What is Regal’s Joint Health Spray?

A complementary medicine for dogs for topical application, containing herbal substances used as an adjuvant that may assist to reduce stiffness and ease movement for less discomfort and improved joint functioning in dogs.

Regal’s Joint Health Spray is comprised of these herbal ingredients:

COMPOSITION:

Each 200 ml contains:

Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens tuber)                           7 mg

Devil’s Claw is widely documented for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is a root native to Southern Africa and is also known as grapple plant or wood spider. Africans are well-versed in the uses of the herbs and have been administering it for a wide variety of ailments including arthritis, skin problems, fever and digestive upsets. Studies have relieved that Devil’s Claw is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, tendinitis and muscle and joint inflammation

White Willow Bark (Salix alba)                                                                  1 mg

Willow bark is the bark from several varieties of the willow tree, including white willow or European willow, black willow or pussy willow, crack willow, purple willow, and others. The bark is used to make medicine.
Willow bark acts a lot like aspirin, so it is used for pain, including headache, muscle pain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis,
Willow bark’s pain relieving potential has been recognized throughout history.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

Water, ethanol, DMSO, Tea tree oil, Eucalyptus oil and Menthol crystals

How to Use:

Apply to affected areas twice daily. Gently moisten the areas to be treated with the spray. You may need to lift the fur or work it in through the fur to help it contact the skin. For acute conditions, use may be increased to three times a day. For best results use strictly as per dosage recommendation. Please consult your veterinarian if symptoms do not clear or get worse. For external use only. Shake well before use. May cause discolouration to light coats or skin.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients. Deep or gaping wounds such as puncture wounds.

Caution

For external use only. THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT REPLACE VETERINARY CARE. WHERE SYMPTOMS PERSIST, DISCONTINUE USE AND CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER NOT SUITABLE FOR CATS. Do not give to pregnant or lactating dogs. Safe for dogs 6 months and older. Do not give to your pet if he or she is on blooding thinning medication or suffering from anaemia, diabetes, stomach/duodenal ulcerations or gall stones. If in doubt please contact your veterinary surgeon before using this product.

What causes osteoarthritis in dogs?

Joint problems or osteoarthritis can be categorized into being either degenerative or developmental. Degenerative joint problems cover a wide range of causal factors that can eventually lead to arthritis. The most common of these are ligament issues, which worsen over time leading to instability and secondary arthritis. Developmental joint problems refer to joints that don’t develop as they should leading to a number of issues such as elbow and hip dysplasia.

How can I tell if my dog is suffering from joint problems?

If you know what to look out for, you will find the signs of joint problems are quite recognizable depending on the severity of the condition. These are some of the more common signs to look out for:

• Stiffness
• Struggling to get up or to climb on and off objects (e.g. struggling to walk up/down the stairs, get on/off your couch or in/out of your car)
• Lameness – holding his/her limb up or at an odd angle
• More resistant to exercise
• Less playful
• Tendency to rest for longer periods
• Change in mood

It’s important to catch signs of joint problems in their early stages, as this will make addressing the problem easier and less painful for your dog.

Are some breeds more vulnerable to developing joint problems?

As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the size and weight of the dog, the more likely joint problems can set in. Commonly, degenerative and developmental problems can be seen in larger breeds. That said, certain breeds are prone to very specific joint problems;

• Newfoundland’shave the highest occurrence of cruciate ligament disease (a condition affecting the knee joint) compared to any other breed
• Bernese Mountaindogs are known for developing elbow dysplasia
• Rottweiler’s often suffer from knee and ankle problems

It’s important to understand what conditions your dog is prone to developing based on his or her breed as this will help you know what to look out for so you can catch any problems early, and minimize long-term damage.

Treating joint problems the holistic way

By taking the holistic approach, you address not only the joint pain itself but everything around it from your dog’s diet, his/her general physical health, emotional wellbeing and environment. A key contributing factor to joint issues in pets is weight problems. Overweight pets are putting extra pressure on their joints and this over time will add unnecessary strain, wear and tear to the muscular skeletal system. For this reason it’s important to look at your dog’s diet and fitness levels for healthy weight and body management. By ensuring your dog has a healthy weight, you are not only reducing the amount of stress the joints need to cope with, but you are also reducing inflammation as obesity can contribute to chronic, low grade inflammation in the body. Nutrition is also key when treating or preventing joint problems. For example, hip dysplasia not only has a genetic element but a nutritional one as well. If large breeds aren’t fed the correct diet when they are puppies, the hip muscle mass cannot keep up with the growth of the bone. This in turns results in an imbalance, which causes strain on the hip and causes inflammation as there isn’t sufficient muscle mass to protect and support the functioning of the joint. The body then attempts to compensate by forming extra bone to help stabilize the joint. There are many alternative treatments available that have shown to support the health of the joints including acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic, hydrotherapy and herbal remedies. Herbal remedies can play a key role in reducing inflammation and pain, strengthening the muscular skeletal system and supporting overall immune functioning.

SIDE EFFECTS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Generally the ingredients are very well tolerated. Allergic reactions, including a rash, are possible.

WESTERN HERBAL MEDICINE (PHYTOTHERAPY).

Use according to the principles of the discipline.