Does your cat seem to be stiff and slow-moving in the morning? Have you noticed your pet favouring one leg? Is your canine running partner taking longer to recover after workouts? These can all be signs of a mobility problems.
Pets and the human companions all need regular activity to achieve optimal health. Exercise and movement support the joints by bringing blood and nutrients to the area and maintaining proper muscle balance. Many dogs today are participating in events such as flyball, dock dogs, agility, hunting or as running companions. Varied terrain and chronic use can put extra strain and stress on joints. While exercise is encouraged, without long term positive support the body and joints can suffer, affecting endurance and performance. As pets and there owners age, their joint surfaces become brittle and the joints lose their lubrication, compromising mobility. These types of problems can benefit from nutrition support whether due to the normal aging process or performance.
Joint Health
Joint problems can be developmental, degenerative, traumatic, infectious immune mediated or related to cancer. Early symptoms are intermittent lameness and morning stiffness (often associated with joint swelling and warmth). As the problem advances, chronic lameness associated with muscle wasting develops and one or more joints can be involved. Also, certain breeds can be predisposed to mobility problems such as degenerative disc disease in Welsh corgis or dachshunds.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hip sockets that allows excessive movement in the joint, causing chronic inflammation, calcium deposits and further breakdown. Elbow dysplasia an abnormal development of the elbow joints. Both of these are typically found in larger dogs. Excessive or abnormal bone growth, or cartilage development exercise, nutrition, hormonal imbalances and genetics may all play a rote in its development.
Arthritis
There can be many causes of arthritis. Two of the most common chronic types in pets are osteoarthritis (QA), which is a degenerative change in the joint and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is an autoimmune based change in the joint.
Treatments for all joint conditions can be medical or surgical. An individual’s response to medical or surgical, or a combination depends on the location and severity the joints involved. A veterinarian needs to diagnose your pet properly to determine which are the best options. Often weight loss (if required), exercise on soft surfaces and pain control are advised.
A holistic approach for your pet involving special nutrients, specific herbs, acupuncture and chiropractic manipulations is also an option.
Herbs and Nutrients to Support Joints and Performance
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are nutrients that are produced by the body. They are necessary in preserving cartilage stability and lubrication. As our pets age they lose the ability to manufacture sufficient levels of GAGs. The result is that cartilage loses its gel-like nature and ability to act as a shock absorber. Glucosamine, along with other supplemental GAGs, Chondroitin sulfate and hyaluroric acid help the body produce GAGs.
Harpagophytum procumbens (Devils Claw) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain reducing) effects. Boswellia serrate has several mechanisms of action, including inhibition of inflammation, prevention of decreased GAG synthesis and improved blood supply to joint tissues. Both herbal and nutrient supplements for joints are best used long term, as you may need to supplement for 4-6 weeks before significant improvement is achieved.
Adaptogens work by increasing resistance to stress trauma and fatigue American Ginseng, Ashwagandha and Siberian Ginseng are all adaptogens. These herbs supplemented before an event or during training can help keep your pet’s body in balance and improve performance and endurance.
A diet rich in antioxidant nutrients protect against chrome degenerative diseases including osteoarthritis. Results from the Framingham Osteoarthritis Cohort Study indocate that a high intake of antioxidant nutrients especially vitamin C, may reduce the risk a cartilage loss and disease progression in people with osteoarthritis. While dogs and cats can manufacture their own vitamin C in their bodies, they may require more than their body can produce when treating chronic joint disease.
If you are making your own pet food, find a knowledgeable holistic veterinarian to create a diet plan to best suit your pet’s needs. If you are feeding commercial pet food, look at the ingredient lists for plenty of colourful vegetables and flavonoid-rich berries, as well as a source of the anti-inflammatory essential fatty acid, omega 3 (EPA and DHA).
Acupuncture and Chiropractic
Standard Western medical systems have been slow to adopt these practices as standard adjunctive therapies despite the mounting research evidence that supports the safety and efficacy of reducing pain from OA.
Chiropractic is a popular choice for joint and back pain in humans. It can be successful in veterinarian care as well. Chiropractic adjustments are made to correct subluxations a misalignment of vertebrae. These subluxations cause animals, like people, to compensate with changes in posture or movements. This can, over time cause increased stress on joints or imbalanced muscle development.
Acupuncture is the Chinese technique of inserting thin needles into points on the body to stimulate healing. Acupuncture points can be stimulated by needles, application of heat with moxa, massage/acupressure, or more recently techniques that utilize electrical or ultrasound stimulation or the application of laser light. Current research points to stimulation of nerves increased blood circulation, relief of muscle spasms and hormone release to explain acupuncture’s effectiveness. Veterinarians trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can diagnose and treat with acupuncture and Chinese herb formulas.
There are many holistic solutions available to support your pet’s mobility and performance. Your holistic veterinarian can work with you to ensure you have the best plan and support for your individual pet. Regular exercise and training along with herbal support is an important part of prevention and wellness care, as well as continued quality of life for your pet.
Dr Amy Hiebert BSc ND is a Naturopathic Doctor in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A formal education at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and a lifelong love of animals has combined to an interest in natural pet care. She also writes and speaks on various topics to the general public on a regular basis, strongly believing in the practice of the principle of “docere”, or doctor as teacher.
Dr Meg Smart DVM PhD is a Professor of Veterinary Clinical Nutrition at the Western College of Veterinarian Medicine (WCVM) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Dr Small has presented at industry sponsored seminars and conferences in Canada and the US and has spoken and authored on nutrition topics for various small animal associations groups and publications.