What Can I Do to Support My Pet’s Mobility?
October 11, 2021It goes without saying that a pet’s mobility is an important part of its quality of life. Many breeds of dogs such as golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, and dachshunds are prone to arthritis and mobility problems. It is ideal to prevent mobility issues before they become a problem, so let’s take a look at how we can make that happen.
The importance of keeping your pet at a healthy weight cannot be overstated. Many scientific studies have shown that pets that are at a healthy weight live longer and develop chronic diseases, such as arthritis, at an older age than pets that are overweight or obese. It has also been shown that lameness due to arthritis can significantly improve with just weight loss alone.
Exercise is essential to maintain good mobility, but the types of exercises matter a lot. Low-impact activities such as swimming, leash walking, or underwater treadmill workouts are great for dogs that have mobility issues. Any activity that puts more strain on the joints, such as running, jogging, or jumping to catch a ball or a frisbee, should be avoided, as this can increase inflammation and pain, and therefore, decrease mobility.
Supporting the joints with high-quality supplements helps to maintain the health of the bones, cartilage, and joint fluid. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties relieve pain and swelling and improve mobility. Some veterinarians recommend starting joint supplements as young as 8 weeks old in puppies that are prone to developing arthritis.
Vital Pet Life Plus Mobility Powder is a proprietary blend of green-lipped mussel, krill extract, certified organic flaxseed, and alfalfa protein. These sustainably-sourced ingredients encourage tendon, cartilage, and tissue growth, while promoting collagen formation and flexibility.[AD1] The Vital Pet Life Plus Mobility Powder is a great addition to Vital Pet Life’s product line that includes Salmon Oil and Liquid Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM.
The Mobility Powder is the first product in Vital Pet Life’s Plus line of symptom-focused proprietary products for dogs and cats. Currently Vital Pet Life offers Salmon Oil and Liquid Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM.
References
Activity modifications for dogs with arthritis. Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE). Available at https://caninearthritis.org/article/activity-modifications/.
Joint supplements for dogs: The helpful vs. the hype. DVM360 website. Available at https://www.dvm360.com/view/joint-supplements-dogs-helpful-vs-hype.
Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;220(9):1315-20.
Impellizeri JA, Tetrick MA, Muir P. Effect of weight reduction on clinical signs of lameness in dogs with hip osteoarthritis. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000;216(7):1089-91.
Salt C, Morris PJ, Wilson D, et al. Association between life span and body condition in neutered client-owned dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2019;33(1):89-99.
[AD1] This statement was taken from the press release draft.