A diagnosis of arthritis can be a particularly disheartening thing to hear from your veterinarian. After all, our dogs are at their best when they’re able to run and play with their humans and their friends, but the pain and discomfort from arthritis inflammation can put a real damper on those activities. What’s more, arthritis isn’t just an issue for senior dogs. Younger dogs can encounter the chronic pain associated with arthritis if they deal with hip dysplasia or have had a serious injury. According to PetMD, arthritis is becoming one of the most common health issues in dogs.

While arthritis will change your dog’s daily activities, they can still get exercise, have fun, and have a great quality of life with your help and the help of your veterinarian. In fact, our Jackson dealt with arthritis later in his life, but he still went on walks and played away the days right through his 14th birthday. 

Signs Your Dog May Have Arthritis

While most dogs enjoy hours of naps throughout the day, sometimes extra time in bed can be indicative of an issue. If you’ve noticed a recent decline in your dog’s interest in walking, running, or playing, they may be resting because activity is uncomfortable. Additionally, if you notice your dog limping, hopping, or otherwise walking in an unfamiliar manner, they’re probably experiencing pain in a specific limb or limbs. Other telltale signs include difficulty getting up from a down position and reluctance to use stairs. Of course, these things can happen from time to time, so if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment with your vet right away. 

Caring For a Dog With Arthritis

Once your veterinarian has given your dog a diagnosis of arthritis, they should schedule you for any necessary medical treatments to reduce inflammation and ease the movement of their joints. While there are current treatments to reduce arthritis pain, arthritis cannot be cured; however, there are things you can do at home to help alleviate discomfort and allow your dog to stay active and healthy.

Monitor Their Diet

Your dog’s diet might be the most important factor in their arthritis management. A healthy diet will help your dog maintain a healthy weight; obesity and excess weight can cause strain on the joints, exacerbating the symptoms of arthritis. What’s more, exercise is difficult for dogs with arthritis, so a proper, weight-conscious diet is your dog’s first line of defense against obesity and the health conditions related to it. 

Your veterinarian may recommend a diet to help manage your dog’s weight. The best dog foods for weight management don’t have fillers and should be packed with wholesome proteins and vegetables that offer complete nutritional support. Additionally, you should add a few supplements to your dog’s diet to help manage symptoms. Omega-3 fatty acids act as natural anti-inflammatories. Glucosamine helps build healthy cartilage. Consult with your vet before overhauling your dog’s diet. 

Make Adjustments to Facilitate Movement

If you have a senior dog at home, you may have already made a number of adjustments to help them move about freely. If your dog can no longer climb stairs due to arthritis pain, make sure to set up a safe space downstairs with their favorite toys and sleeping space. Speaking of sleeping spaces, make sure your dog has a comfortable bed where they can rest. If your dog sleeps in a kennel, make sure it is well-padded so that they don’t experience discomfort from exposed bars. Some pet supply companies even offer orthopedic beds for dogs, like the BarksBar Snuggly Sleeper which is made with orthopedic foam. 

You may want to consider installing ramps to areas your dog likes to access, like couches and beds. Additionally, make sure your flooring is slip-free, as any sliding or spills can be particularly painful for a dog with arthritis. 

Exercise, But Do It Comfortably

As we mentioned above, exercise is difficult for dogs with arthritis. However, physical activity is important to help your dog keep their muscle tone, improve circulation, and avoid future injury. When you go for walks, allow your dog to set the pace. Hydrotherapy is another great option to help your dog stay fit, as it’s extremely low-impact and can be soothing on your dog’s joints. 

Your vet may recommend a few sessions of physical therapy and massage to help put you on the right track, but you can also do your part to work toward your dog’s physical health at home. Give your dog a gentle massage after exercise, being careful not to apply pressure directly to joints. 

Be Patient

Your dog is probably experiencing some frustration that they can’t be as active as they once were. We know it can be difficult to watch your dog having difficulty with movement and play, but offer them plenty of patience and give them space to move at their own pace. It will take some time for both you and your dog to adjust to a new lifestyle, but their unconditional love and companionship is worth all the effort.

Health Begins With a Good Diet

Your dog’s overall health begins with a solid diet that addresses all of their unique needs. Pawsitively Pure’s gently cooked, human-grade dog food offers wholesome nutrition and easily blends with your dog’s vitamins and supplements. Bone broth is also a great source of gelatin and glucosamine to support joint health. Head over to our online shop and order yours today.

Jackson loves bone broth!

This senior dog is active and healthy at age 14.

January is National Soup Month! Soup is such a versatile meal, packed with nutrients and easy to create according to your favorite flavors and textures. So far this January, we’ve experienced a few chilly days (for Central Florida, anyway), which gives us the perfect opportunity to wrap up in our favorite blankets and enjoy a warm cup of soup. But did you know that a hot bowl of broth can be just as nourishing for your dogs, too? 

Bone broth has been a trending topic in the nutritional world for dogs and humans alike. Slightly different from your average soup stock, bone broth is made by simmering animal bones for a long period of time, releasing collagen and other beneficial nutrients from the bones over time. The result is a thicker, savory broth that offers a long list of nutritional benefits for humans and their canine companions. 

