Joint Support

The musculo-skeletal system is comprised primarily of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and muscles. It provides structural support enabling the body to move and these are the parts of the body that can suffer most from mechanical wear and tear, injury and inflammation (Allport, 2010).

Arthritis is the most common cause of chronic pain in pets, affecting as many as 20% of adult dogs (Dodds & Laverdure, 2015).

The typical signs of arthritis include: pain and stiffness (especially after rest), limited mobility such as being hesitant or have trouble jumping up or getting up stairs, running or walking and debilitation in severe or chronic cases. 

Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive disease with different causes that finally come together on the equivalent pathogenic pathway that is typified by characteristic changes in cartilage, subchondral bone, and synovial membrane (Jones, 2014). 

Osteoarthritis is characterised by the deterioration of joint (articular) cartilage (the

As the days are short and the nights are cold we know that winter is well and truly here. This time of year means that you have to be especially careful with older dogs with arthritis and other joint problems. How do you keep your dog active this winter?

Making the Most of Winter Walks 

For the older dog who is gradually getting stiff or has arthritis, has other joint problems or has  suffered a slip or a fall or injured joints; then consider a joint supplement or relieve the pain of bruising or pulled muscles and ligaments with a soothing herbal lotion.

At Healthful Pets we sell a range of  Joint Supplements which have been developed and approved by vets containing a wide range of anti-inflammatory ingredients and herbs including boswellia, turmeric, willow bark and Devil’s claw to help ease the symptoms of arthritis and of muscle and joint injuries. Other popular ingredients include glucosamine and chondroitin to provide the building blocks to manufacture collagen and proteoglycans

Our dogs health and wellbeing is of paramount importance and one main aspect of our dogs health is their musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments. In this blog post, we'll explore how incorporating Omega-3 essential fatty acids and herbs into your dog's diet can contribute to optimal musculoskeletal health.

Understanding your dogs musculoskeletal health

The musculoskeletal system plays a vital role in our dog's ability to move, run, jump, and maintain an active lifestyle. Factors such as age, breed, genetics and lifestyle can impact the health of our dog's bones and joints. 

Exercise and your dog

As our dogs grow and develop from puppies, their bones and ligaments are softer and as such can be subject to damage or injury. It is important for your pups musculoskeletal health to provide gentle exercise and be cautious to keep jumping and over-extending to a minimum. Likewise, seniors require extra care and gentle exercise is recommended to avoid sprain

Boil and Broth are a British bone broth manufacturer and producer of fermented drinks including water kefir juice and apple cider vinegar. Bone Broth is a fantasic way to incorporate a variey of rich nutrients to your dogs diet to help improve their over all health. In this blog, we'll explore the many advantages of bone broth for dogs and why it's become a popular addition to their diets.

Rachel Down founded Boil and Broth back in 2018 and they are the only UK Bone Broth Manufacturer to hold a dual license to sell Bone Broth for both human and pet consumption. Rachel started the business from one slow cooker in her house making bone broth and kefir water for friends and family. 

Bone broth is simply amazing for gut healing and can help people support their digestive function. After seeing similar challenges within the pet industry, Rachel decided to go for a pet food license so she could sell broth to dogs and cats. Bone broth is simply amazing for dogs, and cats - it is a nutrient-rich

The cold weather can be problematic for any pet with joint issues as they can intensify in winter which can be an excruciating burden to deal with on a daily basis. When cartilage between your dog’s joints degrades, this can cause painful swelling and stiffness. The simple act of moving often becomes an unbearable chore. Arthritis is more common in senior dogs, but it can affect dogs of all breeds and ages. So to reduce pain and help your dog feel more comfortable, here are a few steps you can take as those temperatures drop.

Keep your dog warm

Providing warmth is one of the most important things you can do for your dog inside and outside the home. Ensure your dog has a warm bed with extra blankets they can snuggle up under. It may also help to move their bed next to the radiator, but not too close that they’ll burn themselves. You can manage your dog’s joint pain on walks by providing a warm doggy jacket.

Keep your dog active

https://www.healthfulpets.co.uk/brands/natural-dog-companyJoints

How can you support Your Dogs Joints?

Many, if not all, of the conditions in the hit list are treatable and often preventable by attention to diet and to natural supplements. This certainly applies to supporting joint health.

When you take on the responsibility of a new puppy, there are many decisions to make and much to learn – decisions about what to feed, whether to neuter, when to vaccinate, how best to socialise and so on. Generally not much thought is given to joint health, because it's not a problem you expect to happen until much later in a dog's life. But now is exactly the right time to think of encouraging healthy bone and joint development – after all, these joints will have to last a lifetime and be subject to falls, knocks, twists, turns, sprains, strains and sudden acceleration and deceleration. In other words, running around and enjoying being a dog!

EXERCISE & NEUTERING

Young puppies do need exercise but, especially in large breeds, it's important not to over exercise.

Proflax are a number 1 award winning, vet approved, UK herbal supplement brand. Their two oil based ranges consist of salmon oil or flaxseed oil, both of which are human food grade and expertly formulated with active herbal blends to provide optimal support for the individual needs of dogs and cats. Lets look into these oils in more detail. 

Understanding Oils and Essential Fatty Acids

Proflax's innovative approach lies in the unique formulation of their supplements - so using oils and herbs mixed together - with the main focus being on essential fatty acids (EFAs) from the oils. The primary difference between the fish oil and flaxseed oil lies in the types of EFAs they contain.

The fish oil used in Proflax's Omega range is rich in two EFA’s: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in supporting cardiovascular and brain health, promoting a shiny coat, and boosting the immune system. Fish oils are suitable for both dogs and

Do you use a quality omega-3 fish oil for dogs and cats?…could this be the missing ingredient to support your pet’s optimum health?

Omega-3’s cannot be produced by the body, so cats and dogs must obtain them through diet or supplementation. Fish and its oils can support the health of your pet’s skin & coat, immune system, kidneys, heart, eyes, joints and many more.

Omega-3 fatty acids can originate from both plant-based and marine sources as follows:

• ALA, a short-chain, plant based omega-3 is found in seeds such as flaxseeds and nuts
• EPA and DHA are long chain omega fatty acids found abundantly in fish.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids (EFAs) as they cannot be readily produced by the body. EPA and DHA from fish oil and other marine sources are a better source of omega-3’s for pets than plant based ALA because an enzyme is required to convert ALA to EPA and DHA in the body. Both humans and dogs have a limited ability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, with cats

I often recommend the ‘healthful’ benefits of home-made bone broth, which makes a fantastic base for stews and soups, as it is full of nourishing substances. Well dogs and cats love it too and it makes a super nutritious and inexpensive treat or an additional source of nourishment...

Why is bone broth so good for our pets?

Bone broth, which is easily digestible, essential, anti-inflammatory, gut healing nutrients such as amino acids the building blocks of protein, easily absorbable forms of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, phosphorus and chondroitin, glucosamine & gelatin which have been released into the water as the bones have been simmered.

Can how this nutritious stock can therefore help support your pets? 

• A healthy gut and healthy digestion; the amino acid glycine stimulates the production of stomach acid and glutamine, another important amino acid which helps to maintain and restore the integrity of the gut lining. There is a strong link between gut health