As humans age, they may experience bouts of arthritis. Just like humans, your dog will age and can start showing symptoms of joint pain, as well.

If you notice that your dog is starting to show symptoms of arthritis, you may feel frustrated and upset. You don’t want to spend a ton of money to treat their pain. And you also don’t want to subject them to a life full of medications.

Thankfully, there are natural remedies for dog arthritis. Read on if you’re interested in learning how to safely treat your furry best friend.

Exercise Your Adult Dog

You may think that inflamed joints shouldn’t be regularly exercised. Won’t that further cause them pain? Not so fast.

If your dog is used to regular play and activity, joint-friendly exercise won’t hurt them. In fact, they need exercise more so after they’ve been diagnosed with arthritis. And exercise is one of the easiest natural remedies for dog arthritis.

Staying inactive will only make joints stiff. Their sore joints need to be moved in order to keep effective.

The following activities are perfect for adult dogs with symptoms of arthritis:

Swimming – Take your senior dog to a lake or pond to exercise them without putting a lot of pressure on their joints. A swimming pool is also a safe way to exercise them.

Walks – Short walks get your dog’s heart pumping, and it also stretches out their muscles and joints. Just make sure that you’re not taking them on extended walks that may tire them easily.

Indoor play – Playing with your dog indoors is easier on their joints because it doesn’t require a lot of running and jumping. Rolling balls across the floor or playing short bouts of the tug pulling are good options for arthritic dogs.

Add Natural Supplements to Your Dog’s Diet

Just like humans, senior dogs start becoming deficient in vital minerals and vitamins. Some of these are necessary for bone and joint health. While you can repair the damage that’s already done to your dog’s joints, you can help slow the progress.

Here are some of the natural supplements you can add to your dog’s diet:

Collagen – The elasticity of joints is due to the presence of collagen in your dog’s joints. As dog’s age collagen deteriorates in their bodies, making their joints weaker. There are tons of natural supplements you can add to your dog’s diet.

Glucosamine – This is a compound made of a dog’s joint cartilage. This is an important compound that helps absorb shock in the joints. When a dog adds this as an additional supplement, it can help rebuild joints that have been damaged.

Chondroitin sulfate – This is another compound that can help rebuild damaged joints. It can also prevent damage from happening in the joints.

Omega fatty acids – Your dog’s tissues around the joints need to be supported and repaired. That’s why feeding your dog omega fatty acids is one of the best natural remedies for dog arthritis. They help decrease inflammation in the joints as well as repair the tissues.

Switch Up Your Dog’s Diet

Your dog is exactly what he or she eats. Some foods can make your dog gassy, some can make them constipated. You want to make sure that your dog is getting the best nutrients possible.

And if you’re feeding them foods that may impact their arthritis pain, you should consider switching things up a bit. But which foods should you avoid feeding to your dog?

Avoid Many Grains

There have been a lot of conflicting opinions on giving grain to your dog. Many argue that grain dog food can affect a dog’s allergies and affect their health. There is still no definite answer on that, but we do know that grain has inflammatory properties.

These inflammatory properties can worsen your dog’s arthritis pain. So choosing to reduce the amount of grain in your dog’s diet is one of the natural remedies for dog arthritis.

Avoid Table Scraps

All dogs get a few table scraps at some point throughout their lives. While it may be fun to give your dog human food, it can also affect their health.

Table scraps and fatty meats can actually make your dog’s arthritis worse. So avoid feeding any type of table scraps and meats as much as possible.

Give Your Dog a Soft Place to Rest

When humans feel poorly, there’s nothing better than a soft bed or piece of furniture to perch on. The same goes for our four-legged friends. When their joints are sore, they need a place to get comfortable.

That’s why this is one of the natural remedies for dog arthritis. Here are some of the ways you can create a soft spot for your dog:

Plenty of comfortable dog beds – If your dog isn’t allowed on the furniture, make sure that they have plenty of dog-friendly options available to them. Get a couple comfortable dog beds and place them throughout your home.

Rugs – Large, soft area rugs are also a great place for your dog to rest its bones.

Natural Remedies for Dog Arthritis Are Proven to Work

Watching your senior dog suffer from arthritis can be hard to watch. Your furry friend goes from being a fun loving pup to a senior dog that struggles to fetch a ball. Aside from prescription medication, there are other ways you can help your dog’s symptoms.

Natural remedies are a good way to slow down your dog’s arthritis and make it easier for them to perform their day to day activities.

Of course, you should always contact your vet before trying any of these remedies.