We've talked about brain and skin/coat health before and next on the list is joint health. Maintaining healthy joints allows your pet to do all of the things they love including running, jumping, rolling around in the grass, sleeping in patches of sun and exploring cluttered shelves and sunny bushes. There are many things which can positively or negatively affect the joints of your furry friend. 

Things that can negatively affect your pets joint health includes: 

             Genetic conditions; dog breeds like Rottweilers, Dachshunds, terriers; cat breeds like Scottish folds, Burmese, Maine Coons and Abyssinians.

           Age; cats over 12 years old often have arthritis in their elbows, hips and spines. Geriatric dogs also experience joint pain. 

           Weight; over-weight dogs and cats add stress and excess fat on the cartilage and joints. 

          Diet; missing, or an excess of, nutrients in your pets diet may be playing with inflammation in your pet's body, causing swelling or the break down of important fats around the joints. 

         Injury: a physical injury including a sprain, tear or break can cause short-term and long-term joint pain.

You can recognise if your pet is suffering from joint pain if they have reduced movement, if they wince or whimper when they move or when you gently touch the limb, if you can see visible swelling or if they avoid walking or sitting/laying on the joint. If your pet exhibits any of these behaviours, it may be best to pursue the opinion of a vet. There are palliative and preventative measures you can make at home to help your pet's joint health.

A good diet is a huge part of your pet's health. Important nutrients and vitamins like proteins, fatty acids, carbohydrates and hydration all improve joint health. Our Bella and Boots food packs are specially formulated, packed full of these vital nutrients, to do the most for your pets health. One of our food packs, the Organic Beef and Turmeric, was created specifically to fight inflammation. Turmeric is reportedly excellent for joint pain as it clears out the gut and reduces inflammation. The important proteins found in beef also contributes to regenerating and strengthening the fat cells around the joints. Fatty acids like Omega-3 are also vital for protecting and healing joints. Hydration and fibre are other vital aspects of diet to protect joint health. 

You can read more about the herbs and vegetables in our food packs here, and the importance of raw meat here.