If your dog/cat is getting older (5 yrs and above), a joint supplement may be a good idea as a preventative.
This is especially important for long bodied dogs like sausage dogs, hounds etc and larger/heavier dogs.
If your dog/cat isn’t showing signs of joint pain, you are lucky & can get started with a preventative supplement now!
If your dog/cat is already showing signs of joint problems like stiffness when walking or getting up/down stairs, or even worse, not lifting the head due to neck pain, get onto a strong supplement right away, and if possible, get acupuncture or cold laser treatment or PEMF as well. See below for more information.
A warning about NSAID pain killers from your vet…avoid this if possible. Why? It is not a long term solution, it only masks the pain and it is very damaging to the kidneys. We must always do everything we can to preserve our pet’s kidneys because once they go downhill, there is no turning back.
Supplements worth looking into include a commercially available joint supplement that contains turmeric, glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM etc. Some examples of what has worked for my dogs are shown below.
For humans and dogs with arthritis or joint problems. Try it – some people or dogs have found great improvement in only one or two days.
Note that most cats may not like the taste but many dogs are ok with it. Even my husband takes this!
Dosage – start with 1/2 teaspoon twice daily and increase if no improvement. If diarrhea occurs, reduce amount.
Recipe – 1. Ingredients – turmeric powder, coconut oil, whole black peppercorns.
2. Cooking method:
a. Use stainless steel pot and spoon. b. On low-medium heat for 8-10 minutes, cook 1/2 cup turmeric powder mixed with 1 cup drinking water. Keep stirring with spoon.
The mixture will be like a thick paste. Don’t burn it. Should simmer gently.
c. Take pot away from heat and add 1/3 coconut oil and 1 1/2 teaspoon ground black peppercorns, mix well.
d. After cooling, store the paste in clean glass jars with lids. Put in fridge. e. Keeps fresh for ~2 weeks in fridge.
*Buy organic turmeric, black peppercorns, coconut oil if possible. Some tumeric is contaminated with lead if from India. I source mine from a local organic farmer.
Acupuncture for joint /back pain & osteoarthritis
Acupuncture can be a miracle treatment for joint pain, back pain and osteoarthritis for dogs and cats.
The trick is to do it as often as possible if your pet is already experiencing pain. It only works if done regularly…which could be daily or every other day during the crisis period and them spaced out to once or twice weekly once pain is under control.
We are lucky to have found a magician of an acupuncturist who has even helped the above pictured rescue cat regain the ability to walk again after being paralyzed from a car accident.
Cold laser treatment
Cold laser can work like a miracle treatment for some ailments such as joint or muscle pain and inflammation. It can also help relieve stomatitis in cats (which is what my car Kiwi is being treated for in the photo).
This one is from MyPetLaser and cost about USD3,000. Yep it’s not cheap but I use it on multiple animals for various ailments and even on myself.
Each treatment cycle is 5 mins for general pain or inflammation. Place it over the muscle or around the joint area. Avoid direct placement on bone/spine. There is no feeling from the laser during the treatment and it’s very safe to use. In the US, many vet clinics rent them out to pet owners but not where I live in Taiwan.
*Caution: do not use on any animal or human with cancer as it may stimulate cancer cell growth.
PEMF therapy (pulsed electromagnetic field)
I have a cat with stomatitis as well! And further research I did online reveals it could be very helpful for joint pain, kidney disease and even …cancer. I have animals with all those diseases so will give it a go. Updates on this will be separately posted.
Weight matters
I know it is a challenge but getting your dog/cat to a healthy weight is vitally important for their longevity and happiness.
Pet Health Remedies 