Does your furry friend move stiffly after a nap or have difficulty getting up? These can be typical symptoms of osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease in dogs.

Often, osteoarthritis begins gradually and progresses throughout a dog's life. When you notice the first signs, you should act immediately, because at this point there are often already small changes in the joint that will not go away. This can lead to severe pain, which is why a visit to the veterinary practice is always advisable for an accurate diagnosis.

But don't worry: many dogs live happily and contentedly with mild osteoarthritis. By taking measures such as adapting their diet , you can slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and help your dog to remain mobile and as pain-free as possible.

A special diet to alleviate osteoarthritis can even be completely vegan. You can turn to a range of herbal supplements that can have a positive impact on your dog's joint health and counteract inflammatory reactions. And it gets even better: there is no scientific evidence that dietary products of animal origin are more effective than herbal products for osteoarthritis therapy.

Let's take a look at what nature has in store to prevent osteoarthritis and reduce the resulting discomfort.

Recognizing and interpreting symptoms

Arthritis often develops slowly and the first signs are often overlooked. In addition to lameness, limited joint mobility and a significant decrease in activity can occur as the pain restricts movement. This can lead to muscle wasting, which in turn can cause tension and further pain. Advanced osteoarthritis can cause hardening of bones, ligaments and cartilage, especially in commonly affected areas such as the knees, shoulders, hips and elbows. However, osteoarthritis can also occur in the paws or spine.

Home herbal remedies to treat pain and inflammation

Turmeric

Turmeric is a ginger plant from South Asia and contains the compound curcurmin, which has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect (Oliveira et al., 2015). In a study in which 18 dogs with osteoarthritis were given turmeric at a dose of 6.60 mg/kg body weight for 60 days, the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin was confirmed (Scorlon et al. 2016). These results are consistent with those of Colitti et al. (2012).

Salai tree

The salai tree is a tree from India whose resin is used for medicinal purposes.

Studies showed that boswellia resin administered to dogs for 6 weeks helped to reduce lameness (on exercise or after a long rest), local pain and stiff gait (Comblain et al., 2016).

Horsetail

Horsetail can even be found in our native meadows and has long been considered a medicinal plant. Its anti-inflammatory effect was described by Gründemann et al. (2014), for example.

Please note that you should not simply harvest field horsetail from the meadow to feed it to your dog. The horsetail must first be processed and tested for harmlessness by z.B. Contamination with pesticides or other plants that are toxic to dogs. Therefore, please always use a preparation that has been specially developed for dogs.

Devil's claw

Devil's claw is a South African plant that contains harpagoside as one of its main biologically active phyto-chemical compounds.

A large number of studies support the efficacy of harpagoside in relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis (see e.g. Gagnier et al., 2004). A herbal dietary supplement containing devil's claw demonstrated its anti-inflammatory effect in a study with dogs (Moreau et al., 2014).

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the dog's body and perform important functions in the organism. The most important plant-based food sources of omega-3 fatty acids are microalgae and plant-based edible oils such as linseed oil.

Studies have shown that the intake of omega-3 fatty acids improves the condition of dogs with osteoarthritis (Roush et al., 2010). In a study comparing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (can be obtained from algae, see Winwood, 2013) and α-linolenic acid (found in vegetable oils) in terms of their effect on cartilage degradation and joint inflammation, EPA proved to be the most effective omega-3 fatty acid (Hurst et al., 2010). The best plant source of EPA is algae oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium.

Our VISH OIL contains many omega-3 fatty acids and therefore EPA and DHA. This makes it ideal for dogs with osteoarthritis. We also offer it in our Pioneer Box Senior with our SENIOR wet food at a special price.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is conventionally extracted from shellfish. Recent studies use microbial fermentation by filamentous fungi or recombinant Escherichia coli as an alternative process for the production of glucosamine. This method also showed a significant improvement in pain in dogs with osteoarthritis when given glucosamine (Lowe, 2020). The MOBILITIES from VEGDOG contain glucosamine and are therefore a healthy and joint-supporting snack for your furry friend.

