Whether it’s chasing a bird, jumping up on your pristine couch (again!) or playing fetch, dogs are meant to run, jump and play. That said all this running around puts a lot of pressure on their joints, which can lead to joint problems such as osteoarthritis. What may have started out as a lot of fun soon becomes very painful and debilitating for our furry companions.

What are Regal’s Joint Health Tablets?

Regal’s Joint Health Tablets, with a delicious artificial beef flavour, have been specifically formulated for dogs using a combination of nutritional and herbal ingredients known for improving and protecting the health of their joints. As an anti-inflammatory assisting in joint regeneration, this remedy will address symptoms of osteoarthritis in all breeds including degenerative joint disease and developmental joints problems such as hip dysplasia. For reduced inflammation, effective pain relief and increased mobility while strengthening the muscular skeletal system and supporting immune health. Here’s to freedom of movement for your very best friend!

Each 750mg tablet contains:

How to use:

Weigh your dog and administer as per the dosage guidelines below. Give the tablet by adding to food, placing directly into dog’s mouth or by adding to your dog’s favourite treat.

SMALL DOGS (1-4.5kg): 1 tablet three times a day.

SMALL TO MEDIUM DOGS (5-10kg): 2 tablets three times a day.

MEDIUM DOGS (11-20kg): 3 tablets three times a day.

LARGE DOGS (21kg and larger): 4 tablets three times a day.

For best results use strictly as per dosage recommendation. Use until symptoms clear or continue as required. Not suitable for cats. Recommended for dogs 6 months and older.

Caution

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 anemia, 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 sign of joint problems is 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;

• Newfoundlands have the highest occurrence of cruciate ligament disease (a condition affecting the knee joint) compared to any other breed
• Bernese Mountain Dogs 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.