Petey’s Nutrition Story: From Shelter to Wellness
Tina’s perspective on pet nutrition was transformed when she began fostering Petey.
Tina’s perspective on pet nutrition was transformed when she began fostering Petey.
Joint health is an important concern for pet owners, as joint problems can cause pain and decreased mobility in cats and dogs. Thankfully, there are a number of joint supplements that are designed to help improve joint health and reduce pain. These supplements typically contain one or more of the following ingredients: glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine HCl, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid.
Let’s take a closer look at these ingredients and how they can benefit your pet’s joint health.
Both glucosamine sulfate & glucosamine HCl are forms of glucosamine, a naturally-occurring substance found in the cartilage and other connective tissues of both cats and dogs. Glucosamine helps to protect and strengthen the cartilage, which helps to prevent joint damage and reduce pain. It can also help to reduce inflammation in the joints.
Glucosamine may take weeks or even months to start working, so it’s important to be patient when adding them to your pet’s diet.
Chondroitin is another natural substance found in the cartilage of cats and dogs. It works in conjunction with glucosamine to protect and strengthen the cartilage and can also help reduce inflammation.
If your pet is taking other medications or supplements, it is essential to let your veterinarian know since chondroitin may interact with them.
MSM is another naturally-occurring sulfur compound that helps reduce inflammation and joint pain. It also helps to improve joint flexibility and reduce stiffness and inflammation. MSM can also help rebuild cartilage and minimize further joint damage.
MSM supplementation does have potential side effects with higher doses. These can include nausea and dizziness. Please follow dosage instructions carefully.
Hyaluronic acid is found in the joint fluid of both cats and dogs. It is a major component of joint fluid and helps to lubricate and cushion the joints. As pets age, the levels of HA in their bodies decrease, leading to joint pain and inflammation. Giving your dog or cat HA supplements can help replenish the natural lubricant in their joints and improve joint health.
Like glucosamine, hyaluronic acid can take several weeks before your pet may experience benefits.
All of these ingredients are effective at improving joint health in cats and dogs. They help to protect the cartilage and reduce inflammation and pain while also helping to improve joint flexibility and reduce stiffness. As a result, your pets can enjoy better mobility and less pain.
If you notice signs of joint stiffness or decreased mobility, stop in to speak with one of our experts to determine the best supplements for their needs.
Many pet owners don’t even realize their pets are overweight. A few extra pounds might not sound like a big deal, but it is.
The topic of feeding meaty bones tends to drum up some controversy. Is it safe to feed your pet a raw meaty bone? Is it even beneficial to your pet? How do you know which bones are safe to feed? Let’s address some of these questions.
No. Marrow bones are known as ‘recreational bones’ because your pet should not be able to chew and consume the bone itself, but rather the tiny bits of fat, tissue, and cartilage left on the bone, as well as the inner bone marrow. ‘Raw meaty bones’ generally refer to bones that have more ‘meat’ on them and less bone, such as turkey and duck necks.
Yes. Since RMBs are mostly thin bone, tissue, and cartilage, they are easy for your pet to break up, chew and swallow.
No. It is not necessary to thaw your raw bones before feeding. However, some dogs and most cats prefer to have their bone thawed to soften the frozen tissue prior to feeding. If you must thaw the bone, leave it in the fridge for a couple of hours, or submerge it in cool water inside a plastic baggie to thaw it faster.
No. Never feed a cooked bone. Cooked bones can splinter, which can cause intestinal obstructions and perforations (not good!).
Do not feed weight-bearing bones of heavy animals. What does this mean? When you think of a large animal such as a cow, weight-bearing bones are those that allow the animal to stand properly, which can be too hard on your dog’s teeth.
Bones are an excellent addition to our pet’s diet, and here’s why:
Bones should be fed intermittently as a compliment to your pet’s regular diet. Feeding frequency will depend on your pet’s size, age, and activity level. While they can occasionally be fed in place of a meal, they should not be fed every day.
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Lick mats are an effective tool to help pets that struggle with anxiety. At NorthPoint, we’re frequently asked about lick mat fillers. Here are our top suggestions for lick mat fillers!
If you ask any NPP team member what they add to their pet’s bowl, you’ll undoubtedly get the same answer: bone broth. We’ve seen first hand how well bone broth can improve health from the inside out, so we swear by it! This nutritional treat is packed with vitamins and minerals to boost your pet’s overall health and wellness. Our pets experience inflammation and metabolic stress just like we do. Feeding your pet a mineral-rich stock like bone broth can improve inflammation, promote a healthy gut, and improve their overall health.
Bone broth is a great way to add additional hydration to your pet’s diet. You can easily add this to their food as a topper. Feeding dry kibble without added moisture can often lead to chronic dehydration as the body pulls moisture from surrounding organs to break down the food. If you feed kibble (dry food), this can significantly help keep them stay hydrated, ease digestion, and maximize nutrient absorption.
Glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid are nutrients packed into bone broth to help promote collagen growth. Collagen is essential because it cushions the bones, ligaments, and tendons, which means it is crucial for joint health. Just like in humans, collagen naturally deteriorates as your pet ages. Without it, the bones have nothing between them to ease movement, leading to pain and limited mobility. Therefore, adding bone broth to the bowl diet is an easy way to keep joints healthy.
Glycine, a vital amino acid, aids the liver in filtering toxins from your dog’s body. Bone broth’s high glycine levels support the liver’s most important function of filtering toxins from your dog’s body to detoxify its system.
A healthy coat and skin are essential components of overall health. Vitamins B and C promote collagen formation and cell proliferation, yielding a thick healthy coat. In addition to a healthier, softer coat, this can also help to alleviate common problems with dry, itchy skin and excessive shedding.
Bone broth promotes overall gut health from glycine which helps to repair the intestinal wall and seal the gut lining. You may have heard of ‘leaky gut’, a condition in which undigested food particles can escape through an unhealthy gut – leading to a myriad of symptoms. Bone broth helps to seal this lining to prevent poor digestion. A healthy gut means better nutrient absorption, a more robust gut microbiome, and a stronger immune system.
In short, no. Avoid feeding your dog the broth you find on the shelves of the grocery store. Typically, the soup broth or stock we use in our own cooking is loaded with excess sodium, added flavors and ingredients that aren’t great for our pets. Instead, you can make your own bone broth at home or buy broth specifically made for pets.
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