Understanding Joint Health in Pets: Key Factors Influencing Mobility

Running, jumping, stretching, playing, all these are components of an active lifestyle for your pet. But when concerned cat and dog parents notice their pets shying away from doing these simple activities they used to enjoy, it could be due to a loss of mobility brought on by a decline in joint health. Cats and dogs affected by common joint conditions are often experiencing chronic pain and that can seriously impact their quality of life over the long-term.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your cat or dog's mobility by addressing the barriers to joint health that your pet may be experiencing. Whether it's the need to manage arthritis, reduce body weight, or develop a proper nutrition regimen, your pet's joint care should be a priority to keep them happy and healthy.

But in order to take the right steps towards staving off joint problems, it's important to understand what can limit and increase mobility in pets and how to navigate the risk factors associated with joint disease and other related ailments.

Is Your Pet Experiencing Joint Pain?

The clinical signs that your pet is having mobility issues due to joint instability and pain are easier to spot in dogs than cats. That's because cats are often better at concealing pain and illness so it's crucial that you recognize even the slightest hint at marked changes in your pet's behavior.

For cats, the discomfort may be evident in the way they change their patterns in their daily actions and routines, opting to avoid situations in which they are forced to overexert themselves. Cats experiencing joint pain will demonstrate difficulty jumping to or from surfaces they previously frequented on a regular basis. You may notice your cat walking with a rounded posture or avoiding mobility altogether, choosing to curl up in one location for long periods of time instead of chasing after a toy or playing with their siblings. Weight gain and reduced muscle mass along the back legs are also indicators that your cat may be having mobility challenges due to joint health. You may also notice your cat is grooming themselves less than normal and any attempt you make to touch or brush your cat's hind leg area is met with hissing or swatting, suggesting some certain level of discomfort or dysfunction in the affected area.

For dogs, the signs are similar in that your pup will lose interest in the behaviors, routines, and actions they once enjoyed. Getting up the stairs is now a monumental task fraught with hesitation and labored steps. Lying down and rising up from a sleeping position also takes all of your pet’s strength and willpower. Playtime looks very different, as running and jumping are replaced by limping and favoring one or more legs in a gait that looks as painful as it feels in a reduced range of motion. You may also notice your dog licking excessively at one or more paws, this is a common indicator your pet is in pain and if joint pain is the reason why, you’re going to want to take steps to solve the problem as fast as possible.

Common Causes for Declining Joint Health in Pets

A variety of causes can have a negative impact on your pet’s joint health and when your cat or dog's condition is getting worse, the best way to have a positive impact for alleviating pain and discomfort is to better understand the primary causes of joint pain.

The two most prevalent contributors to joint disease in both dogs and cats are obesity and osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritic pets suffer from degenerative joint disease which is a progressive loss of joint cartilage often associated with senior dogs and cats but, in reality, can affect pets of all ages.

That eventual loss of cartilage results in the joint becoming very painful as the bones come into contact with one another and rub together which triggers inflammation and makes it very painful to move. This isn't a curable body condition but it can be managed through dietary supplements and other remedies that offer health benefits to reduce pain and improve mobility.

There are certain cat breeds and dog breeds at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis in some form or another. These include Abyssinian, Himalayan, Maine coon, Persian, and Siamese cats while some dog breeds more susceptible to the effects of canine osteoarthritis are German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and Rottweilers.

But while some breeds are more likely to develop arthritis symptoms in their lifetime, genetic disposition is just one part of the equation. Cats and dogs with medical conditions such as elbow or hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament disease, repetitive high-impact movements, previous injuries and other forms of trauma, and illnesses including diabetes and cancer.

The Importance of Weight Management

Obesity is the other leading cause of joint problems in pets, both young and old, as it will often accelerate the aging process of the joints. Putting additional excess weight on a dog’s or cat’s joints leads to undue stress and forces the joints to work harder to support the weight.

Weight management can reduce pain in obese dogs and overweight cats as obesity contributes to osteoarthritis by decreasing the fluid in the joints causing the cartilage to lose its structural integrity and eventually erode. Changing your pet’s diet to ensure proper nutrition and encouraging your pet to get more physical activity are actions that place a stronger emphasis on weight reduction which can have a significant positive impact on your pet’s joint health and mobility. Exercise plays a big role in whether or not your pet starts to develop joint disease and moderate exercise can maintain joint flexibility and help to ward off or slow the deterioration of the joint.

What You Can Do to Slow the Progression of Joint Disease in Your Pet

If you notice your pet is exhibiting common symptoms of joint pain and joint disease, first talk to your veterinarian to find out what could be causing your pet’s discomfort and discuss some solutions for addressing the problem.

In addition to maintaining a healthy weight and making sure your pet gets plenty of exercise on a daily basis, your vet may suggest one of the many dietary supplements that are specially formulated for joint health and support in dogs or cats. These include Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils, Hyaluronic acid, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant components, and CBD oil as another anti-inflammatory solution.

Your pet’s biofield is another way to help support joint health and reduce pain and inflammation. All living things have a biofield which encompasses the life force energy that flows through all of us. Traditional Chinese Medicine has used the biofield to heal and prevent illness and disease as well as alleviate pain and discomfort for thousands of years, most notably with acupuncture. Bioresonance energy, a method of healing and protection used in the healthcare and holistic veterinary sciences for over twenty years, targets the biofield and manipulates it to induce the body’s natural healing responses and stimulates healing and recovery at a cellular level.

The BioPower Pet Mobility Magic Tag and BioPower Pet Mobility Magic Spray each contain the bioresonance therapeutic energy that works by interacting with your pet’s biofield to relieve stiffness and inflammation in the joints. Both products offer a highly effective solution for slowing the progress of joint disease by getting to the root cause of the problem and not just masking the painful symptoms like some topical cream and prescription medications do when trying to bring your pet much-needed relief.

Eliminating the cause is best for getting rid of the symptoms of pain and inflammation and you can do your part by ensuring your pet gets the best possible support for their joint health with BioPower Pet products.