Health benefits to natural treats - Week five- Joint care

Your dog needs vitamins and organic compounds for balanced nutrition and normal growth. Dogs (like other animals and people) cannot produce vitamins and minerals naturally, so they have to consume them, and these vitamins and minerals also help with proper bodily function, including joints and bones.

Around 1 in 5 dogs in the UK are affected by osteoarthritis, and its prevalence increases as dogs age (Identifying Signs of Arthritis - Canine Arthritis Management, 2021). Whilst incurable, many dogs go on to live comfortable lives with the correct treatment.

A variety of compounds have been found to assist in symptom management, including Omega-3 (Moreau et al., 2012), Glucosamine and Chondroitin (Gupta et al., 2011), and Turmeric.

Arthritis and joint problems are on the increase to almost epidemic proportions in our dogs.

Research regarding arthritis and joint pain suggests that certain foods, treats, and additives can help alleviate the pain and stop the onset of these crippling diseases.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are the main building blocks for healthy joints and are natural compounds found in cartilage. They are the connective tissue that cushions the joints, - why give your dog supplements when they can get these the natural way - straight from the animal parts themselves. However, these treats should not be cooked they should be either raw or preferably air-dried. Cooking, especially at high temperatures can nullify the benefits and make the treats break into shards. Think chicken bones. You can give raw chicken carcasses to dogs, but as soon as you cook them they become dangerous.

Now a bit about Glucosamine and Chondroitin: These are naturally found in cartilage.

When dogs suffer from arthritis or bone and joint pain, these compounds can help to cushion and repair the area between joints where cartilage is missing, thin, or damaged.

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate are the primary triggers for glycosaminoglycan, a molecule used in the formation and repair of cartilageand other body tissues.

Similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucosamine sulphate has been shown to have unique anti-inflammatory effects.

Our top ten treats for keeping your dog joint healthy

1) Turkey Necks 2) Goose Feet 3) Lamb Feet 4) Duck Wings 5) Pig Tails 6) Trachea 7) Cow Ears 8) Buffalo Ears 9) Chicken Necks 10) Chicken Feet

There are further health benefits to these treats, and that is in teeth cleaning and satisfying a dog’s natural instinct and urge to chew and gnaw.