Special Feed To Mitigate The Effects Of Dysplasia
Hip or elbow dysplasia is a common illness that affects many pets. Is there a way to avoid it or reduce its symptoms? We want to tell you a little about this disease and about special feeds to mitigate the effects of dysplasia.
What is dysplasia
Hip or elbow dysplasia is an inherited disease that is passed from generation to generation. It consists of the fact that the bones that make up a joint, either the hip or the elbow, are not positioned or aligned correctly.
This causes them to rub and move improperly, resulting in accelerated wear and tear that leads to other problems due to joint malfunction. The problem with this disease is that it is silent.
This means that the problem could exist for a long time, even from birth, but the animal will not feel pain until the later stages of these arrive. You will notice it because your pet will go from eating and jumping to almost not being able to move.
There are certain breeds that are more prone to this disease due to their genetic combination. These are mostly large dogs, which must bear a lot of weight on their joints, although they also affect fast-growing ones, as they do not have time to strengthen their joints.
These most prone breeds are as follows:
- German shepherd
- Labrador
- Rottweiler
- Mastiff
- Newfoundland
- Golden retriever
- Great dane
- Saint Bernard
- Other large or giant-sized breeds
What to do to reduce the pain of dysplasia?
There are several things to take into account, not only when the animal suffers it, but before it happens. These are:
- Swimming. As for us, this is also the most complete sport for pets. It will help strengthen your joints, develop your muscles, and you will enjoy doing it.
- The exercise. All dogs need a certain level of activity, but in large dogs this is even more important. You should take him out for a walk or run, it depends on what he can do, at least twice a day for 20 minutes.
- Temperature. You should have a good temperature at home, since the cold is not beneficial for your pet’s bones and joints. If it’s cold, and you don’t have a way to heat the house, give your pet an electric blanket or hot water bottle.
- Massages. Therapeutic massage will help an animal with dysplasia to regulate pain.
Special feed for dysplasia
Food is one of the most important factors in mitigating the pain of this disease, and even being able to avoid it. In this sense, the key is to be strict since the dog is a puppy.
On the one hand, you have to eat a balanced diet to avoid obesity. An obese animal will have joint problems, due to the extra weight they have to support.
However, what we want to emphasize is that feeds designed to protect joints are exceptional to mitigate pain. These are low-calorie feed, which have specific components to care for and strengthen joints.
If you adopt a dog of some of the breeds at risk of having dysplasia, it is better to prevent it by feeding it with this type of feed since it is a puppy. You may not prevent the disease, but it is very likely that you will delay its onset.
In addition, as an addition, a food supplement called condoprotector can be added to this type of diet. This is composed of hyaluronic acid, collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
All these components are exceptional for the proper functioning of the joints. Whether the animal has not yet developed the disease or yes, the condoprotectors will be very useful.
Remember that having an animal is a responsibility and that you must be aware of giving it everything it needs. In this case: exercise, a good diet, a good temperature at home and a food supplement. With your effort you will improve the quality of life of your pet.
