Pet Joint Heroes: Glucosamine, Devil's Claw & More!

Unfortunately, joint pain and arthritis in pets are common, regardless of breed and overall health of the animal. The deterioration of ageing pet joints is often unavoidable but there are certain steps pet owners can take to prevent or delay the onset of arthritis. There are also various measures pet owners can take once the joint pain has set in such as giving them a quality daily supplement. But which one..?

Treating Your Pet's Joint Pain

There are many pharmaceutical drugs that can be given to pets with arthritis such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), cortisone and other prescription medications. While they might do a great job of relieving pain, they often come with progressive side effects such as digestive, heart, adrenal and kidney problems. Additionally, they don't provide the animal's body with the ingredients needed to rebuild and nourish the joints and bones.

This is where natural joint supplements come in. Natural supplements have the same effects as pharmaceutical products, just without the side effects! But choosing which natural supplement to give your pet is the tricky part, because there are so many pet joint supplements on the market! The easiest way to choose, is to look out for specific ingredients that naturally work well for joint health and for pain relief.

Here are the top ingredients to look for in pet joint supplements..

Devil's Claw

Devil's Claw has been used by indigenous South African people for millennia to remedy a variety of inflammatory conditions, including joint pain. Science now proves its anti-inflammatory properties through the presence of plant compounds called iridoid glycosides. 

In the same way that Devil's Claw has traditionally been used by people as an effective and natural anti-inflammatory, it holds the same healing benefits for animals, including dogs, cats and horses. In fact, dogs and other animals have been observed to chew the plant when their therapeutic effects are needed!

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a natural compound found in cartilage, and can be harvested from shells of shellfish or made in a lab. Not only does it help with inflammation and pain, it also slows down joint degeneration. Glucosamine has had thoroughly successful results in eliminating and reducing pain in muscles and joints. Glucosamine promotes cartilage growth and health, rather than just concealing the symptoms of joint pain. This makes it a holistic approach to treating arthritis, joint pain and injury.

Chondroitin

Chondroitin functions in a similar way to glucosamine, and offers powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Chondroitin naturally occurs in the cartilage of humans and animals, forming part of the connective tissue. It helps maintain and repair the joints while increasing cartilage cell and lubricant production. It also plays an important part of shock absorption and mobility. Giving your pet a chondroitin supplement relieves joint pain while keeping the tissue around the joints healthy, so that your pet can move around freely with much less pain and discomfort! 

Easy Joints For Pets by Devoted By Nature contains functional ingredients that help keep pet joints supple and help with natural joint pain relief. Containing the 3 main recommended ingredients for pet joint health (Devil's Claw, glucosamine and chondroitin), Easy Joints is our #1 recommendation!

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omegas are essential fatty acids, falling into the fat category, a super important part of a dog or cat's diet. While omegas are usually found in pet food, they're often only present in very low amounts. Because animals don't get enough fatty acids from their pet food, it's super important to supplement their diet with it daily, especially if they have joint issues! 

Omega-3 fatty acid is an excellent joint supplement for animals of all ages, just like for humans. Besides being a wonderful anti-inflammatory and providing the joints with lubrication, omega-3s also improve skin health, heart health and brain health! Why wouldn't you want to give this to your pet?!

AniFlax Supplement for Pets by Devoted By Nature is made from pure Flaxseed Oil which is an exceptional natural source of Omega-3 and Omega-6!

Additional Tip: Remember, regular exercise is also crucial for joint health - for you and for your pets! Don't forget those beach or forest walks, or play time with your cat.

If you have any health-related questions, please contact us or leave a comment below for FREE advice. We always love hearing from you!