As our dogs age and their mobility reduces, the golden question arises – what could I have done to keep them active for longer? Well, this article answers exactly that. It will help you use best practices from when your dog is a pup to help them thrive well into their older years. From joint supplements to exercise, we’ll cover all the essentials for dog joint health!
Common signs of joint issues
One or more of these signs may be seen in dogs suffering from joint issues:
- Slowing down or losing stamina, either when exercising or generally
- Reluctance to jump up (e.g. into the car or sofa) or go up and down stairs
- Limping/lame
- Walking stiffly, especially after resting
- Shifting weight from one leg to another
- Hunched position
- A change in stance/gait
- Weakness in one or more legs
- Enlarged or swollen joints
But enough about joint issues, you can read more about joint issues in my other blog post about osteoarthritis in dogs. Here we want to talk about healthy joints and how to keep them in optimum condition for longer, so your companion can live a joyful, active life.
Growing up
Healthy joints can depend on any hereditary conditions the dog may have inherited from their parents. It also depends on any stresses on the joints as the dog is growing up. I would always suggest limiting any impact activities as the dog is growing up and also later on in life.
This document from Avidog-Zink Ventures is a good source of information when figuring out what exercise is appropriate at different growth stages of a puppy.
Exercise
On land
Walking, or jogging with dogs on soft surfaces (avoiding pavements etc as much as possible) allows them to get some exercise in without too much strain on the joint. It also stimulates their minds as they can also sniff around. If there is a large area where they can roam freely, that is also an ideal activity for them.
Games such as ball throwing often causes stress to the joints when the dog accelerates and also when they brake to catch the ball. Some dogs may already be addicted to playing with balls. If this is the case, I would advise limiting the amount of time spent throwing the ball, and not let them skid to a stop during or after catching a ball. You could try changing the game to hide and seek with the ball for the dog to find it; that will prevent excessive force to the joints, and is a good source of steady exercise.
Exercises would need adapting depending on any existing injuries or conditions your dog may have. Speak to your vet for advice if you are in doubt about what exercise might be suitable for your dog.
Swimming
If your dog swims and you have access to a clean water body in which they can swim regularly, it is an ideal low-impact activity which helps them build and maintain muscle too! Otherwise you can always look for a veterinary hydrotherapist in your area. Read more about veterinary hydrotherapy here.
One thing to remember if your dog swims regularly is to clean their ears with a vet-approved ear cleaner after the swims. This is because some ears can be prone to infections if water is left within them, creating a humid and possibly dirty environment. You can read more about dirty ears and ear cleaning here.
Stretching
If you love jogging for long distances and would like your canine companion to accompany you, make sure they are gradually accustomed to the distances over several weeks/months, so their bodies get used to it. I’m sure most of you stretch your muscles before and after jogging, and I am a strong advocate for ensuring my own dog’s muscles are stretched too.
This document from FitPAWS USA shows some basic stretches which would be useful to do with your canine companion on a daily basis.
Weight and body condition management
Monitoring and controlling your dog’s weight and body condition plays a huge part in ensuring their joints remain healthy and pain-free. The reason why I mention both is because some dogs can seem heavier than usual if they are very muscular. Maintaining adequate muscle mass is essential for correct joint movements, which also prevents joint injuries in the long term.
However, if the higher than usual weight is due to fat, then they could develop joint problems. The excess weight (and possibly less muscle) puts more stress than normal on the joints during normal movements, making the joints more susceptible to injuries.
This is where body condition scoring comes in useful, which is usually measured on a scale of 1-9. It is a helpful tool to ensure that your dog maintains the correct balance of muscle vs fat. It can be very subjective, so multiple people checking and agreeing on what body condition score your dog is may be the best way if you are new to it. Or you can ask your vet clinic for advice.
You can find more information on body condition scoring, courtesy of The World Small Animal Veterinary Association, here.
Nutrition
Along with exercise, correct nutrition is very important in helping to maintain an optimum weight and body condition score. Most good quality commercial diets from reputable brands are formulated to provide a balanced diet to keep your dog healthy. There can be hundreds of different foods to choose from, so if you are in a dilemma speak to your vet for advice.
When introducing a new food to your dog, always do it slowly over several days, as a large amount in one go might upset their tummies. Sometimes a certain food may not agree with your canine companion’s digestive tract, so you may need to change it, but always speak to your vet first. You can read more about diet sensitivity and allergies here.
Supplements for dog joint health
Some commercial diets may already contain supplements to boost joint health in them. If they don’t, it is worthwhile in the long run to invest in some joint supplements to help keep your dog active, agile and pain-free for longer.
Effective joint supplements can include, but are not limited to, omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric-derivatives, glucosamine, chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and even Boswellia extract. Many types of supplements have limited research in dogs and are often brought across from human medicine. If you want more in-depth information on what each type of supplement does, check out my effective joint supplements blog post.
Non-slip surfaces
Ensuring your dog always walks and runs on areas where they are less likely to slip greatly reduces the chances of injury to joints. This should be monitored for dogs of all ages, as injuries can even happen to young dogs as well as old ones. For example, even slippery tiles in the house might cause an accident, so ensuring where your dog often walks or runs is slip-free is very important. For example, installing a non-slip surface such as a carpet or rubber matting would help.
You can read more about easy adaptions to make in the house to help your dog here.
I’ve now described some of the essentials for healthy joints in dogs. Now it’s your turn to implement any changes to ensure your companion remains healthy and active into their old age!
Note:The advice provided in this blog post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute veterinary advice. If in doubt always seek veterinary advice.