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FELINE ARTHRITIS - Natural remedies and pain support
 Conventional treatment for arthritis usually includes nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or Rimadyl. The benefit of these NSAIDs is that they often reduce pain quickly, but they also come with potential adverse side effects including stomach ulcers, stomach upset and even death. In addition they do nothing to repair cartilage or slow the progress of the disease.
Natural supplements offer an alternative that many cat lovers find more appropriate and robust. These nutritional supplements have no serious side effects and they provide the joints with the necessary building blocks to revitalize cartilage. This means they not only help in reducing the pain of sore, stiff joints - they also help rehabilitate and slow the process of deterioration.
| Step 1: Essential Supplements - ease pain and support mobility |
 Nupro Joint Support - All of the great stuff in the original Nupro with the added benefit of key ingredients shown to support joint health and rejuvenation. Glucosamine complex to protect and regenerate cartilage as well as reduce joint pain and inflammation. MSM, also an anti-inflammatory, stimulates the growth and repair of cartilage, tendons and other connective tissue. Ester C boosts the effectiveness of Glucosamine and MSM while providing extra support to the immune system. Vitamin C deficiency has been linked to hip dysplasia and other arthritis-like conditions.
 Your cat can further benefit from the long chain fatty acids, specifically n-3s, found in the highest concentrations in fish oils. Fish oil is a great, all-round supplement for any cat, but it has significant importance to joint health. n-3 fatty acids reduce the expression of cartilage degrading enzymes while suppressing the production of inflammatory mediators, providing protection to the cartilage.
Nutri-Vet Wild Salmon Oil comes from 100% wild salmon, not farmed sources. Wild salmon has higher levels of beneficial omega-3 and lower levels of saturated fats. In addition, farmed salmon have been found to contain significantly higher concentrations of PCBs, dioxin and other cancer causing contaminants than salmon caught in the wild. To learn more about the benefits of Nutri-Vet Salmon Oil, click here.
| Step 2: Diet - what your cat eats can make a big difference |
A healthy lifestyle that includes proper exercise and diet can help prevent a host of diseases like diabetes, cancer and arthritis. For cats suffering from the pain of arthritis, weight management takes on a new importance.
The more weight your cat's joints have to bear the more pain they will experience. In addition to the pain, a greater load on the joints will contribute to increased damage and deterioration of the cartridge and eventually the joints themselves. It is tempting to over feed our feline friends and indulge them with treats and table scraps, but remember the consequences.
Besides the amount of food we feed our cats, what we feed them is also important. Most experts recommend an all natural, high quality diet that contains some raw foods.
It is important to note that ingredients like wheat, corn and soy (present in large amounts in dry cat food) tend to increase inflammation and aggravate arthritis.
| Step 3: Exercise - even arthritic cats need daily exercise |
Adequate exercise is important for your cat in all stages of life. It promotes good health and reduces behavioral issues. For a cat with arthritis, exercise should continue to be a part of an overall lifestyle that supports improved health and longevity.
As it relates to arthritis, exercise is helpful in the following ways:
- Improves metabolism and burns excess calories, helping maintain a proper weight.
- Helps stabilize joints by strengthening surrounding muscles.
- Improves physical functioning and stamina while enhancing emotional well-being.
- Improves circulation.
When your cat doesn't feel well, getting enough exercise might be a challenge and will probably require more interaction from you. Remember to take it easy at first. Be creative, be patient and be persistent.
A healthy cat needs about 20 minutes of exercise once or twice per day (more for active breeds). Aim for this goal, but work up to it slowly. Over exercising can lead to undue pain and discomfort. In the beginning, you may want to try several short play times throughout the day to gauge how much exercise is appropriate, then work up from there.
Everything you need is in the Essential Joint Support Kit - vital supplements, information on diet and nutrition along with beneficial exercises.
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