A quick note about choosing broth for dogs

As tempting as it may be to serve your dog the same tasty broth you enjoy, it’s important that you select a bone broth that’s been specifically formulated for your dogs. Often, bone broth for humans includes flavor-enhancing ingredients like onions, garlic, and salt that can cause stomach upset and other issues in dogs. We believe that dogs should receive wholesome nutrition with real ingredients – but not all ingredients are appropriate for dogs!

Common health issues for senior dogs

As our dogs age, we notice them slowing down. After a long, active life, your dog’s internal systems don’t perform like they did when they were puppies. Maybe they don’t play outside or get the zoomies as often, and they definitely take more naps. You may notice that they have increased occurrences of stomach issues, and sometimes they may even lose their appetites. It’s a fact of life; but aging doesn’t have to keep your dog from living out their golden years in good health and happiness. 

A huge part of your dog’s overall wellness is their diet. With natural, wholesome ingredients and minimal fillers, your dog will experience less pain and inflammation, better mental acuity, and more energy. Bone broth is a wonderful and easy-to-administer part of a healthy diet for a senior dog. Read on to learn about some of the benefits. 

Bone broth combats inflammation

Over time, all active dogs experience some cartilage loss. As the cartilage between joints and bones wears thin, the bones often start rubbing against each other, causing painful inflammation. This type of inflammation can also present itself as arthritis and is particularly prevalent in dogs who have had an injury at some point in their lives. 

Bone broth is chock full of gelatin and collagen, as we mentioned before. Regular consumption of nutritional collagen can in turn increase the amount of collagen in the body, which supports the cartilage and helps keep those joints moving smoothly and with less pain. With bone broth, your dog should be able to enjoy regular activity without increased stress from pain. 

Bone broth is good for tummies

Many people experience decreased appetite in their senior years; the same is true for dogs. Their metabolism slows down and they may be experiencing inflammation and pain that keep them from wanting to eat. If your dog is showing signs of decreased appetite, especially if it’s a drastic change, be sure to consult with your vet to take the appropriate action.

Bone broth contains glycine, an amino acid that specifically helps build new tissues in your dog’s digestive tract. In a nutshell, glycine can help repair any problem areas in your dog’s stomach and intestines to make eating enjoyable again. 

As a bonus, bone broth doesn’t require any chewing. A dog that’s not hungry may still be game to lap at a bowl of broth, keeping them hydrated and ensuring they get healthy nutrients in their systems when they don’t feel like snacking. 

Bone broth supports your dog’s immune system

Your dog isn’t producing as many antibodies in their senior years, which means that they may be more prone to infections and illness. Think about it: even older dogs spend most of their days sniffing, exploring, and maybe even mouthing new objects to learn about them. All that close contact with the outside world can leave them vulnerable to sickness. 

The many amino acids in bone broth provide support to your dog’s immune system, boosting the metabolism, liver, and more, so that they’re better able to fight off infections and pathogens they may encounter in their daily lives. 

Where to find the right bone broth for your dogs

The bone broth you choose for your dogs should have nothing but the good stuff with no fillers or additives! Pawsitively Pure bone broth is made with nothing but the ingredients that come from beef or chicken bones simmered overnight, so your dog gets lots of collagen and amino acids without any ingredients that can irritate their stomachs. Head to our online shop or find us at one of our weekend markets to take some home today!

This month, our boy Jackson turns 11 years old! Senior dogs tend to slow down and run into issues like arthritis and lack of energy as they age, but our boy still loves running around outside and playing with his friends. We take him to Dip’n Dogs hydrotherapy to help keep his muscles strong and free from pain. We also feed him a wholesome diet that includes real, human-grade food and bone broth - and it’s been a great way to help keep Jackson healthy.

We think that your dog would love the addition of bone broth to their diet, and you’ll love the results it brings! Here are just a few reasons why you should add this tasty, nutritious supplement to your dog’s diet:

• It’s great for senior dogs. Just like our dog Jackson, senior dogs have different needs as they age. Joint support is a huge issue for older dogs - just like it is with humans! Bone broth is packed with the collagens and glucosamine your dog needs to keep his joints working smoothly and without pain. Plus, bone broth is a great way to get nutrients when your dog isn’t hungry.

• It helps eliminate harmful compounds from everyday life. Think about it - every day, your dog is exposed to plenty of harmful chemicals, from pesticides and fertilizers on the grass to cleaning solutions on the carpets they roll on. Your dog needs a little extra help getting rid of those harmful toxins and keeping their liver in good shape. Bone broth has glycine, which helps support an active liver and eliminate any harmful chemicals in the bloodstream.

• It’s a good food source for sick dogs. If you’ve ever had a sick dog or a dog with tummy troubles, you know how hard it can be to get them back on solid food. Sometimes when your dog is going through an illness, he won’t be up to processing solid foods. Offering your dog some bone broth when they’re not feeling their best is the easiest way to make sure they’re getting the nutrition they need without solids.

Our bone broth is made from 100% grass-fed, responsibly sourced beef or chicken bones. We simmer our organic bones over low heat for over 24 hours so your dog gets the best of the best nutrients from the bone broth. We recommend serving it over your dog’s food or warming it up and serving it on its own. To learn more, feel free to browse our site or send us a message!