Ease Arthritis In Pets

Natural ways to help your dog or cat overcome joint aches and pains

- Julia Szabo

For our pets, enjoying full range of motion is as vital as breathing fresh air and drinking clean water. Dogs and cats are never happier than when they’re running and romping. But osteoarthritis, a common cause of joint pain, cruelly robs pets of their mobility and diminishes their quality of life. It’s estimated that 25 percent of dogs suffer from degenerative joint disease (DJD), and 90 percent of senior cats.

For both pets and people, conventional medicine offers nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, more of us want to avoid these pharmaceuticals’ adverse side effects on the kidneys and liver by opting for natural solutions.

EAT TO TREAT ACHING JOINTS

Arthritis, by definition, is joint inflammation, so feeding an anti-inflammatory diet is the most important thing you can do for your arthritic pet. That means a grain-free, dairy-free diet that strictly avoids gluten and anything containing it (i.e. most bread, pasta, cake, cookies, and crackers). For between-meal treats, instead of dog biscuits or cat treats that contain gluten, share tasty morsels of eggs, sardines, mackerel, leafy greens, and raw or steamed veggies (such as carrots and broccoli). Avoid saturated animal fat, especially red meat, as it aggravates inflammation; steer clear of white potatoes, too, as the salonine they contain can cause muscle pain.