By Charly Pruden 

May 27th 2022

Expected Read Time: 15 Minutes

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In 2018, 59.5% of cats and 55.8% of dogs were classified as overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). (1) 

Numerous studies have shown that obesity can have detrimental effects on the health and longevity of dogs and cats. Obesity is associated with a shorter life span, and a higher risk of chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and more. (2)

Keeping your pet at optimum weight is incredibly important when you want to support joint health and prevent joint issues. But what is an optimum weight for a dog or a cat?

At optimum weight, you should be able to easily feel your dog's & cat’s ribs without pinching them hard. With short hair dogs, you should be able to see the last 2 ribs when they play. I invite you to take a close and honest look at your pet. Is your pet overweight?

So how do you reduce your dog's & cat’s weight? 

You can reduce your pet’s weight by simply reducing the food intake which reduces the caloric intake of your pet. Research has shown that dogs have lived healthier and longer lives by simply reducing the food intake by 25% of what was recommended on the pet food label. (3)

Many pet parents (including myself) have also witnessed a weight loss after switching to a species appropriate raw diet. This makes sense because raw diets are very low in carbohydrates (sugar) compared to dry food. It is important to note that a study by the university of Helsinki has shown that adding as little as 20% raw food to the diet has dramatically decreased the risk of allergies and disease in dogs. (4)

Action Step:

If your dog or cat is overweight, reduce the food intake. From there, reduce the dry/wet food by another 20% and add 20% of raw ingredients to the food. Consider switching to a fully raw diet. 

At PAWDEGA, we only recommend the safest & most effective pet products on the market, and every single ingredient in every single product that we recommend is well-researched to make sure it’s safe for your pet to consume. Most dog joint aid supplements on the market today only target the joints, which is not ideal, plus, they contain synthetic ingredients as well as fillers that may cause sensitivities in dogs & cats.

All of our dog & cat joint support recommendations below are products that are truly natural (we read beyond the labels). The body actually recognizes these products as nutrition, so you don’t have to worry too much about combining different products with each other. The below joint care supplements are also free from MSM which can cause sensitivities in pets, and the products are also free of shark cartilage, as we care a lot about sustainability. 

The truth is, supporting your pet’s health and more specifically joint health is a multifaceted approach and requires different angles. There isn’t a magic pill that will guarantee you that your pet won’t suffer from any joint issues in the future.

The key is combining effective joint care supplements with the right raw pet food,pre & probiotics, superfoods, and lifestyle changes.

Action Steps:

Jump For JOYnts from Adored Beast Apothecary is our number one recommendation when it comes to supporting your dog, cat, or horse’s joint health naturally.

The unique aspect of Jump For JOYnts is that it doesn’t only focus on joint health, but it also supports the ligaments, cartilage, tendons, muscles, bones, meniscus, joint fluid, and so much more. When we start feeding the muscles and support all the supporting aspects of the joints, that's when we see the best results.

This homeopathic product is perfect for prevention, as well as supporting a pet that already has signs of joint issues such as limping, discomfort, immobility, and more. Due to the calendula content, Jump for JOYnts also supports rehabilitation and the growing of healthy tissue which helps to repair tendons and muscle injuries.

When you use Jump For JOYnts for prevention, it isn’t used on a daily basis, so one bottle will last you for more than a few months!

Pssst... We've also got Equine Jump For Joynts for Horses!

Providing your pet with a good, fresh source of Omega-3 is very important for good joint health as it helps to lower inflammation throughout the body largely due the EPA & DHA. Veterinarians highly recommend including Omega-3 in your pet's diet either as a whole food or as a supplement. You’ve most likely heard about the benefits of fish oil before, but HOLD ON! Omega-3 can be controversial and I’m here to tell you that fish oil is not the safest option, in fact, we do not recommend using fish oil at all! Fish oil oxidizes very easily when it comes in contact with air, light, heat, or freezing which can contribute to inflammation in the body. The risk of feeding a rancid fish oil is too high, and there are plenty of safer options for you to choose from. 

Safe sources of EPA & DHA are actually not that easy to come by, but we’ve got you covered.

Omega-3 Joint Health Support

The food that your dog and cat eats has a significant impact on their health. Feeding a low inflammatory, low carbohydrate diet with lots of fresh, wholesome nutrition is important for optimum health and wellbeing, especially when it comes to supporting joint health.

Holistic veterinarians recommend feeding a raw food diet which is anti-inflammatory and rich in moisture, nutrients and natural enzymes. If you’re ready to switch your dog & cat to raw, we offer Paleo Ridge, the highest quality raw pet food in the UAE, sourced ethically from high-welfare UK farms. 

You can find our Easy Switch to Raw Bundle here, but please do get in contact with us with any questions you have about switching to Paleo Ridge.

If you don’t yet feel comfortable switching to a fully raw diet, that’s okay too. However, according to research, adding as little as 20% of raw food into your dog’s diet can dramatically decrease disease markers and the risk of allergies. (4)

A full switch to a raw diet would be best in most cases, however, mixing raw food and dry/wet food would also be an overall improvement of your dog’s or cat’s diet. If you’d like to start adding some raw ingredients, you can find a selection of delicious additions here.