How to Help Pets with Arthritis or Joint Pain

The month of May is Arthritis Awareness Month, and it’s the perfect time to focus on how we can help our pets move more freely and live more comfortably at every stage of life.

This blog is worth reading if you have a dog or cat over eight years old.

Arthritis in dogs, and arthritis in cats, is a progressive joint condition that affects as many as 80% of senior dogs and around 20-35% of adult dogs. But the good news? With early action and the right care, we can significantly reduce their discomfort naturally, starting with what goes in their bowl.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage that lines and cushions your dog's or cat's joints. When this lining wears away, the underlying bone is exposed, causing pain, inflammation, and reduced mobility. Unlike humans, our pets don’t always show pain in obvious ways. Instead, arthritis in dogs symptoms may present themselves are your pet becomes slower to rise, reluctant to jump, or sleeps more than usual. The same applies to arthritis in cats, signs and symptoms. These signals are often mistaken as "just getting older," but they’re important early indicators that joint support is needed.

Early signs to watch for in your pets:

• Stiffness when getting up or needing time to “warm up”

• Reluctance to jump into the car, onto the couch, or climb stairs

• A noticeable change in the way they walk, like a stiffer or a slower pace

• Sleeping more than usual or showing less enthusiasm for walks or play

If your pet is over the age of eight, taking monthly videos of them walking can help you track changes over time that might otherwise go unnoticed.

The role of inflammation and gut health

Beyond simply wear and tear, arthritis in dogs as well as arthritis in cats is a chronic, low-grade inflammation that can even start in the gut, due to poor diet, overuse of medications, toxins, and stress on the immune system.

A damaged gut lining, often called "leaky gut," allows foreign proteins and bacteria into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body. This inflammatory response can affect your dog’s or cat's joints over time, leading to painful conditions like osteoarthritis.

Here are five ways you can help prevent or support joint problems:

1. Maintain a healthy weight

This is a high priority. Excess weight puts extra pressure on your dog’s joints and accelerates arthritis. In fact, maintaining a lean body condition is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect your dog’s and cat's mobility.

Tip: You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily without pressing hard. For cats, it's the same cats, but you should be able to feel a thin layer of fat on their ribs. If you can't feel their ribs at all, it's time to adjust their portions, reduce or eliminate treats, and rethink their activity levels.

2. Quality nutrition over processed carbs

Nutrition is your pet’s first line of defense to prevent, support, or manage joint pain. As much as possible, try to feed:

• Fresh, whole, species-appropriate food

• Minimally processed food and treats

• Low-grain or grain-free diets

• Low in carbohydrates and sugar, which fuel inflammation

• High-quality lean proteins

• High-quality quality healthy fats

It's important to avoid foods that promote inflammation, such as:

• Corn, wheat, soy, and other grains

• Omega-6-heavy oils (soy and corn oil)

• Carbohydrate-based and sugary treats, and processed kibble or biscuits.

“By removing inflammatory ingredients and feeding real food, we see improvements in joint pain and energy.”

- Dr. Barbara Royal, DVM, CVA, Director of Nutrition and Integrated Science at Furchild.

Not all supplements, treats, and chews marketed for joint support are created equal. Both quality and quantity matter. Look for high-quality, scientifically supported ingredients that help reduce inflammation and support joint repair with active properties. Here are a few 100% natural offerings from Furchild

• Freeze-dried Green-lipped Mussels: Rich in natural glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3s, and antioxidants that are fast-acting to support dog joint pain relief.

• Organic Curcumin: The active compound in turmeric, known for its powerful anti-inflammatory effects

• Omega-3 fatty acids found in our Freeze-dried or Fresh/frozen Fish: Help lower inflammation but must be stored and sourced properly to avoid rancidity

• Glucosamine & Chondroitin found in our Bone Broths: Support cartilage regeneration and joint health

Always choose options with transparent sourcing and look for feeding or dosage amounts for maintenance, as well as therapeutic dosages when using supplements.

4. Don't Skip Movement and Body Work

Gentle, consistent movement is crucial. Daily walks, low-impact exercise, and rehabilitation therapies can help strengthen muscles and maintain joint flexibility, and they can also feel great! If your pet don't use their muscles, they will lose them, so pick an exercise routine that is realistic for their abilities and sustainable for them. Just as importantly, seek out:

• Physiotherapy

• Massage therapy

• Acupuncture therapy

• Laser therapy

These hands-on therapies can greatly improve comfort and mobility, especially when introduced early, and therapies such as massages can be learnt and practiced at home regularly. If you have trouble taking your cat to outside appointments, an at-home massage therapy practice can really help arthritis in cats. For physiotherapy needs in Dubai, UAE , we can confidently recommend the team at Physio Evolution.

5. At-home comfort tips

A few simple changes to your home environment can also make life easier and help with pet joint pain relief:

• Provide an orthopedic or memory foam bed for dog joint pain relief

• Raise food and water bowls to a comfortable height

• Use ramps for stairs and vehicles

• Lay non-slip rugs or yoga mats on slippery floors

These small steps can help reduce strain and make your dog or cat feel more supported throughout the day. We've even had a positive experience using a dog pram, which has allowed our senior dogs to join us on longer outings and 'explore' new areas, scents, and neighborhoods, which is very stimulating and fun for them.

We hope you found some of the above information and tips useful.

Just remember, when it comes to arthritis in dogs and cats, early prevention is key. A proactive lifestyle that includes fresh, anti-inflammatory nutrition, proper weight management, smart supplementation, and supportive therapies can significantly reduce the risk and severity of arthritis and better manage joint pain.

At Furchild, we believe food is medicine, and it has a profound impact on the well-being of dogs with arthritis and cats with arthritis. That’s why we offer only the highest-quality, biologically appropriate meals to help pets live longer, happier, more mobile lives.

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