How to Keep Your Dog Pain-Free: Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips for Dogs

How to Keep Your Dog Pain-Free: Anti-Inflammatory Diet Tips for Dogs

Inflammation.

It’s one of those silent killers that can lead to all sorts of health problems—for dogs just as well as for people.

Humans like you and I have an advantage over dogs in that we can speak up anytime we’re feeling pain, soreness, or stiffness. Unfortunately, all our dogs can do whimper through the pain and hope we notice that something isn’t right.

If you believe that your dog is suffering from chronic inflammation, your best bet is to talk to your veterinarian about using an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin or ibuprofen) for dogs.

However, NSAIDs are just a temporary fix. They don’t solve the root cause of your dog’s inflammation.

So what is inflammation, why is it unhealthy, and what can you do to naturally prevent it in your dog? Read on for our top tips.

What Is Inflammation?

Most people tend to think of inflammation as a bad thing, but the truth is it serves a very important function in wound healing. Inflammation is actually a normal process our bodies go through to help healing and fighting against disease.

Think about the last time you fell or banged against something and got a big bump. That bump was an acute inflammatory response—blood rushed to the area to help heal the injury.

In situations like that, inflammation can be (quite literally) a life-saver!

The trouble occurs when inflammation happens chronically over time.

When we talk about inflammation as a dangerous health condition, we’re talking about the chronic variety—the kind of inflammation that doesn’t go away. Over time, after months or even years, chronic inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and can even lead to diseases like cancer.

Chronic inflammation can be caused by all sorts of things, including…

• Food sensitivities or allergies
• Physical or emotional stress
• Autoimmune disease
• Insufficient omega-3 fatty acids
• Eating too many processed
• High insulin levels from too many carbohydrates
• Insufficient nutrients

Fortunately, with the introduction of a few inflammation-fighting foods you can help make sure your dog’s inflammation levels remain low. This is an important step in helping to keep them healthy and pain-free.

Inflammation-Fighting Food #1: Turmeric

Turmeric is an orange/yellow spice often used in Indian recipes. In addition to being full of flavor, it’s also known as being one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods in the world thanks to its high concentration of a compound called curcumin.

Curcumin can help reduce and prevent inflammation by inhibiting enzymes known to cause swelling. As a result, turmeric can help to prevent pain and even slow damage from free radicals thanks to its antioxidant properties.

Product containing turmeric: Omega Biotic Chews

Inflammation-Fighting Food #2: Fish Oil

There are several different kinds of polyunsaturated fats, but 2 of the most important are omega-3 fats and omega-6 fats.

In order for a body to be in great health, it needs a balance of the two. Too many omega-6 fats tends to cause inflammation. Too many omega-3 fats can inhibit inflammation.

Well, in our western culture one of the most causes of inflammation is an imbalance of fats coming from way, way too much omega-6 fats. This is because the processed foods that are everywhere (and yes, this includes many dog foods) are made with cheap vegetable oils that are unusually high in omega-6 fats.

The result: lots of people (and dogs) with inflammation.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. Actually, there are 2 solutions.

The first thing you’ll want to do is to stop feeding your dog low-quality dog food that is made using vegetable oils. This will help reduce the overabundance of omega-6 fats.

Second, feed your dog fish oil (or give them a supplement that contains it). Fish oil is one of the healthiest fat sources in the world, thanks in large part to its high concentration of omega-3 fats.

Product containing fish oil: Miracle Vet All-Natural Weight Gainer

Inflammation-Fighting Food #3: Glucosamine & Chondroitin

One of the nastiest effects of inflammation is its tendency to cause joint pain and stiffness. (Especially in conditions like arthritis, which can be surprisingly common in dogs.)

Luckily, there’s an easy-to-find supplement that can go a long way in protecting your dog’s joints against the wear and tear of physical play and inflammation—glucosamine and chondroitin.

One of glucosamine’s functions is to lubricate and protect our joints. Chondroitin is a similar compound, which is found naturally in cartilage.

Our bodies makes glucosamine naturally, but as we age, we may begin to produce an insufficient amount—leading to joint pain and stiffness.

Taking glucosamine/chondroitin can help prevent this, and keep your dog’s joints healthy, supple, and mobile well into old age.

Product containing glucosamine & chondroitin: Miracle Vet Super Premium Dog Food

An Ounce of Prevention…

You know the old saying: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And this is especially true when it comes to inflammation.

Nobody wants to take their dog to the vet and find out that they are in pain from inflammation and swelling, and that there isn’t much you can do to help them.

So protect your dog against that future by feeding them a healthy anti-inflammatory diet.

Just give your dog these 3 anti-inflammatory superfoods and they will be well on their way to feeling better and living a longer, healthier life.