Osteoarthritis — the most common joint disease and prevalent cause of debilitating lameness in dogs. Does it sound scary to you? It should, if you’re a dog owner! Not to be taken lightly, canine osteoarthritis (OA) is an irreversible, progressive disorder that can only be slowed down if managed properly.
In order to help your pooch live a happy, active, and pain-free life, read on to learn how to spot signs of OA early and how you may assist in preventing and managing the condition!
OA is not to be confused with sarcopenia, where dogs lose muscle and develop weakness in the limbs as they age. OA is painful for the pet.
A degenerative joint disease, OA is characterised by the thinning of the joint cartilage, changes in the joint capsule, a build-up of fluid in the joint (joint swelling), and the formation of bony outgrowths around the joints.
These cause inflammation, pain, and restricted flexibility of the affected joints, which in turn result in reduced movement and the wasting of the muscles supporting the joint. This makes the afflicted joints even more unstable and movements all the more painful, so dogs with OA tend to exhibit these symptoms:
Unfortunately, OA can be hard to identify in its early stages because many of the symptoms are not visibly apparent until the affected joint is severely impacted. This, coupled with the fact that dogs have an innate inclination to hide their pain for survival, makes it very important that dog owners are able to pick out even the slightest sign of discomfort from their beloved pet.
To do so, we need to familiarise ourselves with our dog’s usual behaviour and be aware of the factors that can make a dog more susceptible to developing OA. These include:
If you suspect that your pooch might have OA, have your suspicions addressed by your vet as soon as possible. Early detection and management can help to minimise lifetime pain and slow down degenerative changes. Early detection also means more treatment and management options, and less medical fees!
To reduce the risk of your pet developing OA and slow down the deterioration of the condition, a multimodal intervention is often employed. This will often include:
If your pet has already been diagnosed with OA, treatment will usually focus on slowing down the progression of the condition through a combination of medical and non-medical treatments such as hydrotherapy, laser therapy, physiotherapy, and acupuncture. In severe cases, surgery might be needed to replace the joint or remove damaged tissue from it.
To make your pet’s life as comfortable as possible even with OA, you may also equip your home with useful accessories such as orthopaedic beds and non-slip dog stairs and ramps!
As mentioned earlier, joint supplements are an essential component of the preventive measures utilised to slow down the development of canine OA. Recommended by veterinarians all around the world, Antinol® is a natural anti-inflammatory supplement for both dogs and cats with OA that gives them a boost in their fight against the condition.
Antinol® gel caps can be easily incorporated into your pet’s diet
Antinol® contains the patented ingredient PCSO-524®, which is a unique lipid extract from the New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel. Obtained via a special patented extraction process that employs no heat or chemicals to ensure the highest level of effectiveness, PCSO-524® has over 90 fatty acids working synergistically to create a potent anti-inflammatory effect.
This includes rare and novel compounds like OTA (octadecatetraenoic acid) and ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid), which makes Antinol® that much more effective in reducing pain and improving mobility than other supplements that have just the usual EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) components! In fact, 90% of dogs and cats showed visible improvement in mobility within two weeks of starting Antinol®, and it’s also the leading joint mobility therapy in Japan.
Compared to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), long-term use of Antinol® has also been clinically proven to be safe with no effects on the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. Unlike products containing green-lipped mussel powder, Antinol® is allergy-safe since it only contains extracted lipids and no seafood proteins, making Antinol® suitable for all pets in need of relief from OA.
The published medical journal, Inflammopharmacology, has also found Antinol® to be:
To get your pet started on Antinol® for happier, livelier, and carefree days, speak to your veterinarian* or direct message @Antinolsg here to find out which clinics carry Antinol®!
*Note: Given the current COVID-19 situation, do give the clinic a call beforehand to fix an appointment with your veterinarian or to find out if you can drop by to purchase Antinol® without a prescription.
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