Understanding pet joint health

Understanding pet joint health can help to ensure your dog or cat’s mobility is managed well and they can lead a happy and healthy life.

Pet joint health can be complicated as joints are amazing pieces of biological engineering. They allow varying degrees of movement between bones in the body.

In reality, the design of joints differ in different parts of the body from the spine to the stifle (knee) or from the cranium to the carpus (wrist). The important components of a joint are given in the diagram below:

All movement in the body requires energy to produce an impulse or signal to be sent along a nerve to cause a muscle to contract. For example, for the blink of an eye or the heart to beat.

For locomotor movement, skeletal muscles have firm attachments via their tendons beyond the joints that are required to move. The joint’s direction of movement is dictated by the shapes of the bone ends that fit together and the joint is stabilised by the attachment of ligaments. Lubrication and friction free movement of the joint is essential and this is facilitated by two very important components of the joint: the articular cartilage and the synovial fluid.

Because of the complexity of joints and how easily they can be affected by every day use, it’s important to maintain them with the necessary nutrients and care to maintain their flexibility, mobility and comfort.

Supplements for pet joint health

Nutraquin+ is recommended by thousands of vets throughout the UK and Ireland. It aids and soothes stiff joints whilst promoting mobility and flexibility. It is especially useful as not only does it support joint structure and help maintain optimum joint health but it is fast acting.

If you are worried about your pet’s joint health, speak to your vet who is best placed to offer advice and monitor their joints with regular visits to the vet practice.