Joint care for dogs, from Puppyhood and beyond. 

Howie from Atlanta

Let’s face it.  Dogs don’t live as long as we want them to.  That’s why I always tell my customers to “Treasure the badness of Puppyhood”…because it won’t last long!  

The aging process  has many strange effects and some issues are different breed to breed.  However, there is one consistent issue we all seem to face with older pooches:  Sore and Achy Joints.  The most popular method for joint care is supplementation with glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM.  We will do a quick run-down of these three most popular ingredients and several others.  Then, we will discuss the different forms in which we find these wonderful ingredients.  

Glucosamine  is an amino sugar and may help to rebuild cartilage and treat arthritis.  

Chondroitin Sulfate is part of a large protein molecule (proteoglycan) that gives cartilage elasticity.

MSM, methylsulfonylmethane  provides sulfur, a vital building block of joints, cartilage, skin, hair and nails, and methyl groups, which support many vital biochemical processes in the body, including energy production.  MSM is safe and effective in increasing joint comfort and supporting a normal range of motion.

Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory agent, and so can be used for sports injury, trauma, arthritis and other kinds of swelling.  Bromelain is naturally occurring in pineapples!

Boswellia is a genus of trees and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

Vitamin C is used for boosting the immune system and production of healthy collagen, the basic constitutent of cartilage.

Yucca Schidigera (Mojave) is a flowering plant and extracts are used for skin, coat, and joint care

Those are just a few of the most popular ingredients in joint support formulas.  A quick tip:  Joint support isn’t just for older ladies and gentlemen!  It is advisable to begin joint care supplementation in large breed puppies.

Now, for some links to brands that we carry:

*Nupro Joint Support is our most popular Joint support supplement.  It is in a powder form, and can be sprinkled onto food or whisked with warm water to make a gravy.

*Pet Naturals of Vermont Hip and Joint Extra Strength is a chewable tablet.

*Sea Jerky is a chewable Treat and there is a feline formula.

*Zuke’s Hip Action is a treat that comes in 3 flavors.  We carry this product for cats as well.

And coming soon: InClover Leaps N Bounds, Missing Link Plus, and Dr. Goodpet

And now, for the fun part…

Honest Kitchen Dog/Cutter Look-A-Like

Nutrition and Joint Health:

Many vets would like you to believe that Hill’s Science Diet J/D, which is extremely expensive, is the way to cure limping and painful joints.  Here is the ingredient list for that food:

Ground Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Flaxseed, Soybean Mill Run, Brewers Rice, Soybean Meal, Pork Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Chicken Liver Flavor, Powdered Cellulose, Fish Oil, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), L-Threonine, Taurine, Soy Lecithin, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Tryptophan, L-Carnitine, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Chondroitin Sulfate, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.

I’ve been informed that this food costs around $75.00 from local veterinarians. It is between $72.99 and $86.00 online. What a rip-off!  Look at the first ingredient: CORN.  Corn is one of the major culprits in canine and feline allergy issues plaguing our pets!  

Why not buy a modestly priced dog food such as Honest Kitchen’s Keen and add a modestly priced Joint supplement and some anti-inflammtory fish oils?  And, this is just one of the many affordable, high quality foods available!

Here is KEEN’s ingredient list:

Hormone-free Turkey, Organic Oats, Potatoes, Organic Flax, Carrots, Cabbage, Alfalfa, Organic Kelp, Apples, Honey and Garlic.

I mean, is that gorgeous or what????  A 10 pound box of Keen, which after hydration makes FORTY POUNDS of fresh food, costs $49.00 here at the Loyal Biscuit Co. 

So, for the price of one 30 pound bag of Hill’s J/D, you can get whole, fresh, organic food that is easier to maintain than homecooked.  You can also get a Hip and Joint formula and some treats or a fun toy!  

Thanks for checking in with us today!  

Addaline

This Blog Post is in honor of our new friend, Addaline (I hope I’m spelling that right).  She is a 5 year old Great Dane who likes to wear pink and is one of our favorite new customers.  She likes to wrestle and play with the dogs from The Purple Peacock Gallery here on Main Street in Rockland!