Supporting Your Dog’s Joints Through Natural Supplementation

Part of being a good dog mom involves understanding any potential health risks or hazards that are common in your dog’s breed and taking any necessary precautions to help your dog stay happy and healthy. 

My corgi, Scout, is now 6 ½ years old.  Corgis are one of the few dog breeds that have characteristically long backs, which means they are susceptible to spinal and vertebral issues.  It’s important to keep corgis active and free of excess weight so their hips, backbone and shoulders can continue to support the spinal cord sufficiently.  But corgis aren’t the only breed that can experience disc or joint issues and require such diligence.  Dachshunds and Basset Hounds are fellow long-backed breeds, many large-breed dogs (such as German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain dogs) are prone to hip or elbow dysplasia, and others like Rottweilers, Mastiffs and Great Danes can experience arthritis and joint problems.

Since I want my Scout to enjoy a healthy life for many years to come, I have started to take some proactive measures to ensure his joints and ligaments stay supple and in good working order long into his post middle-age years.  I recently discovered two fantastic organic supplements that were designed to counteract canine joint and ligament problems – and they involve all whole-food ingredients!  They are Canine Flex Support and Canine Musculoskeletal Support, both from the Veterinary Formula line of the highly-esteemed Standard Process company.

My husband has been using Standard Process whole-food supplements in his alternative healthcare practice for over 20 years and swears by them.  I have taken many of their supplements myself to balance out what so many of the foods in our society no longer provide to us nutritionally.  We have visited the Standard Process headquarters in Palmyra, Wisconsin and have taken tours of their certified-organic farm and processing facility.  It is quite an impressive operation, and since 1929 Standard Process has been dedicated to providing nutritional supplements that support the whole food philosophy, preparing their ingredients in a way that safeguards their nutritional value through holistic engineering.   (To learn more about this philosophy, visit their website at www.standardprocess.com).

I’m a big advocate for using whole-food items in my dog’s diet and treat intake as compared to purchasing items that contain mostly artificial ingredients and processed filler - including many wheat, corn and grain ingredients that are difficult for our dogs’ bodies to process efficiently, usually resulting in gastric upset and/or the storage of excess fat cells.  There are too many items out there on the market today that are similar to the poor quality that has taken over our own food industry.  What I love most about these Standard Process canine supplements, other than that they actually work to keep my dog healthy, is the ingredient list!

Canine Flex Support helps maintain healthy joint function by moderating your dog’s natural inflammatory response and providing potent antioxidants.  It can be given as short or long-term maintenance support to any dog but is particularly helpful for active, performance and aging dogs.  These tasty little wafers can be eaten like a treat – Scout happily gobbles his up twice a day!  They contain natural glucosamine (from shellfish), chondroitin (from a bovine source), vitamin E (from sunflower), as well as some honey, ginger root and turmeric (which have anti-inflammatory properties). 

Going one step further is the Canine Musculoskeletal Support.  This supplement provides a wide range of essential nutrients to target the many aspects of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels, as well as the critical organs that regulate these tissues – the kidneys, liver and adrenal glands.  This powder formula can easily be given with food and a little bit of water or unsweetened applesauce mixed in.  To cover so many tissue functions, this product contains a plethora of canine-healthy ingredients, such as veal bone, bovine trachea, carrot, alfalfa juice, beet root, and buckwheat leaf juice to name a few.  Think of this like a multivitamin for any growing, working or senior dog!

Before starting any supplemental regimen, it is best to consult your veterinarian.  You can find Standard Process supplements like these at vet hospitals that integrate holistic medicine, such as Full Circle Vet Hospital in Wappingers Falls.  Dr. Michelle Rocque is a big fan of prevention, comprehensive wellness plans and building good pet health from the inside out.  You can find her and her staff at 1609 Route 9, Wappingers Falls.
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Here’s to healthy joints and happy, active pups for many years to come!