Like their human friends and caregivers, dogs can experience joint pain. Joint pain in dogs is most often caused by arthritis, though hip dysplasia, obesity and Lyme's disease can also cause joint pain in dogs. Natural remedies for dogs with joint pain include apple cider vinegar, dietary changes, and habitat changes.
If you do not know why your dog has joint pain, a diagnosis from a veterinarian will help you to narrow down the best natural cures for your dog. Several of the remedies listed will help with joint pain, irregardless of the cause.
A daily dose of apple cider vinegar for your dog will help to alkalize his body, which can reduce pain. Apple cider vinegar can be added to your dog's food or water bowl each day. Start with about 1 teaspoon of raw and organic apple cider vinegar for each 50 pounds of weight. Some dogs actually enjoy the taste.
Because coconut oil is such a versatile remedy, it can be used for joint pain no matter what the cause. It is an easy addition to your dog's diet. Start with 1 teaspoon per 50 pounds of weight daily. You can increase the dose to twice or even thrice a day if it suits your dog. It could cause loose stools, so increase the dose slowly. We recommend that you try to find a brand of virgin coconut oil that is organic and fair trade.
Vitamin C can help with joint pain from arthritis and infections. Small dogs can take 500 mg daily. Medium dogs can take 1,000 mg daily. Extra large dogs can take 2,000 mg daily. If this does not seem to be helping your dog, you can give the dose twice daily. We particularly like this Ester C for Dogs.
If you dog's joint pain is caused by a tick borne disease, colloidal silver is a simple remedy. It is ideal if you have your own silver generator; then you can be liberal with the dose without having a great expense. Because it is tasteless, it is easy to add to your dog's water bowl. For small dogs, add 1 teaspoon to his water bowl each day. For a large dog, add 1 tablespoon to his water bowl each day. If you make your own and are not seeing results you can double or triple the daily dose.
If you'd prefer to buy a bottle of colloidal silver, stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts carry several good brands of Colloidal Silver. You can also find online at Amazon here.
There are a number of supplements on the market that are designed to bring pain relief and even healing from joint pain for dogs. Follow package directions for dosing amounts and frequencies. Look for combinations that contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which help with pain, and MSM and hyaluronic acid which can even bring healing to damaged joints.
Many dog owners find that high quality dog food makes a big difference in a dog's health. Grain free dog foods and raw diets have helped many dogs with chronic health problems.
If your dog is overweight the dietary changes may help with the extra weight, which in turn can alleviate stress on the joints, decreasing pain.
Make sure your dog has a draft free place to rest and sleep, ideally with a dog bed or plenty of blankets or cushion to sleep on. If your dog's living quarters are damp, a dehumidifier can help. Cold, moist air usually makes pain worse. A dehumidifier can help with this issue. If given the opportunity, many dogs will be happy to sleep and rest in front of a fireplace or wood stove. The warm and dry air is comforting to them!
If your dog does not have access to regular exercise, find a way to provide this for him. Strong muscles around the joints will reduce joint stress.
Has your dog experienced joint pain? How did you help him? Please share you story with us! Continue reading to learn what our readers have used to treat their dog's joint pain.
