Has your dog not been his happy self lately? If not, it is possible joint pain could be the cause. As they get older, most dogs experience joint pain. When not at rest, dogs spend their lives running, and jumping, so their joints can take a pounding. Unfortunately, some dogs’ joints just can’t take the stress anymore, and they begin to experience stiffness, inflammation, joint pain and discomfort. Often, this discomfort can lead to more serious health problems.

Dogs experience this pain because the cartilage in their joints is thinning, and the cartilage cells die off, which results in inflammation and excessive fluid in the joint. As the owner, you’ll be able to notice changes in your dog’s habits and behaviors due to joint issues. Activities such as walking, running, jumping and even lying down become slowed down and appear to be a “chore” to the dog. The stairs may seem difficult to tackle or hopping in the car can become tricky. As the issues worsen, you may notice your dog holding his limbs up.

If you have a bigger and heavier breed of dog, there will be a higher chance for joint issues, as well. One example: Rottweilers are prone to having ankle and knee problems.

When your dog is experiencing joint pain, there are a few treatment options you can choose from; however, you should make an appointment first with your veterinarian so he or she can determine the exact cause of your dog’s pain and the severity of the issue.

After meeting with the vet, he or she will suggest either surgical or non-surgical options based on your dog’s symptoms. Some dogs may just be put on a strict diet to lose weight (ease pressure on the joints) while others may need physical therapy, or a full joint replacement.

Often, the vet will suggest a diet or supplements that can help decrease inflammation in the joints.  Gray Muzzle offers a product called Old Dogs! Happy Joints!, which is a “senior friendly” bite-size soft chewable. This chew helps dogs with mobility, flexibility and discomfort because it’s made with ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, which can help decrease inflammation. Ark Naturals also offers a product called  Sea Mobility Joint Rescue, which are soft chews (meat and meat-free flavors) that help with mobility and flexibility; these chews are good for dogs with active lifestyles and any age-related mobility issues. They also contain the inflammatory-fighting ingredients glucosamine and chondroitin.

Come up with a plan with your vet on what treatment is best for your dog, as well as what activities he should avoid. For preventative care and ongoing joint maintenance, vets recommend you keep your dog at a healthy weight and in good condition; wellness and lifestyle products like the ones mentioned above, can also keep inflammation from flaring up.

Make sure to get your dog’s joints checked regularly at his yearly vet appointments. If you’re looking to purchase Gray Muzzle or Ark Naturals joint products, click here.

Ark Naturals makes natural products that allow pets to enjoy a better quality of life, which helps owners feel rest assured that they have cared for their pets in the best way possibly by choosing natural alternatives for dental, joint, grooming, calming, skin, digestion, and overall wellness care.

The post Aches and Pains: Is Your Older Dog Experiencing Joint Problems? appeared first on ArkNaturals.

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“Aw, she’s wagging her tail. She must like me! Oh, no. Wait. Why is she growling?”

Has this ever happened to you? It may come as a surprise, but a dog wagging its tail does not necessarily mean he or she is happy. Dogs communicate with humans in many ways, but one of the most important things to watch for is what they’re doing with their tails.

Many people today assume a wagging tail means a happy dog, but unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. People can get bitten by a dog who was wagging its tail.  A dog can be saying a lot of different things with its tail. In fact, a dog’s tail is one of the most expressive parts of its body, even more than its ears.

Dogs begin to learn to wag their tails at about one to two months old. They learn to wag their tails so they can effectively communicate with their mothers and other dogs. Dogs know what each other dog’s wagging means, so we should too!

When a dog is happy and calm, its tail will be in its natural position (this look will vary depending on the breed). If the tail is in its natural position and moving side-to-side, the dog is letting the human know its content. However, a side-to-side tail doesn’t always mean happiness. If the dog’s tail is moving more toward the right, the dog is showing that it is excited and interested. If the dog’s tail is moving more to the left, its expressing anxiety, fear, aggression, or it feels threatened.

Now, if the tail moves up or down, that’s a different story. If a dog moves its tail up, it means the dog is becoming assertive or dominant. If a dog moves its tail down, its letting the human know that the human is in charge. If a dog curls its tail between its legs, its doing so to let the human know its harmless and is submitting. Keep in mind that a up/raised tail isn’t always aggressive, but a lowered/down tail always means submissiveness.

Just like the direction of the tail, the speed of the wag also reveals a lot about the dog’s mood. A fast tail means either high positive or negative energy. If the tail is fast and low to the right, the dog is very submissive. If the tail is fast, high, and to the left, this dog is aggressive and not happy.

If a dog’s tail appears to be “vibrating” more than wagging, back away! This dog does not want to interact with you. Your best bet is to approach dogs with slow-moving tails, which show the dog is calmer.

Ark Naturals makes natural products that allow pets to enjoy a better quality of life, which helps owners feel rest assured that they have cared for their pets in the best way possibly by choosing natural alternatives for dental, joint, grooming, calming, skin, digestion, and overall wellness care.

Photo courtesy: Vetstreet.com

The post What’s Wagging?: What Your Dog’s Tail is Telling You appeared first on ArkNaturals.

Courtesy of ArkNaturals.com