Joint Pain & Inflammation in Dogs — Anti-Inflammatory Fresh Diet Guide

Like us humans, our canine companions can also feel the pain of old age. The more candles on that meat-based cake, the greater the odds your furry pal is dealing with chronic inflammation, which can lead to severe dog joint pain.

Fortunately, you don’t have to just watch as your dog struggles to move around. In fact, there are multiple things you can do to help your geriatric furball deal with joint stiffness, reduced mobility, discomfort, and pain.

This guide will dive deeper into what it takes to help your dog feel better as they get older. We’ll cover the most common culprits behind joint-related issues, discuss medications and supplements, and focus on dog food for arthritis-ridden canines.

What Causes Dog Joint Pain and Inflammation?

While there are multiple factors behind inflammation and joint pain in dogs, the most common offenders include:

• Osteoarthritis: A degenerative condition like arthritis is the most common culprit behind your furry pal’s reduced joint mobility and pain. It stems from the gradual breakdown of the smooth cartilaginous layer at the ends of joints, leading to bone-on-bone grinding.

• Obesity: Dogs that weigh significantly more than a typical representative of their breed are far more likely to suffer from joint-related issues due to the increased pressure on their tiny joints.

• Injuries: Besides age and plain old wear and tear, joint pain can also result from falls and accidents. Even injuries from your puppy’s exploration days or careless playtime can lead to arthritis and joint pain in later life.

• Infections: Left untreated, tick-borne Lyme disease can also enter joint tissue and cause inflammation, leading to chronic Lyme arthritis in some cases. The same goes for certain fungi and bacteria, which can cause similar joint infections.

• Genetic predisposition: Some breeds are simply more likely to develop arthritis. For example, German shepherds and golden retrievers are both prone to conditions like hip and elbow dysplasia, which is essentially abnormal joint development in young dogs.

How Do I Help a Dog With Arthritis?

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for arthritis in dogs. However, there are a few ways to ensure quality of life for your best pal, including:

• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be incredibly helpful for managing dog inflammation and pain. That said, these are prescription-only medications, so you’ll need to see your vet to get them.

• Arthritis supplements: Besides prescription medication, there are a few joint supplements you can start giving your dog as early as 2 months old. These include over-the-counter pills that contain glucosamine hydrochloride, Omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin sulfate, and other dietary additives that support joint health.

• Weight management: As obese dogs experience additional joint pressure, regular exercise can be pretty helpful. In that sense, implementing a routine with a bit of walking and ball chasing can go a long way in terms of relieving your pal’s joint pain.

• Joint mobility-focused foods: Dieting is another excellent way to manage your pup’s weight and ease their pain. Dog food for arthritis, such as Pawy’s vitamin- and Omega-3-rich fresh meals, can be highly beneficial here.

The Connection Between Diet and Inflammation

There’s a direct link between what goes in your dog’s food bowl and their joint mobility. In that sense, canines with arthritis and other joint issues can significantly benefit from the following:

• Glucosamine and chondroitin: These components naturally occur in healthy cartilage. But as old age breaks down this vital layer, dogs with osteoarthritis must rely on glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate supplements to stay mobile.

• Vitamins C and E: Often found in fresh fruits, seeds, and vegetables like leafy greens, these vitamins have powerful antioxidant capabilities. As such, they can significantly reduce joint inflammation.

• Essential fatty acids: Just like we humans can benefit from Omega-3 fatty acids, so too can our canine companions. And, just like the mentioned vitamins, these acids also have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

What to Feed a Dog With Arthritis?

The best food for dogs with arthritis consists of items that are rich in all of the abovementioned vitamins and acids. These include foods like:

• Fatty fish: Salmon, sardines, and mackerel are all full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help improve your pal’s mobility and reduce inflammation.

• Green-lipped mussels: Also known as the New Zealand mussel, the greenshell mussel is bursting with Omega-3s and can significantly improve mobility in dogs with arthritis.

• Chia seeds: Known for their rich Omega-3 content, chia seeds also support healthy dog joints, helping your canine friend maintain their movement abilities.

• Lean chicken or turkey: While meat can aggravate inflammation in dogs, you can still feed your joint pain–ridden furry friend leaner cuts with no issues.

• Rhizomes: Curcumin-rich turmeric, as well as gingerol- and shogaol-filled ginger roots, also have natural anti-inflammatory benefits and can help relieve arthritis-induced pain.

• Berries: Fresh berries, especially blueberries and cranberries, are filled with antioxidants that can help with inflammation, while also being low in sugar.

• Vegetables: Root veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, and leafy greens like spinach are also excellent sources of beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, and K, and fibre.

• Pumpkin: Botanically a fruit but culinarily treated as a vegetable, pumpkin is a great source of vitamin C and beta-carotene, both of which have strong antioxidant properties.

• Coconut oil: Besides being great for your dog’s dental and skin health, coconut oil also contains lauric acid and MCTs, which have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Ultimately, a well-balanced diet combines these food items, and Pawy does precisely that. Its fresh meals are full of Omega-3-rich fish, lean chicken protein, cranberries, spinach, chia seeds, carrots, and other ingredients with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

What Foods Should I Avoid Giving a Dog With Arthritis?

As much as certain items can help dogs who suffer from joint pain and inflammation, so too can certain foods aggravate your pal’s arthritis condition.

Obviously, chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, and garlic remain in the big no territory. These foods are never safe for dogs and should always be out of reach of your exploring puppy’s nose.

Owners whose dogs have reduced joint mobility can also add grains such as wheat, rice, soy, and spelt to the list of foods to avoid. Corn remains a controversial topic: it’s a great source of energy, but it can also worsen inflammation due to its high carbohydrate content.

Eggs, red meat, and poultry (with the exception of lean cuts) should also be kept to a minimum for dogs who suffer from arthritis. Much like sunflower and canola oils, these foods are rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, which have the opposite effect on inflammation as Omega-3s.

Conclusion

Inflammation and joint pain in dogs can lead to reductions in your pal’s mobility and severe joint pain, regardless of whether osteoarthritis, obesity, injuries, infections, or genetic predispositions are the culprit behind it all.

And while regular exercises paired with NSAIDs and arthritis supplements can help with this issue, the best way to manage your dog’s pain is to adjust their diet. That primarily includes transitioning to healthy, fresh, and gently cooked meals like Pawy offers, which contain most of those must-have ingredients a canine with arthritis should eat.