might be able to slow down progression of joint health problems. ”

Omega 3 fatty acids can also help ease joint pain by reducing
inflammation.

“When joints rub together it creates inflammation, the Omega 3 fatty
acids potentially can alleviate some of that,” notes Bauer. “Human
grades of these dietary supplements can be used on animals and are worth
a try if your pet is in pain, however, it is important to first talk to
your veterinarian about dosages and specifics regarding your animal.”

If joint health problems are plaguing your pet, Dr. Kerwin suggests
keeping your pet slim and trim as good body condition is important in
maintaining your pet’s health. Muscle mass should be promoted by
moderate, low -impact exercise like swimming and walking.

If your pet has more severe joint problems and more drastic medical
attention is needed there are a variety of treatment options available.

“Specific problems, such as cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in the
stifle (knee) joint can be treated by stabilizing the joint to decrease
the wear and tear on the cartilage,” explains Kerwin. “Arthritic hip
joints can be replaced surgically as is done in humans, and medical
management of joint problems can include pain management with
medications such as nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs, joint supplements,
and physical rehabilitation.

If your pet is at risk for or suffers from joint health problems, talk
with your veterinarian to make sure they are receiving the proper
nutrition and medications if needed.