Holistic Treatments for Dogs With Arthritis
Dealing with dog arthritis can be challenging, but holistic care can make a significant difference. Like people, dogs feel the painful effects of arthritis. PET | TAO’s expert veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron combine Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) with other holistic modalities to provide natural arthritis management in their Tennessee clinics.
TCVM, an ancient health care system, approaches arthritis by addressing underlying imbalances contributing to joint degeneration and inflammation. Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron incorporate food therapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, and targeted supplements to support joint health, reduce pain, and improve overall wellness.
By blending TCVM with other natural treatments, they have developed a comprehensive protocol that eases arthritis symptoms and enhances dogs’ quality of life. This article details their go-to holistic protocol, giving pet owners effective strategies to support their pets’ comfort and mobility.
Recognizing Arthritis in Dogs
Dogs with arthritis often display signs like:
- Limping or stiffness
- Sensitivity to touch
- Trouble getting up after lying down
- Reduced activity or tiredness
- Muscle loss
Dogs are usually quite stoic, so they may be feeling more discomfort than they show. Thankfully, holistic treatments are available, and you can start at home to improve your dog’s comfort.
For more comprehensive insights, explore Dog Arthritis 101: Make Your Dog Feel Better by Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron.
Get Your Free Copy of Dog Arthritis 101: Make Your Dog Feel Better
Step 1: Provide a Hydrating Diet
Feeding a wet diet, or even better, a home-cooked one, can be one of the most impactful dietary changes for dogs with arthritis. Wet food, whether canned, fresh, or freeze-dried raw (when properly rehydrated), provides more moisture than dry kibble, essential for older dogs struggling with hydration. This added hydration not only supports overall health but also aids in keeping joints lubricated and flexible, which can reduce pain from arthritis.
A home-cooked diet allows you to control the quality and type of ingredients, ensuring your dog gets the nutrients they need without fillers or preservatives that can sometimes exacerbate inflammation. Freeze-dried raw food, when rehydrated, offers a convenient alternative with similar health benefits, as it provides high-quality protein, moisture, and nutrients in a minimally processed form.
Maintaining a healthy weight is also critical for arthritic dogs, as excess weight stresses already painful joints. A wet or home-cooked diet can be easier to digest and may help prevent unnecessary weight gain by offering balanced nutrition without excess calories.
PET | TAO Chill formula is specifically designed to support dogs with arthritis by promoting balance within the body. The Chill formula is cooling, helping to reduce inflammation and “excess heat” that can worsen arthritis pain. On the other hand, a warming recipe benefits dogs with “cold” arthritis, which presents as stiffness, especially in cooler weather. Both formulas are crafted with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles, aiming to balance your dog’s energy while addressing their specific arthritis needs.
Visit the PET | TAO Recipe Page
See the PET | TAO Cooling (Chill) Recipe
See the PET | TAO Warming (Blaze) Recipe
Step 2: Natural Supplements to Ease Discomfort
Managing discomfort effectively is crucial to caring for dogs with arthritis, as it helps maintain mobility, comfort, and overall quality of life. While traditional pharmaceuticals can be effective, many pet owners prefer a more natural approach, especially for long-term care. That’s where Comfort, a natural supplement from Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron’s pet food company, comes in. Comfort is specially formulated to address arthritis discomfort through a blend of powerful, natural ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.
Comfort’s key ingredients include yucca, boswellia, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), and ginger. Each of these plays a unique role in reducing discomfort and inflammation associated with arthritis:
- Yucca: This desert plant has been traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. Yucca contains saponins, compounds that help reduce joint inflammation, making it an excellent ally for managing arthritis pain.
- Boswellia: Often called Indian frankincense, Boswellia is rich in boswellic acids, which inhibit enzymes responsible for inflammation. Boswellia helps reduce swelling and stiffness, allowing for greater flexibility and relief from joint pain.
- MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): MSM is a natural sulfur compound essential for forming collagen and connective tissue. It’s known to reduce joint inflammation, improve flexibility, and relieve muscle soreness, which can be particularly beneficial for arthritic dogs experiencing stiffness.
