Jointcare for Dogs – Should you be Feeding a Supplement?

Jointcare for Dogs – Should you be feeding a supplement?

As dogs grow older or recover from injury, they may be slower or less mobile than they used to be. This can be a sign that they need a bit of extra support for their joints – but why is this?

Joint issues in dogs:

Wear and tear of joints is a widespread issue, not just in humans and horses, but also in dogs. It is important that the health and comfort of dogs is as good as possible through the support and maintenance of joint tissues.

As of 2018, it was estimated than nine million dogs were owned as pets in the UK alone, and joint stiffness and discomfort are relatively prevalent in dogs (PFMA, 2018). Canine joint issues affect dogs and dog owners, and the health and comfort of a dog can be severely compromised as discomfort and stiffness progress. Sometimes joint issues arise from genetics or other factors that cannot be controlled – but often it is as a result of ageing, injury, or obesity. Regardless of the cause, the mechanisms of joint issues are broadly similar.

The science behind our supplements:

Joint discomfort and stiffness often occur as a result of damaged or dysfunctional cartilage. They are complex issues, and risk factors are mostly unknown (particularly in non-human animals). However, we do know a lot about cartilage and its structure. Cartilage does not have its own blood supply – instead, its nutrients to maintain health are obtained from synovial fluid that surrounds and lubricates the joint. Hyaluronic acid is an important component of synovial fluid, and glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen are all necessary for a joint to function properly. Collagen is particularly important, as it forms the internal structural framework of cartilage, providing strength, flexibility and acting as a shock absorbing cushion.

Regenerative mechanisms can also become less effective with age, meaning that it takes longer to recover from injuries or trauma. There will be low levels of inflammation after exercise in the joint and muscle as part of the healing process, but this inflammation can become damaging to the body if it is prolonged. Supporting your dog’s own anti-inflammatory processes can help to reduce this damaging inflammation, helping with comfort and mobility.

Our Cortaflex Working Dog Powder contains all of these vital ingredients to help maintain healthy cartilage and synovial fluid in carefully formulated proportions to support active and hardworking dogs. Our Canine and Feline Cortaflex Capsules also contain glucosamine, and other plant-based ingredients to support the synthesis of collagen and cartilage. Both of our canine Cortaflex products contain Boswellia with high levels of the active ingredient, which helps to support your pet’s own anti-inflammatory processes. The Working Dog Powder contains Boswellia in the form of Aqualox – which you can read more about here. So, whether your dog is very active and experiencing wear and tear, or is getting older and is slightly less mobile, our Canine Cortaflex products can help support and protect your pet’s joints.