5 Natural Remedies For Easing Your Pet’s Achy Joints

You might notice that Buddy is limping, or Milo is more tired than usual. However your pet’s joint discomfort shows up, it’s rough knowing they’re in pain. Naturally, you want to do everything you can to help your furry friend.

The great news is some simple home remedies can help cat and dog joint pain symptoms. Before we dig into the solutions, let’s sniff out what causes joint pain in pets.

What Causes Joint Pain In Dogs & Cats?

The most common cause of joint pain in dogs and cats is arthritis.

The most prominent form of arthritis in dogs and cats is osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. The cause of osteoarthritis is wear and tear. Simply put, the cartilage that cushions joints begins to wear out.

Pets can also get rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the joint tissue.

Injuries and less common forms of arthritis can cause joint pain in pets as well.

Whatever the cause of joint pain may be, managing pain and inflammation is key to making your animal companion comfortable.

A Paw-Ful Of Home Remedies For Joint Pain In Dogs & Cats

To prevent inflammation flare-ups and reduce pain, try these diet and lifestyle changes as part of your pet’s joint pain management plan.

1. Use Care During Exercise (But Keep Exercising!)

It might be tempting to let your pet sleep all day when they’re feeling achy, but it’s important they keep moving.

Research shows that gentle, modified exercise can help reduce inflammation.(1) The key is keeping things as low-impact as possible — overexertion can cause more inflammation. That means no jumping, running, or agility exercises. Leash walks and swimming are great options.

Exercise also helps to prevent weight gain, which should be top-of-mind for paw-rents because excess weight puts stress on joints. It’s also much harder to help your pet lose weight when they’re less active.

2. Load Up On Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3’s EPA and DHA, which are found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties (plus more benefits for your companion).(2)

In a study of 131 dogs, fish oil supplements helped reduce the amount of NSAID pain reliever needed to treat osteoarthritis pain.(3)

Since omega-3’s aren’t produced by the body, they need to be consumed in food or supplements. A diet rich in omega’s can be helpful, but supplements provide a more concentrated dose.

Ask your veterinarian to recommend an omega-3 supplement for your dogs and cats.

3. Give Them A Massage

Massage therapy improves circulation and promotes the flow of synovial fluid, which lubricates joints.(4) Follow these best practices for pet massage to help them find a blissful state of relief.

• Approach your pet when it’s in wind-down mode, like in the evenings or during a catnap.
• Start with light strokes in areas it’s used to being touched, like the stomach or neck. Once your lil’ pumpkin’s relax, you can focus on legs and joints.
• Guide your movements towards the heart to promote circulation.
• Rub down the length of the muscle, or use a kneading motion. Either way, keep it gentle and don’t apply deep pressure to joints.
• Skip over areas where your faithful friend doesn't like to be touched.

If your pet isn’t into the massage, don’t force it. There are other ways to manage joint pain.

4. Add CBD To Your Pet’s Food Or Water

CBD (cannabidiol) is a natural, non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis.

CBD’s anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties have been widely studied, and research suggests these therapeutic benefits extend to pets.

A placebo-controlled study of 20 large dogs with osteoarthritis found that CBD oil helped improve mobility and quality of life in dogs who took CBD over those who didn’t.(5) These results were measured after just four weeks of CBD usage.

Although this study was small, it aligns with anecdotal evidence from many pet owners who use CBD for their pet’s joint pain. By way of example, here’s what some of our customers are saying.

”Works AWESOME! I bought this for my dog who has arthritis. She was supposed to take medication for the rest of her life, but I was worried about her liver and kidney functions so I looked for a natural alternative and found Pure Craft. This oil works way better than the medication.…” — Patricia

”Super impressed. Love this stuff, finally something that actually works for my dog’s joint pain. He’s a 9-year-old pug and with the extra weight his joints were not happy! Until we used the Pure Craft CBD Oil for Pets and now I can see how much more mobile he is. It is great to see him mobile and enjoying life again.” — Emily

”Our new daily necessity. I am super impressed by how fast this product has worked for our 9yo Lab. I feel like we have a puppy again, he’s much more mobile and stoked on life again and that’s priceless for us.” — Brenda

To make giving CBD to your dogs or cats easy, look for water-soluble CBD for pets. Water-soluble CBD drops can be added to their food or water.

Since all CBD isn’t created equal, look for these indicators of a quality pet CBD product:

• It’s formulated specifically for pets (because some ingredients — like THC — are toxic to cats and dogs).
• It’s made from organically-grown hemp cultivated in the USA.
• The pet CBD product has a certificate of analysis (COA), proving it underwent third-party testing and confirms there’s no THC.
• It’s made with nanotechnology for the best and most efficient results.
• The pet CBD product has plenty of 5-star reviews.

5. Stay On Top Of Nail Trims

Long nails are uncomfortable for cats and dogs. For pets with joint pain, it can be excruciating.

Cats should generally have their nails trimmed every 10-14 days. Most dogs need monthly nail trims.

Wondering if your pooch or kitten’s paws need a trim? Take a look at how the nails sit when they’re standing. They should be just above the floor or just barely touching.

If you can’t trim your pet’s nails at home, set up a recurring appointment with your veterinarian or groomer.

Natural Joint Pain Relief For Pets

Joint pain and arthritis is common in aging pets. You can help your pet live its best life with:

• Gentle exercise
• Omega-3 supplements
• Massage therapy
• CBD oil
• Proper nail care

Try incorporating these natural joint pain solutions into your pet’s care routine for comfort and relief.

SHOP CBD FOR PETS

References

1. (2021). Activity Modifications for Dogs with Arthritis. CARE Canine Arthritis Resources and Education. https://caninearthritis.org/article/activity-modifications
2. Pendergrass, J. (2018). What Are the Benefits of Fish Oil for Dogs and Cats? PetMD. https://www.petmd.com/news/view/what-are-benefits-fish-oil-dogs-and-cats-37853
3. Fritsch, DA, et al. (2010). A multicenter study of the effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil omega-3 fatty acids on carprofen dosage in dogs with osteoarthritis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.236.5.535
4. Arseneau, L. (2015). Six Reasons To Massage Your Dog. Dogs Naturally. https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-dog-massage
5. Earlenbaugh, E. (2020). CBD For Dogs? New Research Backs Canine Cannabis Use For Osteoarthritis. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilyearlenbaugh/2020/07/01/cbd-for-dogs-new-research-backs-canine-cannabis-use-for-osteoarthritis