Every single one of my dogs has suffered from this debilitating condition.  No matter what their breeding, all of them eventually have had joint problems.  Some of my dogs had hip dysplasia their entire lives and therefore rapidly developed arthritis.  Some of them were in accidents and as a consequence, developed arthritis.  And some just got older, suffered from normal wear and tear, and eventually became arthritic.  Today, I own a young, 140 pound Rottweiler with hip dysplasia and arthritis.  As a child, my beloved 70 pound Golden Retriever had terrible hips and was lame with osteoarthritis by the time she was two years old.  Then my 14 pound Llasa Apso turned ten and developed arthritis in his front legs. 

The first veterinarian I ever took them to recommended pain medication, weight loss, and vitamin C therapy.  Four decades later, veterinarians, including me, still use a multiple modality approach to arthritis therapy and are still recommending nutrition, including the use of vitamin C. Modalities mean treatments.  So, a multiple modality approach refers to using more than one therapy to treat the pain, stiffness, and loss of function associated with arthritis.  Instead of just giving pain medication, veterinarians combine many different therapies and try to modify the multiple therapies to best suit the patient.  These modalities may include massage, acupuncture, weight loss, physical therapy, exercise, anti-inflammatory medication, pain medication, surgery, and the use of nutrients that impact body function.    

One of these nutrients is vitamin C.  Vitamin C is an important part of bone growth and repair.  It is critical in the development of collagen and cartilage needed to help prevent the development of arthritis.  Additionally, collagen is the connective tissue vital to the function and repair of bones and soft tissue.  Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant, preventing free radicals and oxidative damage that can delay healing and contribute to joint disease.  Furthermore, it is an anti-inflammatory agent that can help reduce inflammation and pain.  All in all, vitamin C is instrumental in the development and maintenance of strong bones and healthy joints.

Interestingly, dogs manufacture their own vitamin C, so one would think that additional vitamin C would not be helpful in the treatment of osteoarthritis.  However, researchers treating arthritic dogs with vitamin C have demonstrated a reduction in pain in these animals.  Therefore, it is found in many nutritional therapies designed to treat arthritis in dogs.  The theory is that giving vitamin C in doses higher than the dog’s body can manufacture allows the vitamin to help reduce the signs associated with arthritis.  The dogs make their own vitamin C, but not enough to fight off the problems associated with aging, stress, and disease.  The extra vitamin C works to reduce inflammation and pain and may have a positive effect on cartilage and collagen.  Just as importantly, vitamin C is water soluble and is easily eliminated by the kidneys, so it is really difficult to give too much to a dog.  So, you will often see vitamin C as an ingredient in nutritional supplements designed to help arthritic dogs.

Another great way to make sure that your dog receives adequate vitamin C is to offer Dog-Wa on a daily basis.  The cold-pressed fresh herbs in Dog-Wa are great, natural sources of vitamin C.  The vitamin is readily available and easily assimilated by your pet.  There it can help reduce oxidative damage, strengthen bones and blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and help repair cartilage.  All of these benefits can help prevent arthritis in your dog and help reduce the pain associated with the disease in those pets that already suffer from arthritis.  And while your dog enjoys the benefits of natural vitamin C, the pet can reap the other rewards associated with eating the fresh herbs found in Dog-Wa, including pleasant breath, reduction in gas production, and a well-functioning digestive tract.  The bottom line is that Vitamin C may not prevent the common cold, but it just might make your pet’s bones and joints feel better.  

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