Pain, it’s something that we never want our pets to experience. However, every pet, at some point in its life, will have pain for one reason or another. Whether it be a minor injury from rough play, surgery, or joint disease, there are natural remedies that can offer some relief or even mitigate the cause of pain in our pets.
Do you ever wonder if your pet is experiencing pain, and you don’t even know it? Although domestic pets have evolved to our lifestyles over hundreds of years, that “survival of the fittest” instinct remains intact. Both dogs and cats can be very good at hiding discomfort. With chronic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, pain develops more over time, so the very subtle changes can often go unnoticed. Cats may start interacting a little less, grooming habits can change, their facial expressions can become different, developing a bit of a “grimace”, or they can become more vocal. Dogs may start to become anxious, breathe a little faster, sleep a bit more or have changes in their appetite, posture, and bathroom habits. Diagnosing pain in pets is one of those times when you really, really wish they could talk!
Many vets will commonly recommend NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), but these medications certainly don’t come without risks. Long-term use can cause kidney and liver damage, digestive upset, and even bleeding ulcers or perforations of the stomach and intestines. Thankfully there are natural aids that can prevent or ease pain in our pets in a more harmonious manner.
Switching to a Raw Diet
For humans, eating highly processed food combined with high carbs and sugar, is linked to many chronic diseases, including inflammation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29772560/ , https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/gastrointestinal-articles/what-foods-cause-or-reduce-inflammation). Even the Arthritis Foundation, for Pain Awareness Month, advocates for how much the diet can impact inflammation and pain. The importance of avoiding highly processed food, including overly processed meat and carbs impacts the inflammatory response in the body: like the Maillard reaction. This is a chemical reaction very present in kibble that will create, under heat and high pressure, a complexes molecules made of protein and sugar bound together called Advanced glycation end-products – these molecules are highly unstable, pro-oxidant and can even act as toxins in the body and their impact on inflammation and oxidative stress is well documented (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16244820/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20031340/). Since kibble is a mix of carbs and protein, extruded at very high temperature, creating a crispy and brown product, it is as rich as it can be in these highly inflammatory molecules (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23916186/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25088431/.
By simply switching from a kibble diet to a raw diet, and eliminating the reaction that creates these harmful end-products, there will be a great reduction of inflammation in the body. In fact, dogs and cats eating a raw diet will excrete less than half of those end-products in their urine, showing the major impact of the processed diet on the absorption of those molecules (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279406/ ). Choosing a raw diet that is low in carbs and high in antioxidants, will have an even better impact. Like the Big Country Raw Dinner formulas, rich in high quality meat, combined with superfoods like blueberries and broccoli!
For pets who are already on a raw diet, but experience pain due to aging or injuries, there are some simple and inexpensive food bowl additions that can offer great benefit.
Support articulaire Thrive
Support articulaire Thrive is a powerful aid, consisting of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate and MSM. The combination of these three ingredients are well known to help prevent and alleviate pain from joint disease and dysplasia.
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound made of glucose and glutamine, that is essential for the maintenance of healthy cartilage and joint function. It stimulates the growth of cartilage cells and is known to aid in joint lubrication increasing comfort and mobility.
Chondroitin is the largest glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found in cartilage. It helps to increase water retention and elasticity in the cartilage, promoting adequate shock absorption and nourishment of the tissues that line the joint. Like glucosamine, it may also inhibit inflammation that can compromise joint health and impair overall pet comfort and mobility.
MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), can help reduce muscle damage, along with pain and stiffness. MSM can also inhibit inflammatory responses in the body, thereby reducing stress on the immune system. MSM also increases levels of glutathione, an antioxidant that boosts the immune system.
We recommend using Support articulaire Thrive for medium to large breed puppies and dogs especially, from 8 weeks and on, to aid in the prevention of joint disease. Maintaining the joints of an active dog is paramount to healthy and pain-free mobility.
Moule verte Thrive
Green lipped mussels are a shellfish native to New Zealand, and they get their name from the green edges along their shell. They contain several anti-inflammatory compounds that can help prevent and eliminate pain from conditions like arthritis. Arthritis is commonly recognized and treated in our older dogs, but often overlooked as it develops in young dogs, although it affects 20% of dogs over the age of one year, and 80% of dogs over the age of 8. It also affects up to 90% of cats over the age of 12.
