Arthritis help 4 your pets and u (Happy early fathers day!)

So you don’t NEED to be a father to benefit from this newsletter, but as I am one and there is an arbitrary day… well I’m taking advantage of it 🙂

One of the many things we pet parents have in common with our dogs and cats is aging… we ALL get older. We have joint wear and tear… bone rubbing on bone… and this leads to Osteoarthritis.

All my aging critters have had this… and I think I have some of this now 🙁  There are many-a-supplement that can help, but in my opinion *every* arthritic animal (dog/cat/person), can benefit from a good quality essential fatty acid supplement!

Dr Jones’ ULTIMATE Omega 3 supplement for Dogs and Cats comes to mind, so each morning I am popping a few, and then I happily let Tula have some as well.

Here I am with my current aging/mildly arthritic dog Tula, and the 2nd pic is of my ‘human’ offspring Aliza with our last aging cat Murray, who also had some arthritis.

And ALL of us regularly take the Omega 3 supplement 🙂

10 Safe Natural Anti-inflammatories For Arthritis and Pain Relief

As we, humans, age we start to slow down and develop body aches here and there. Our pets go through something similar too. They develop arthritis and other issues as they grow older. In fact, there’s a 65% chance your dogs develops arthritis at the age of 7 and 30% chance your cats will develop it by age 6.

Humans usually opt for conventional medicines to address these body pains. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the top most remedy for humans and pets alike because they are great at suppressing inflammation. However, they also cause various side effects. The most common ones are vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, and diarrhea.

There are also severe side effects like intestinal ulcers, seizures, liver failure, kidney failure, and even death. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are pretty strong drugs that suppress inflammation but they need to be metabolized which causes the liver disease.

These drugs also block the release of protective hormones called prostaglandins in the stomach which can lead to stomach irritation and gastric ulceration.

Drug companies have since come up with suppose to be safer anti-inflammatory drugs but unfortunately studies also show that these newer, safer drugs also double the risk of heart attack and stroke.

So, what can we do to avoid these side effects?

Are there options that offer relief without the severe side effects?

Yes, that option exists and natural is probably the way to go. Here are some of the effective natural anti-inflammatory remedies you can try at home.

1. Essential Fatty Acids (Flax oil, Fish oil or Krill oil)

They are great and safe for both cats and dogs but it should be given at high enough dose over a longer period. The therapeutic dose would be 500mg per 20lbs of body weight given daily. It has direct anti-inflammatory benefits and helps work in conjunction with conventional drugs or other natural anti-inflammatory herbs. One great options is Dr Jones’ ULTIMATE Omega 3 for Dogs and Cats

2. Arnica 30c

This option is of the base homeopathic remedy which is a great relief for acute injury, muscle pain & stiffness, swelling from injuries. The dosage is 1 capsule per 10lbs of body weight every 2-4 hours for acute injury and 1 capsule per day for long term use. This remedy is not difficult to administer. You can just put the capsule under your dog’s lips and have him slowly absorb and/or swallow it.

3. Quercetin

Quercetin is also known as “nature’s Benadryl”. This is a bioflavonoid, a naturally occurring component found in high concentrations in the peel of apples. Flavonoids are not just powerful anti-oxidant but it has anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine characteristics too. This is great for cats and dogs that have urinary tract disease and going through painful, inflamed bladders. The dosage is 20-25mg per 10lbs of body weight to be given daily. We now have our own Quercetin supplement here

4. Green tea

Believed to be one of the healthiest beverages on earth, green tea, it is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that bring impressive benefits to our body. Your pet can enjoy the same benefits too. You can make a cup of green tea using a tablespoon of green tea then add that to your dog’s water twice a day. For specific dosage, we are looking at ¼ cup/10lbs daily or 10mg/10lbs daily.

5. 95% Curcuminoids

Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory which and even proven to be more effective than ibuprofen. Aside from anti-inflammatory properties, it also contains anti-oxidants which make it great for arthritis and other joint pains. The dose should be 50-100mg per 10lbs of body weight daily – depending on your pet’s size or level of arthritis. I am finding it to be especially helpful when I have joint pain. Our NEW 95% curcumin supplement is especially bioavailable, meaning it is far better absorbed and much more likely to help!

6. Boswellia Serrata

Boswellia is an herb traditionally used in India to treat arthritis and help boost the immune system. It’s also known as Frankincense and also used to treat other conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and heart disease. To get sufficient anti-inflammatory benefit, we are looking at the dose of 10-20mg per 10lbs of body weight per day.

7. Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense essential oil is basically resinous extracts derived from Boswellia tree. This oil may be used in two different ways. It can be applied topically by adding 2-5 drops mixed with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. Apply topically by massaging it onto dog’s knees and other sore areas. Another way is to take it orally. It must be cautiously given to your dog. Always dilute 1-2 drops of Frankincense essential oil in your dog’s water daily. Also, always remember not orally give any essential oil to your cat.

8. CBD or Cannabidiol. This is the non psychoactive medicinal part of the cannabis plant which has research showing it to be a VERY effective Natural Anti-inflammatory. It is working well for Arthritis, pain relief, Auto-immune disease, including Allergies. Dose is 1mg/10lbs of body weight twice daily.

9. Heat therapy. I have personally been using a heated pad around my painful joint, and 5 minutes twice a day has been very helpful! You can use an electric heating pad over top of a thin towel on your dog/cat.

10. Acupressure/Acupuncture. I am getting regular acupuncture, and it has been incredibly helpful for pain relief. Many pets really do benefit from this. Another option is Acupressure, in which you are pressing over top of the acupuncture points. I often did this for my last dog Lewis, and her responded fabulously 🙂 You can see more about acupressure on our Youtube channel here… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxg68xV1Oxg

Best Wishes,

Dr Andrew

P.S. If you are a Father… well Happy Father’s Day! If you or your pets have some arthritis… consider a few of the above remedies 🙂

P.P.S. Essential Fatty Acids are the very first supplements I advised clients to give to their pets in practice 30 years ago.

They have numerous potential health benefits (i.e. Allergies, Arthritis, Inflammatory Disorders etc), BUT it is important that you are not giving one that may contain harmful toxins.