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CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA - natural remedies and pain support
Conventional medical treatment for CHD is similar to arthritis and usually includes nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or Rimadyl. The benefit of these NSAIDs is that they often reduce pain quickly, but they also come with potential adverse side effects including stomach ulcers, stomach upset and even death. In addition they do nothing to repair cartilage or slow the progress of deterioration.
| Step 1: Essential Supplements |
Natural supplements offer an alternative that many dog lovers find more appropriate and robust. These nutritional supplements have no serious side effects and they provide the joints with the necessary building blocks to revitalize cartilage. This means they not only help in reducing the pain of sore, stiff joints - they also help slow the process of deterioration.
 Nupro Joint Support - All of the great stuff in the original blend with the added benefit of key ingredients shown to support joint health and rejuvenation. Glucosamine complex to protect and regenerate cartilage as well as reduce joint pain and inflammation. MSM, also an anti-inflammatory, stimulates the growth and repair of cartilage, tendons and other connective tissue. Ester C boosts the effectiveness of Glucosamine and MSM while providing extra support to the immune system. Vitamin C deficiency has been linked to hip dysplasia and other arthritis-like conditions.
 Your dog can further benefit form the long chain fatty acids, specifically n-3s, found in the highest concentrations in fish oils. N-3 fatty acids reduce the expression of cartilage degrading enzymes while suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators, providing protection to the cartilage.
Nutri-Vet Wild Salmon Oil comes from 100% wild salmon, not farmed sources. Wild salmon has higher levels of beneficial omega-3 and lower levels of saturated fats. In addition, farmed salmon have been found to contain significantly higher concentrations of PCBs, dioxin and other cancer causing contaminants than salmon caught in the wild.
| Step 2: Diet - what your dog eats can make a big difference |
A healthy lifestyle, which includes proper exercise and diet, can help prevent a host of diseases like diabetes, hypothyroidism, cancer and arthritis. For dogs suffering from the pain of CHD or arthritis, weight management takes on a new importance.
Obesity causes excessive pressure and forces to be put on the improperly formed hips exacerbating the pain and accelerating the condition. In short, the more weight your dog's joints have to bear the more pain they will experience. The greater the load on the joints, the greater the chances of further damage and deterioration of the cartilage - and eventually the joints themselves. It is tempting to over feed our canine friends and indulge them with treats and table scraps, but remember the consequences.
Besides the amount of food we feed our dogs, what we feed them is also important. Most experts recommend an all natural, high quality diet that contains some raw foods. It is important to note that ingredients like wheat, corn and soy (present in large amounts in dry dog food) tend to increase inflammation and aggravate joint pain.
Providing balanced, home-prepared, cooked or raw meals is an excellent choice, but it is not practical for everyone. So what can you do? Here are some suggestions:
- When you must feed dry food, make sure it is high quality and does not contain added preservatives or colorings.
- Reduce the amount of dry food by adding a high quality canned food. Canned foods tend to have higher meat content and lower grain content. Look for brands that met this requirement.
- Add a cup of raw fruits and vegetables to your dog's diet each day. The enzymes in raw foods help ensure the joints get sufficient nourishment. Additionally, some fruits and veggies like cherries, spinach and broccoli have anti-inflammatory properties. Use a food processor to finely chop carrots, cucumber, lettuce, apple, celery or whatever you have on hand. Combine with some canned dog food to make the mixture more palatable. Avoid avocados, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and grapes since they can be toxic to your dog.
| Step 3: Exercise - moderation and consistency are key |
Adequate exercise is important for your dog in all stages of life. It promotes good health and reduces behavioral issues. For a dog with CHD, exercise should continue to be a part of an overall lifestyle that supports improved health and longevity, but moderation is the key.
As it relates to joint health, exercise is helpful in the following ways:
- Improves metabolism and burns excess calories, helping maintain a proper weight.
- Helps stabilize joints by strengthening surrounding muscles.
- Improves physical functioning and stamina while enhancing emotional well-being.
- Improves circulation.
When your dog doesn't feel well, getting enough exercise might be a challenge and will probably require more interaction from you. Most pets start to feel better within a few days of starting the protocol in the Essential Hip Dysplasia Kit and this is the time to begin a moderate exercise regimen. Remember to take it easy at first.
Some helpful suggestions to get your dog moving include:
- The old stand by - walk. Walking as opposed to running is more appropriate for a dog with CHD or other type of joint pain. Remember, wherever you walk - you still have to walk back. Start with very short trips to ensure your dog doesn't tire out too far from home.
- Swimming. Some dogs love it, others don't. Swimming is great exercise for dogs because it involves almost every muscle group required for movement. It has the added benefit of allowing muscle resistance exercise that is non-weight bearing, a plus for dogs with stiff or painful joints. If you don't have access to a swimming pool or a clean, safe body of water, there are facilities called canine hydrotherapy centers that provide year round access just for pets.
- Avoid activities that put undue strain on the hip area. This includes running and jumping.
A healthy dog needs about 1 hour of exercise per day (more for active breeds). Depending on how advanced the joint deterioration is, this goal may or not be possible. Over exercising will usually not show its toll until the next morning, so start with a short exercise period and slowly increase the time over several weeks. If exercise causes a flare up in pain, cease the activity for a few days until the flare up subsides. Then resume the exercise, but start slowly.
Everything you need is in the Essential Hip Dysplasia Kit - vital supplements, information on diet and nutrition along with beneficial exercises and activities to avoid.
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Is Canine Hip Dysplasia Preventable?
Many expert think so. Read more here . . .
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