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Common home remedies for relieving joint pain in dogs

Common home remedies for relieving joint pain in dogs

Just like humans, dogs can also experience severe joint pain. It can occur due to aging or other health conditions that have started to affect their joint health. In such situations, it is important to follow treatment plans recommended by the vet while taking some pain management measures at home to provide comfort and relief to the furry companions. Several common dog joint pain relief home remedies can be used to alleviate their discomfort.

Common home remedies for joint pain relief in dogs
Before introducing any home remedy to your pet, consult a vet first. They can help determine the most effective and appropriate ways that do not cause side effects or worsen the symptoms.

Manage the weight of the dog
When a dog is overweight, the joints endure more pressure, further aggravating pain and discomfort. Besides, the additional body fat can cause joint inflammation, worsening symptoms. Therefore, managing the weight can help provide some relief from the pain. 

And if the pet is healthy and fit, it is important to maintain the weight at healthy levels. The ideal weight for pets is based on the breed, size, and age of the dog.

Follow regular exercises
A dog with joint pain may find it extremely difficult to move and may not be as active or playful as before due to the pain. However, it is important to encourage the pet to move a little bit to improve joint health. This can be achieved by making the dog perform a few low-impact exercises, such as swimming and short walks, instead of regular long walks twice a day. Frequent shorter walks may be more useful to get relief from joint pain. Over time, if the dogs show any signs of improvement, the duration of the walk can be increased. These kinds of low-impact activities will help strengthen the dog’s muscles and improve joint health while also increasing energy levels and interest in activities.

Enroll them for at-home physical therapy
Physical therapies are also a great way to get relief from joint pain. Moreover, such therapies help to improve the pet’s mobility as well. To do this, one can hire a trained practitioner to conduct the initial sessions. This way, one can learn the safe and effective ways of helping the dog perform physical therapy exercises. Most of the time, the activities that are done are quite simple; they include stretching, range-of-motion exercises, walking through and around obstacles in a controlled manner, and swimming, among others. Often, the activities may need to be adjusted over time in case the pain symptoms improve or the dog requires attention in other areas.

Heat therapy and cold therapy
Applying ice packs is another useful home remedy for relieving joint pain in dogs. Wrap the pack in a towel and place it on the areas where the muscles feel stiff. Similarly, a warm towel wrapped around the affected joints can also provide relief from the pain.