The Daily Bark

A healthy and happy dog is a top priority for all dog lovers. So, this week PawLux will show you ways to keep your favorite canine  friend’s joints healthy!

Issues with joints rise from both developmental and degenerative problems. During growth stages it is important to maintain a healthy diet that will include all the nutrients needed. Also high impact on joints during development stages increase the likelihood of joint problems later in life. The most common degenerative problem is arthritis and it affects one out of five dogs. Arthritis occurs most often in dogs with hip dysplasia, also known as osteochondrosis, or in dogs with a joint injury.

If your dog is less active or finds common activities more difficult, it might be a sign of joint problems. In extreme cases, your pup may favor one limb and put more pressure on others. This can also be a sign of other injuries, so be sure to consult your veterinarian. Remember the vet is a great resource and regular visits to your vet will help reduce health problems. Treatments in extreme cases may lead to surgery, but do not worry, there are plenty of non-surgical methods and many preventive measures one can take. The two best ways to prevent arthritis and similar problems is by managing your dog’s weight and body condition.

Choosing the right diet is the most important part of controlling your dog’s weight. Make sure meals do not exceed the suggested amount for your dog and as much as your dog might beg, table scraps are rarely a good answer. Instead think about having treats on hand at dinner time that give the dual solution of preventing joint problems and begging. PawLux offers a Beef Tendon Pack which is high in glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine and chondroitin work together to help build cartilage and stop the enzymes that causes cartilage to break down over time. Plus it will keep your dog entertained throughout dinner. Fish oil is another great supplement that helps to increase the protection around the joints. Plato Thinkers Salmon Sticks from PawLux which are full of DHA, the active ingredient in fish oil.

Your dog’s weight and body condition can also be managed through exercise. However, certain exercises can worsen the condition. High impact sports, or running and jumping on hard surfaces,  stress the joints and are especially dangerous to growing pups. Although they have all the energy needed for running, jumping and bounding about the house, these activities can weaken the joints and cause problems later in life. But if all of these activities needed can hurt your dog, what can you do? Try taking your dog swimming! Swimming has a low impact level and the water resistance helps to strengthen your dog’s muscles. For some fun water play try PawLux’s West Paw Zogoflex Zisc. It is soft, dog friendly and floats as well!  However, not all dogs know how to swim, but many can be taught. Make sure you are always supervising your dog around water and ensure they have a way to climb out to land. While high impact sports can cause problems, all dogs do love to run and jump. It is not something you want to discourage. So instead, make certain that your pup warms up before active playing and has a cool down. This decreases the likelihood of an injury just as it does for humans.

Remember, arthritis can also be painful for dogs. So, use the above measures to help prevent arthritis in your dog. If your dog has arthritis you can help reduce pain through physical therapy and by massaging those painful joints. Perhaps it is time for a “spaw” day! Check back next week for some tips and hints to giving your pup an all natural and dogtastic “spaw” day.

So remember:

• Managing diet and weight lessens the likelihood of join problems
• Look for products with glucosamine, chondroitin and fish oils
• High Impact sports in development stages can hurt
• Swimming is a great low impact sport
• Physical therapy and massages help reduce pain from arthritis

We all love to have an excercise buddy to keep us motivated but sometimes the best workout body is our four legged best friend. Trupanion has created a list of the Top 10 Reasons Your Dog Is Your Best Exercise Buddy and we wanted to share it with you. Not only is it witty & humorous but truly speaks to the loving & loyal characters of the dogs in our lives. Trupanion also has a wonderful blog with great information.

1. He will never bail on you. Dogs are always eager to accompany you with your workout and won’t complain that they had to get up early this morning or are having a bad day.

2. A dog is never late for a workout. You don’t have to wait for your dog to get ready because he is ready to go out and get moving whenever you are.

3. Your dog won’t judge you. Dogs don’t care if you run too slow or too fast or if you’re sweaty and stinky after exercising. They are always glad just to be hanging out with you.

4. Dogs are easy going. Your dog won’t complain when it gets tired and it won’t try to out-compete you. He will jog along at your side until you’re done.

5. Dogs are great motivators. They’re always bouncy, eager, and optimistic about working out which is great encouragement to get you more enthusiastic about exercising. Plus you’re much more likely to stick with an exercise plan if you have a buddy.

6. Dogs don’t gossip. They won’t distract you from exercising by chatting about the latest gossip and who said what.

7. You don’t have to buy running shoes for your dog. They don’t require fancy workout gear and top-of-the-line sneakers; dogs are always appropriately attired for any exercise.

8. Exercise is great for both of you. Dogs need physical as well as mental stimulation and exercise keeps both you and your dog healthier and happier.

9. At the end of your workout when you’re cooling down, you know your dog will be right by your side panting with a smile on its face.

10. It can be fun for you and it’s definitely fun for your dog. You’ll feel better knowing you provided some good entertainment for your canine pal.

Click below to read full article & more great blog post by trupanion

Want daily updates? Follow PawLuxury on Twitter

Don’t forget to reward your workout buddy. Shop www.pawlux.com for eco-friendly, all natural & interactive toys!