How to Care for Your Dog's Bones and Joints

Age, lack of exercise, obesity, and a poor diet are some of the reasons why our dog may be suffering from bone or joint issues.
How to Care for Your Dog's Bones and Joints

Last update: 04 December, 2018

Everyone would love for their pet to stay young forever, but that’s impossible. There is nothing you can do to stop them from aging. However, you can help your dog be healthier during their senior years by taking care of their bones and joints. Would you like to know how to do it?

Why it’s important to care for our dog’s bones and joints

You know that animals, just like humans, will have a better or worse physical condition as they age depending on how well they cared for their body. If you start caring for your dog’s bones and joints right now, they’ll be strong and healthy at an old age.

Why is this important? The answer is simple.

Over the years, your dog’s bones and joints wear out, meaning that they start rubbing against each other. This is really bad because your dog will begin to feel pain.

Not to mention that they’ll have difficulty walking, playing, and doing their other daily activities.Plus, this will affect their balance and relationship with other animals.

Sometimes humans can take for granted some of their body parts. However, our bones and joints are really important in our everyday lives, and the same goes for your pet.

A tired beagle.

How to care for your dog’s bones and joints

Since it’s really important to keep these body parts in good condition, it’s time to discover the best way to do it. Here are some tips you should follow:

  • Keep your dog at a healthy weight: Obesity is one of the main reasons why dogs develop bone and joint problems. The best way to avoid it is by not giving your dog more food than he needs.
  • Purchase good quality food: Although there are many food products for dogs at the market, buying the cheapest ones isn’t a good idea. Good quality food will take care of your dog’s body in the long run, including their bones and joints.
  • Use the BARF diet: If you think that dog food isn’t a good option, the BARF diet provides great benefits because you can also choose foods with collagen, such as bones with marrow, which will help keep these parts of the body healthy.
  • Exercise: Exercise is essential for healthy bones and joints. Many dog owners believe that walking their dog three times a day for a short amount of time is enough. However, it’s not! Your pet needs daily doses of good and long exercise because a sedentary lifestyle doesn’t only cause obesity, but also atrophied joints.
  • Supplements: Pet shops sell a wide range of supplements to care for your dog’s bones and joints. You should always consult with your vet so they can tell you what’s the best option for your dog. Nevertheless, they’re a perfect complement to help keep your dog healthy. You can start by giving them to your dog once they’re five years old so they’ll strong and healthy during their senior years.
Dog owner giving his dog supplements.

As you can see, you can do amazing things for your pet if put some effort in the work. Keeping them healthy is your responsibility and if you start doing it now, it’s likely that they’ll reach their senior years in great physical condition.

Remember that your dog’s diet is essential when it comes to caring for their bones and joints. There is special dog food on the market that is good to keep these body parts healthy. Although they’re more expensive, you’ll appreciate the results in the long run.


The contents of My Animals are written for informational purposes. They can't replace the diagnosis, advice, or treatment from a professional. In the case of any doubt, it's best to consult a trusted specialist.