- Meadowsweet: Known for its natural anti-inflammatory properties, meadowsweet contains salicylates, which can help reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. This herb also supports joint health and overall comfort for aging dogs by easing stiffness and promoting better mobility. Meadowsweet’s gentle action on the stomach makes it a well-tolerated choice for dogs, providing holistic relief from arthritis symptoms.
Comfort’s holistic formula is popular among pet parents who want to avoid or reduce the use of pharmaceuticals, particularly after surgery or during long-term arthritis management. For many dogs, Comfort serves as a natural alternative to traditional pain medications like Rimadyl, offering pain relief without the potential side effects that some pharmaceuticals may bring. In fact, Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron frequently use Comfort post-surgery in their clinics for clients who wish to reduce reliance on conventional medications.
Another advantage of Comfort is that it can be used alongside other supplements or medications, making it versatile and easy to incorporate into an existing arthritis care regimen. This flexibility allows pet parents to build a holistic pain management plan tailored to their dog’s needs.
Important: Comfort is unsafe for cats due to the inclusion of meadowsweet, a plant that contains salicylic acid, which is toxic to cats. Always consult your veterinarian before introducing any new supplement to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your pet.
Comfort provides your dog with a blend of nature’s best ingredients to help ease arthritis discomfort, improve mobility, and support their overall wellness.
Step 3: Support Joint Health and Flexibility
Arthritis in dogs is a progressive condition resulting in the gradual deterioration of joint cartilage. Cartilage cushions the bones and allows for smooth movement. As the cartilage breaks down, it triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to fluid buildup within the joint. This combination of inflammation and excess fluid increases pressure on the joint capsule, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Over time, the constant wear and tear can lead to the formation of bone spurs and other degenerative changes that further restrict movement and intensify discomfort.
Adding joint-supportive supplements can play a vital role in slowing the degeneration and alleviating your dog’s arthritis symptoms. Supplements help protect the remaining cartilage and supply nutrients essential for joint repair and lubrication. When chosen carefully, these supplements can improve joint function, reduce pain, and support your dog’s overall quality of life.
Drs. Smith and Damron recommend Harmonize Joint as an ideal supplement for arthritic dogs. Harmonize Joint combines glucosamine, a building block of cartilage that helps rebuild joint tissue, and green-lipped mussel, a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids and glycosaminoglycans that reduce inflammation and provide joint lubrication. MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) also offers sulfur, which is essential for collagen production and joint flexibility, while sea cucumber provides unique compounds that promote cartilage repair and support the immune system.
Other carefully selected ingredients in Harmonize Joint, like polygonum, angelica sinensis, Rehmannia, alfalfa, vitamin E, and manganese, work together synergistically. This powerful combination helps maintain the structural integrity of cartilage, reduces inflammation, and protects the joint tissue from further damage. Including vitamin C in the supplement also aids in collagen formation, which is essential for strong, healthy joints.
Incorporating Harmonize Joint into your dog’s daily regimen can be a proactive step toward easing arthritis pain and promoting healthier joints. Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron have seen positive results with this formula in their practice, helping dogs regain mobility and comfort over time.
Learn more about Harmonize Joint
Step 4: Include Kidney in the Diet
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the kidneys are vital in supporting overall health, particularly in maintaining the strength of bones and joints. According to TCM principles, the kidneys are considered the foundation of bodily vitality, directly influencing skeletal health, energy levels, and resilience. When the kidneys are nourished and balanced, the bones and joints are believed to be better supported, helping to alleviate issues like arthritis that arise as pets age.
Incorporating kidney into your dog’s diet follows the TCM concept of “like treats like,” which means that consuming specific organ meats can nourish and strengthen the corresponding organs or systems in the body. In this case, feeding kidney is believed to help reinforce your dog’s joint health and resilience, providing them with nutrients that directly support the kidneys and, in turn, the bones and joints.
Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron have seen excellent results using this approach in their clinics. Many of their arthritic patients have responded well to kidney supplementation, showing improved mobility and comfort levels. The kidneys are naturally rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals crucial for various bodily functions, including iron, vitamin B12, and coenzyme Q10, which help support cellular health and energy.
For those who may not have easy access to fresh kidney or prefer a more convenient option, freeze-dried kidney treats are an excellent alternative. Freeze-drying preserves the nutrients within the organ meat, ensuring that your dog receives the same benefits as they would from fresh kidneys but in a shelf-stable, easy-to-serve form. The treats can be offered as a daily supplement or incorporated into meals, making it simple to introduce kidney into your dog’s diet consistently.
PET | TAO Freeze Dried Raw Kidney Treats are specially prepared to retain their nutritional integrity, allowing for easy inclusion in your dog’s holistic arthritis care plan. Adding this nutrient-dense organ to your dog’s diet can make a real difference, especially when combined with other steps in PET | TAO’s arthritis protocol.
Learn More About PET | TAO Freeze Dried Kidney Raw Treats
Step 5: Acupuncture and Herbal Support
In Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron’s holistic arthritis protocol, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) herbs are essential in managing arthritis symptoms. Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, involves the insertion of fine, sterile needles at specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow, or “Qi.” In TCVM, it’s believed that arthritis and joint pain often result from blockages or imbalances in this energy flow. By rebalancing Qi and releasing endorphins—the body’s natural pain-relieving hormones—acupuncture can offer significant relief for arthritic dogs, improving their comfort and mobility.
Acupuncture has additional benefits that make it particularly valuable for dogs with arthritis. The treatment can help reduce inflammation, improve circulation to affected joints, and support the body’s natural healing processes. When performed regularly, acupuncture can also relieve lasting pain, allowing dogs to feel more comfortable and active.
Acupuncture’s effectiveness is enhanced when combined with TCVM herbal formulas. TCVM herbs work synergistically with acupuncture to address specific imbalances contributing to arthritis. These herbs are carefully formulated to target inflammation, pain, and joint stiffness, supporting the underlying health of the dog’s musculoskeletal system. The following are some commonly used TCVM herbal formulas for managing arthritis:
- Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang: This traditional formula is widely used for joint pain, especially in older dogs or those with chronic arthritis. It is particularly effective in cases with accompanying weakness, as it supports both the joints and the kidneys, which are essential for joint health in TCVM.
- Di Gu Pi San: Known for its cooling properties, this formula helps to “clear heat” from the joints, making it ideal for dogs experiencing inflammation, redness, or “hot” arthritis. It’s often recommended for dogs who seem uncomfortable during warmer months or in heated environments.
- Liu Jun Zi Tang: This formula focuses on strengthening overall vitality and immunity, supporting dogs with weakened energy levels who may struggle with long-term arthritis. It can also be helpful for dogs that have lost muscle mass or seem especially tired.
- Dok’s Formula: A popular formula for managing musculoskeletal pain, Dok’s Formula helps to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and increase mobility. It can be especially beneficial for dogs experiencing stiffness and discomfort that worsens with activity.
- Wei Qi Booster: This herbal formula is commonly used to support immunity and general wellness, which can benefit older dogs whose systems may be weakened by chronic arthritis. Wei Qi Booster is often recommended for dogs needing extra immune support alongside joint care.
It’s important to remember that TCVM herbs require a veterinary authorization or consultation to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your dog’s individual needs. Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron TCVM in-clinic and telemedicine consultations to provide personalized recommendations based on your dog’s health profile and symptoms. This customized approach ensures that your dog receives the most effective combination of herbs, acupuncture, and other supportive therapies to manage arthritis naturally and holistically.
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Together, acupuncture and TCVM herbs provide a comprehensive approach to arthritis management, working not only to alleviate pain but also to address the root imbalances that contribute to joint issues in the first place.
Arthritis in dogs doesn’t have to mean constant pain. You can help your dog live more comfortably with the right holistic treatments. Please reach out if you need more guidance or support!