CBD oil

CBD oil is extracted from hemp and contains the active ingredient "cannabidiol" (CBD) in concentrated form, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties . A study conducted on Osteoarthorse also demonstrated a positive effect of CBD oil on the horse's willingness to move (Gamble Lauri-Jo, 2018). Incidentally, there is no need to worry about an intoxicating effect - the substance responsible for this in hemp, "tetrahydrocannabinol" (THC), is removed during the production of CBD oil.

By the way: our VEGGIES SKINCARE contains the valuable hemp.

Conclusion on herbal home remedies

As you can see, there are good herbal supplements available to support the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs.

But be careful: nevertheless, herbal products should not be fed indiscriminately. Some should only be given as a cure, while others are suitable for long-term therapy. Interactions with other foods must also be checked.

It is best to seek veterinary advice - now you are well informed about the vegan options.

It is also important to remember that these herbal remedies only have a supportive effect and will not completely eliminate osteoarthritis pain, let alone cure osteoarthritis (this is not possible). It is therefore extremely important to start additional pain therapy if necessary and to arrange regular veterinary check-ups.

5 measures to prevent osteoarthritis

• The right diet to prevent obesity
  
  Obesity damages the joints of our four-legged friends and can therefore promote osteoarthritis. As a rule of thumb, a dog's ribs should not be visible, but they should be noticeable.
• Individual exercise on surfaces that are easy on the joints
  
  Soft ground is also easier on the joints than walking on hard asphalt, which encourages joint wear and tear.
• Swimming
  
  Swimming supports muscle development without promoting joint wear and tear. Swimming is therefore often recommended for dogs that already suffer from osteoarthritis to counteract muscle loss.
• Support with stairs, cars or high bed edges
  
  Dogs are able to jump into a car or walk up the stairs on their own, but this is not always sensible above a certain height difference. Overloading the joints can be prevented by installing climbing aids or ramps, for example, which the furry friend can then use.
• Healthy diet
  
  As already mentioned, nutrition is crucial for supporting joint metabolism. Therefore, attention should be paid to the right dog food for the joints

Bibliography

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Comblain, F., Serisier, S., Barthelemy, N., Balligand, M., & Henrotin, Y. (2016). Review of dietary supplements for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs in studies from 2004 to 2014. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 39(1), 1-15.

Gründemann, C., Lengen, K., Sauer, B., Garcia-Käufer, M., Zehl, M., & Huber, R. (2014). Equisetum arvense (common horsetail) modulates the function of inflammatory immunocompetent cells. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14(1), 1-10.

Hurst, S., Zainal, Z., Caterson, B., Hughes, C. E., & Harwood, J. L. (2010). Dietary fatty acids and arthritis. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA), 82(4-6), 315-318.

Lowe, R. J. (2020). Evidence for the use of supplements in canine arthritis management. Veterinary Nursing Journal, 35(9-12), 353-357.

Moreau, M., Lussier, B., Pelletier, J. P., Martel-Pelletier, J., Bédard, C., Gauvin, D., & Troncy, E. (2014). A medicinal herb-based natural health product improves the condition of a canine natural osteoarthritis model: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Research in veterinary science, 97(3), 574-581.

Oliveira, A. S., Sousa, E., Helena Vasconcelos, M., & Pinto, M. (2015). Curcumin: a natural lead for potential new drug candidates. Current medicinal chemistry, 22(36), 4196-4232.

Roush, J. K., Dodd, C. E., Fritsch, D. A., Allen, T. A., Jewell, D. E., Schoenherr, W. D., ... & Hahn, K. A. (2010). Multicenter veterinary practice assessment of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on osteoarthritis in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 236(1), 59-66.

Sgorlon, S., Stefanon, B., Sandri, M., & Colitti, M. (2016). Nutrigenomic activity of plant derived compounds in health and disease: Results of a dietary intervention study in dog. Research in veterinary science, 109, 142-148.

Shoba, G.joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. S. R. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta medica, 64, 353-356.

Winwood, R. J. (2013). Recent developments in the commercial production of DHA and EPA rich oils from micro-algae. Ocl, 20(6), D604.

Gamble Lauri-Jo, Boesch Jordyn M., Frye Christopher W., Schwark Wayne S., et al. (2018). Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Clinical Efficacy of Cannabidiol Treatment in Osteoarthritic Dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 165