Arthritis in dogs can be hard to manage. Even in mild situations, routine physical exercise, such as an afternoon stroll, may be excruciatingly painful and lead to a cascade of other issues.
If you're anything like us, you've seen your dogs become increasingly unable to move for fear of suffering extreme pain.
Arthritis may affect any part of a dog's skeletal system, but it most often affects the joint tissues of the shoulders and hips.
Arthritis is most common in older dogs, but it can also be caused by infection or tissue deterioration as a result of an immune disorder's inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation in the tissue surrounding our pets' joints may result in cartilage and protective tissue loss that is irreversible.
Worst of all, it has the potential to negatively impact our dogs' quality of life. So, what can we do to reduce our dog's pain and get him up and going again?
Fortunately, research has uncovered several compounds that have been found to be incredibly helpful to our dogs suffering from joint issues.
Boswellia for dogs
Boswellia has been used to treat inflammatory disorders for centuries. It comes from the Boswellia serrata tree and is well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to address a variety of chronic conditions. The Boswellia tree can be found in northeastern Africa, parts of India, and the Red Sea area. It's been used to treat arthritis, nerve problems, urinary conditions, and diarrhea in the past. It is still used for the same ailments today.
The most common use of Boswellia in dog therapies is to manage mobility problems. We want our dogs to have a happy, safe, and playful life, and inflammation in the joints can make that difficult. That's where Boswellia comes into play. Boswellia can significantly reduce dog joint pain and inflammation, making playtime a possibility again, especially in combination with CBD.
Curcumin for dogs
Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric. Turmeric root contains the most active medicinal ingredient, curcumin. It is well-known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. Curcumin is also believed to have anti-cancer properties and to aid in wound healing. Other disorders that this compound can help with include diabetes, asthma, and liver disease.
The primary focus of using curcumin for dogs is on alleviating the aches and pains that come with arthritis. Curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects tend to reduce inflammation and, as a result, pain levels.
Curcumin functions in the body by manipulating enzymes and other biological components. Due to its beneficial effects in the body, it was dubbed "cure-cumin" in a study published in Biochemical Pharmacology. In another study, it was found to be even more effective as an anti-inflammatory than Ibuprofen.
Natural eggshell membrane
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Research & Reports, natural eggshell membrane (NEM) has been scientifically proven to relieve pain and improve function in dogs suffering from joint problems.
You've seen an eggshell membrane if you've ever peeled a hard-boiled egg. The egg white is separated from the eggshell by a transparent, white-ish film. If you haven't noticed this before, the next time you peel an egg, take a closer look and you'll notice you're peeling not only the hard shell but the membrane as well.
NEM can be extremely valuable to your dog as it includes easily digestible versions of chondroitin sulfate, collagen, glucosamine, and hyaluronic acid. And, NEM is consumed more efficiently than many other sources because eggs are one of the most bioavailable sources of protein.
Natural eggshell membrane also includes elastin, desmosine, and isodesmosine, in addition to the useful compounds described above. Elastin is a protein that aids in the health of the heart, skin, cartilage, and spine. Elastin is the protein that gives tissue its elasticity and ability to reshape after stretching. Desmosine and isodesmosine are amino acids that help the body retain its elasticity.
CBD for dogs
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years as a powerful analgesic. One of the ways it accomplishes this is by altering the way the central nervous system expresses pain sensations to the brain.
When a dog's joint tissue begins to deteriorate, for example, the damaged tissue instructs inflammatory and immune cells to begin repairing the damage. To trigger nerve receptors, the cells release chemicals and proteins. These nerves travel from the deteriorating joint to the spinal cord and then to the brain, causing our dog to experience pain. CBD can be used to successfully relieve discomfort by weakening pain signals.
CBD not only helps with pain management on a psychological level, but it also helps to prevent the physical problems that cause pain.
CBD and other compounds in hemp extract have been shown to minimize inflammation in the body. The discomfort that our dogs experience is often caused by inflammation in their joints (AKA arthritis). CBD, or hemp, addresses the source of the problem while also reducing the pain as we reduce inflammation.
The powerful combination of ingredients
When the above four compounds are combined, they work together to provide maximum value to your dog's body.
As you can see, each ingredient has a major impact on your dog's overall health.
If your dog is experiencing any sort of joint or mobility issues, these are the ingredients you want to look for. Unfortunately, they are often provided separately and you, as your dog's pet parent, would provide a handful of supplements.
Canine Cush allows you to provide all of them as one delicious soft chew for your dog. Easy for you to administer, 100% natural, effective AND safe for your dog? Sounds like a no-brainer.