Tips for maintaining joint health in pets

The mobility of your pet's joints has a dramatic effect on their quality of life, from being able to go on walks to simply having a comfortable night's sleep.

Here are some tips on how to help maintain joint health for your pet.

• Weight management – Excess weight puts pressure on joints, aim to reduce weight and keep your pet at a healthy weight for their breed.
• Exercise – It is important your pet gets regular exercise to avoid stiffness and muscle wastage. Avoid long or infrequent walks and make sure your dog goes for several, short walks throughout the day. Think little and often to keep the joints mobile.
• Food – Feed a good quality diet. Reassess your pet's food, consult a Veterinary Professional who can recommend the best diets for their needs. Raise water/food bowls if your dog has difficulty bending down to them.
• Comfort – Keep your pet warm, avoid cold damp windy conditions which can aggravate joint pain. Provide a comfortable warm place to sleep with enough room to find a comfortable position to sleep in. Carpeting can also help increase traction. Try to reduce the amount your dog has to go up/down the stairs or jumps on/off furniture.
• Pain relief - Your Vet may prescribe your pet medication to reduce the inflammation and provide pain relief. A natural alternatve is Boswellia extract which acts as a natural anti inflammatory, helping to reduce the dose of other medications and preventing potential side effects.
• Natural ingredients – Natural ingredients such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin are essential building blocks of an animal's joints, including ligaments, tendons, cartilage and synovial fluid.
• Regularly see your Vet - Regular vet visits ensure your pet’s condition can be regularly monitored and the best up to date advice can be given. Ensure you follow your vet's advice.
• Alternative therapies - Consider other therapies such as physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to increase circulation and mobility.
• Take advantage of nutravet joint products - nutraflex is fast acting joint support product containing the highest quality, purest ingredients and with the added advantages of Boswellia.
  nutracam has been specifically formulated to support an animal’s natural systems that control inflammation and provide multimodal support for joints, soft tissues and liver function which makes it especially useful for older pets.