What’s the Best Natural Anti-Inflammatory for Dogs?
Giving your pet a healthy and happy life is very important. It is your responsibility as the owner to make sure that you take appropriate steps to provide a comfortable environment for your dog. This includes taking the animal to a vet, giving it the right essentials and spending time with the animal.
However, many pets suffer from pain caused due to a variety of reasons. Pain management may seem easy, but it’s actually quite difficult to find suitable anti-inflammatory treatments that really work. Pain and inflammation could be caused due to an allergic skin problem, or OA.
Natural Treatments
Thankfully, instead of giving your dog opioids or opting for harmful medication that could have some serious side effects, you may want to consider going for natural treatments. There are quite a few available in the market that will help the animal feel better and become more at peace.
In the following paragraphs, we shall discuss some of the most common natural anti-inflammatory for dogs.
Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the best natural anti-inflammatory options available to you. Even a little bit of turmeric can have lots of positive effects. Turmeric is a spice that humans have been using for centuries. It has been primarily used because of its anti-inflammatory properties and has also become an excellent choice for dogs.
While the anti-inflammatory effects of turmeric have been recorded quite frequently in humans and are very well documented, the research is still ongoing. However, preliminary studies have shown that it can have a calming effect and reduce inflammation by a considerable margin.
Fish Oil
Then, you have fish oil. Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and EPA. In fact, there are peer-reviewed journals that highlight the sheer plethora of positive effects that fish oil offers. You may want to consider getting in touch with your vet in order to figure out the best fish oil regimen based on the size of your dog.
Despite the dosage given on the bottle, it’s recommended that you stick with the dosage prescribed by your vet. They understand the needs of the animal better and will also be able to guide you about the best brand to choose from.
CBD Oil
One of the most commonly used options for treating inflammation and managing pain in humans and dogs alike is CBD oil. There has been considerable research regarding CBD oil, and it has been proven beyond doubt that CBD oil can have positive effects for both animals and dogs.
In fact, it’s been shown that CBD oil can even improve mobility in certain dogs that are suffering from a bad case of arthritis. That’s primarily because of CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties. While extensive research is required in order to figure out to just what extent CBD oil can be of help, it’s easy to understand that CBD oil is a fantastic choice for treating pain.
Due to the different regulations from one state to another, finding CBD oil might be a bit difficult. However, there are a number of major companies that are now offering CBD oils that are created specifically for pets. These are excellent because the animal doesn’t have much of a problem in consuming them.
Shellfish Extracts
If you are new to anti-inflammatory treatments, you should know that shellfish extracts are an excellent addition to your pet’s diet. For instance, green-lipped mussels contain lots of DHA and EPA, and also contain other substances that have been known to reduce the instances of inflammation.
They also contain glucosamine, which is known for fighting inflammation and is readily found in cartilage and the shell of a shellfish. Finding shellfish extracts isn’t difficult either; you can simply talk to your local animal feed store and they will recommend viable options available in the market.
A number of local companies have begun to offer shellfish extracts that are canned and available for pets as well. Giving your animal these extracts is a great idea and will help reduce the inflammation overall in its body.
Regular Exercise
Almost all experts agree that the best way to reduce inflammation is to make sure that your dog gets appropriate amounts of exercise. Exercise is essential, even for older dogs. Altering the levels of activity in your animal is important because it will ensure that your dog is able to manage the pain effectively.
For instance, older dogs don’t need to run all the time but they do need a walk at least once in the day. This is essential and will help your dog manage its condition in a better manner. Remember that if your dog is gaining weight rapidly, it’s only going to put undue stress on the animal and this is just going to cause it more pain.
By giving your dog several opportunities to burn calories during the course of the day, you will ensure that your animal remains healthy and fit.
A Good Diet
The best thing that you can do for your animal is to feed it a good diet. Almost every expert in the world agrees that feeding your dog a balanced diet is a great way to manage its condition better. You might want to sit down with your vet in order to create a nutrition plan that best fits your animal’s requirements.
As your dog continues to age, its dietary requirements are going to evolve as well. When the dog is young, it runs around quite a bit, so it needs lots of food. Energy is released in surges for these animals, so it’s important that your dog gets lots of food. However, as the animal continues to age, its activity levels start to change.
It becomes less inquisitive and needs more rest as well. As a result, feeding the same thing to your dog as you did when it was a pup is not recommended. Instead, you should continue to make changes to the dog’s diet accordingly as it grows. The best way to do that is by consulting with your vet. They will recommend the best course of action that you need to take.
These are just some of the best things that you can give your dog in order to manage its pain in a better way and ensure that it lives a good, healthy life.