Green lipped mussels are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and also contain chondroitin. They are currently the only known source of the omega fatty acid ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid), which binds with cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that causes inflammation. ETA can provide equivalent pain relief to NSAIDs. Green lipped mussels are also a good source of selenium, zinc, copper, and manganese.
Green lipped mussel powder is safe for dogs of all ages, and because of its safety profile, giving green lipped mussels from a young age can be beneficial to maintaining healthy joints and delaying the onset of arthritis. The effects of green lipped mussel on canine osteoarthritis is highly documented, with tons of studies noting its effect on reducing pain in dogs, often in just weeks.
Bouillon d'os
Bone broth is rich with glycosaminoglycans, such as glucosamine, and abundant in chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. Glycosaminoglycans stimulate cells called fibroblasts, which lay down collagen in the joints, tendons, and ligaments. The best benefit to bone broth is that the glycosaminoglycans are resistant to the harsh acids and pH of the digestive tract and are absorbed in their intact form. Not only is bone broth delicious and extremely palatable, but it’s also a wonderful way to add quality moisture to any type of diet. Bone broth is often fairly thin at room temperature but will thicken when chilled in the fridge due to the amazing properties of the collagen compounds. Bone broth can be drizzled over any meal as is, or frozen into small portions for easy serving as a treat.
Thrive Golden Paste
Turmeric is an ancient Indian spice that has been used for thousands of years for its healing properties. Curcuminoids, which are what gives turmeric its bright yellow colour, are also what is responsible for its reported anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties which it is so loved and known for. Turmeric on its own isn’t easily absorbed, however when made into golden paste, becomes very bioavailable and far more effective for our pets. Golden Paste is best served in small amounts and frequently, so offering daily will offer the most support. For pets that are sensitive to the taste of turmeric, we recommend mixing into meals before serving or freezing in a mold along with something else they love like Lait de chèvre ou Bouillon d'os as examples.
Omega Oils
You may have heard about fatty acids like omega-3 (ALA, EPA and DHA) and omega-6 being essentials for pets. Dogs and cats are not able to produce these on their own which is why supplementing with a quality source is considered so important for overall health and wellness. Omega 3 and 6 contribute to healthy skin and coat, growth and development including cognitive function, health of joints, mobility, including reducing inflammation.
More precisely, in animal studies, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced the expression of inflammatory markers, cartilage degradation and oxidative stress (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30081198/) as long as the correct omega 3: omega 6 ratio was maintained (1:5). Knowing that most meat can naturally be as high as 1:30, adding extra high omega 3 ingredients to the diet is essential. In canine trials, adding fish oils to the diet had significantly reduced the symptoms of osteoarthritis pain (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26161757/).
By reducing inflammation in our pet’s joints, we are acting preventatively which is in their best interest, versus waiting to offer support once an issue or injury has occurred. Offering fresh omegas that have been stored properly is always ideal and will be of the greatest benefit.
Os crus
Raw meaty bones are excellent for many reasons, but did you know that certain raw bones are wonderful sources of collagen and glucosamine too? Poultry feet such as chicken and duck feet are naturally rich sources of collagen and glucosamine, containing connective tissue. Necks, such as chicken and duck, are also a great resource. Additional meaty bones have a valuable place in the diet but should always be fed in moderation, meaning raw feet and necks should be offered 2-3x per week at most. Overall, a valuable contributing factor to joint health, and an extremely affordable and popular choice to include for our pet’s wellbeing on a regular basis.
Taking the preventative approach, offering a variety of inflammation-reducing additions to the food bowl, can bring well-rounded support, especially in cases where pain is more severe or frequent. Fish oil, for example, will help with reducing inflammation while Pour les articulations will target pain relief and cushioning of the joints, making them both great daily additives to meal time. Offering this support consistently is another important factor as daily support will be continuous, versus sporadic which will not have the same results. Some pets may find they prefer the taste of green lipped mussels better while others will find Pour les articulations more palatable with additional pain relief factors. It is important to observe and find what works best for your pet as each individual pet’s needs can vary. For best results, try rotating supportive sources for maximum coverage and comfort. Your pet will thank you!