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Our dogs have given us everything. As they begin to show signs of Hip Dysplasia or other joint problems, how can we help them? Here's 5 ways:
1. Doggy Massage. Our dogs love massage and petting even more as they age. They especially enjoy love and attention from the humans they're closest with. Evidence suggests that touch has very positive effects on the body and is good for many health related problems by lowering the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in our blood, and also increases the levels of dopamine (feel good chemical) in the brain. Touch has the same effect on our aging dogs.
There are several good articles on-line and videos on YouTube that show some basic massage techniques we can use on our fury friends. Try this video to start. Just plain old petting and affection goes a long way too.
2. Provide an Orthopedic Memory Foam Dog Bed. Dogs with Hip Dysplasia need a comfortable memory foam dog bed in every room where they lay down. According to Jacob Hamilton, owner of Better World Pets, make sure the bed is actually orthopedic with thick memory foam (at least 4 inches). It's important to have a NON-SKID BOTTOM to avoid injuries from sudden slipping and WATERPROOFING to protect the memory foam mattress. Orthopedic memory foam dog beds will significantly ease the aches and pains associated with joint/muscle/hip pains common in aging larger breed dogs. Make sure you read the details, specifications, and reviews of the bed. Many call their beds "orthopedic", but they're not memory foam. This 5" thick waterproof, memory foam dog bed has consistently been rated one of the most orthopedic beds on the market and the best value. The best part is that Better World Pets donates 10% of their profits to the Humane Society!
3. Gentle Physical Exercise. It's vital your dog still receive daily exercise. You want to keep your dog moving so they don't stiffen up and lose mobility. Make sure you take it easy and stop if your dog is showing signs of discomfort or stress though. You can try a treadmill to offer controlled steady walking. Daily walks should still be considered mandatory for an aging Fido.
Dogs really enjoy seeing new places and experiencing unfamiliar smells. Make sure you switch up your walks so they stay engaged and excited. Most aging dogs love to take a car ride or travel with their best human friends also. There's a ton of dog-friendly hotels now, so consider bringing your fury friend along on your next vacation.
4. Mental Exercise. Don't forget your dog also gets exercise from mental stimulation. We tend to forget about exercising our dog's mind once they reach a certain age, but it's important for their overall health and well-being to continue daily mental activity and training. Plus, they love it!
There are several articles on-line and videos on YouTube explaining games and activities we can do with mobility challenged dogs. There are many games that require very little movement to perform. Just 15 minutes a day of these type of exercises can have huge benefits to your dog's overall health. After all, they're mammals just like us.
Here's a great game you can play with your furry friend: Getting your dog to use his nose to find hidden treasure, like his favorite toy or treat, will stimulate all of his senses and build a positive bond between the two of you. To teach your senior pup how to play hide and seek, first command him to sit and hide the prize in an obvious area so he can watch to see where you’re putting it. Then give him a release signal to go find the toy. Once he finds the toy, reward him big time. Once your dog is familiar with the rules, ramp up the difficulty of the exercise by hiding the toy or treat in a different room or underneath something. Get creative and hide the treats in cardboard boxes, in between couch cushions, or in different parts of your home.
Please make sure you're factoring in your dogs pain and mobility when playing any game. If your dog's Hip Dysplasia or arthritis makes sitting and standing a challenge, do not require them to sit before being released. Also, consider your dog's neck mobility when hiding the toy or treat. It might create less stress on their neck and back if you keep the toy or treat elevated to eye level.
5. Healthy Diet. What dog doesn't love a tasty treat? It's ok to give your dog their favorite treats still. However, closely monitor your dog's diet. If your dog is carrying around extra weight, that will add extra strain on joints worsening the pain of arthritis or hip dysplasia. Also, provide a raised feeder system. Eating from bowls on the floor can strain your fury friend's back and neck.
According to WebMD, treats and snacks should only make up 10% of a dog's daily calories. To get an idea of how many treats that is, ask your vet. They can make a recommendation based on the treats your dog likes, his weight, and how active they are.
IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT EASING YOUR DOG'S PAIN, THE FIRST THING YOU CAN DO IS PURCHASE A MEMORY FOAM BED TODAY.
Dogs spend over 50% of their lives at rest, and senior dogs spend even more time than that laying on their beds. You can make a huge impact in their lives right now.
Better World Pets offers 3 different sizes of orthopedic memory foam beds for any size dog. The beds are over 5" thick of pure premium shredded memory foam. Our beds are waterproof and have a special non-skid material on the bottom to prevent the bed from sliding around. Our covers are twice as strong as most beds (180 gsm fabric) and the covers are completely removable and machine washable. Best of all we donate 10% of our profits to the Humane Society!
The problem with most "orthopedic" dog beds is they either do not have any memory foam, or the memory foam layer is only the top 2 or 3 inches of the inner mattress. The base of the inner mattress on most memory foam beds is made of egg crate style convoluted sheet foam. They do this to save money, but your dog loses the full benefits of memory foam. We make sure our mattresses are over 5" thick of pure shredded memory foam.
Why is memory foam so important? Memory foam is specially designed to contour around your dog's body and provide warmth to that area. By evenly spreading the pressure of your dog's weight it relieves joints that are normally stressed while standing or active. In order to provide proper support for a dog's full body weight, a bed needs at least 4 inches or more of memory foam.
Jacob Hamilton, the owner of Better World Pets, watched his dog Jasmine suffer through joint pain and pancreatitis for several years. The pain of watching his best friend suffer inspired him to create and design our orthopedic memory foam dog bed. Knowing our customers are going through the same emotional pain, we designed every aspect of this bed with that in mind.
SMALL
Size: 24” x 18” x 5” Thick (For dogs 1 - 20 lbs)
FREE SHIPPING!
MEDIUM
Size: 36” x 24” x 5” Thick (For dogs 20 - 60 lbs)
FREE SHIPPING!
LARGE/XL
Size: 46” x 36” x 5” Thick (For dogs 60 - 110 lbs)
FREE SHIPPING!
A Better World for our Pets!
We Love Lounging on Our Beds!
