Does Turmeric Help Dogs With Arthritis

It Influences Bone Absorption And Development

Osteoclasts are the cells that absorb old bones and osteoblasts are responsible for new bone formation. Chrondocytes are developing bone cells.

Curcumin is proven to protect chondrocytes from inflammation and damage.

Research proves that curcumin supports development of osteoblasts from stem cells .

An experimental study proves that curcumin can prevent osteoarthritis by reducing inflammation, maintaining osteoblast function and preventing development of osteoclasts.

In arthritis it is necessary to inhibit activity of osteoclasts to prevent bone loss and absorption. A number of studies state that curcumin inhibits osteoclast activity.

Turmeric For Brain Health

In older dogs, joint issues are often paired with dementia. Dementia itself can be a troublesome disease, and it often comes on rapidly and seemingly out of nowhere. In addition to being an excellent remedy for joint issues, the positive tumeric for dogs benefits have also been observed in its prevention of mental deterioration like Alzheimers and dementia. While the positive effects of turmeric on the brain are still not fully understood, studies conducted by NCBI have shown that those who have a diet high in turmeric are significantly less likely to develop Alzheimers or dementia.

Just Like Nsaids Turmeric Inhibits Cox Enzymes

Curcumin is proven to effectively regulate activities of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase enzymes.

Regulation of both these enzymes helps in curbing inflammation and preventing spread of many diseases.

Curcumin is better than many painkillers as it can selectively inhibit COX-2 or it can inhibit COX/LOX at the same time. A research study proves that curcuminoids ability in reducing COX-2 enzyme is equivalent to that of painkiller, diclofenac sodium.

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Golden Paste Recipe For Dogs

As mentioned, pet parents can make their own golden paste for dogs at home using turmeric and a few other ingredients.

Below is a dog-friendly golden paste recipe courtesy of Woodley:

Ingredients:

• ½ cup organic turmeric powder
• ¼ cup organic coconut oil
• tsp ground black pepper

Step 1: Mix 1/2 cup organic turmeric powder with 1 cup water on low heat for 7-10 minutes to make a paste.

Step 2: Add in 1/4 cup organic coconut or olive oil and mix in 1-1/4 tsp ground black pepper.

Step 3: Use the paste topically or mix it into your dogs food once per day at a dose of 1/4 tsp per 10 pounds of body weight.

Before giving your dog homemade golden paste or using it topically on your dog, speak to your veterinarian to make sure it is safe for your dog and that you are offering the right dose for your dogs age and weight.

Where To Buy Turmeric For Dogs

Turmeric sold for human consumption is acceptable for dogs. Its best to obtain organic turmeric that is free of any chemicals used to increase its shelf life. Shop at your local grocery store or health food store for the powder, and check the label to confirm it contains at least 95 percent of curcuminoid for maximum health benefits.

Turmeric chews for dogs can be purchased online or at your local pet store. Be sure to get products from reputable companies. According to Richardson, two reliable joint supplement brands for dogs areDasuquin by Nutramaxx and Phycox by Dechra.

They contain the active component of turmeric with glucosamine/chondroitin, omega fatty acids, and other antioxidants that can be useful in a multi-modal approach to canine arthritis, she says.

For a general turmeric antioxidant to supplement your pets diet, Richardson recommendsCurcuwin.

Before proceeding with a diet regimen supplemented with turmeric, consult your veterinarian to determine the right dosage and ensure that it doesnt interfere with any other medications your pet is taking.

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Does Turmeric Dosage Vary Based On Disorder

Well if we go by how humans are advised to take turmeric it should not.

This makes sense too. As turmeric is not like modern medicine at all.

But yes, one can change the dosage a bit based on the severity of the problem.

For example, if you are giving turmeric to your perfectly health dog, the below mentioned dosage works very well.

It would even work in case of minor issues.

But, for example, if your dog is in severe pain a high dosage for a few days is also fine.

Exactly the same principle is also applicable for humans.

How Much Turmeric Is Safe To Give To My Dog

The best way to administer Turmeric to your dog is to purchase a reputable product. These come in the form of tablets or liquid. They are well controlled and give detailed directions on the correct dosages. Overdosing your dog can lead to stomach problems and other negative side effects.

Here are the safe recommended dosages for your dog based on weight.

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Turmeric Can Replace Steroids

Many dogs are on steroids for allergies and joint pain but some studies show curcumin is just as effective as steroids. The authors note: The lack of side effects with curcumin is its greatest advantage compared with corticosteroids.

Another study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology shows that combining curcumin with a steroid reduced the side effects of this dangerous medication.

And thats the main benefit of turmeric not only can it work just as well as many prescription and over-the-counter drugs, it doesnt carry the same nasty, unwanted side effects.

Turmeric Can Treat Ibd And Gastrointestinal Disorders

Inflammatory bowel disease is a common gastrointestinal disorder in dogs. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that can help to reduce the symptoms of IBD. It works by reducing inflammation in the digestive system and restoring balance to the gut flora.

If your dog has IBD, you can try adding turmeric to their food or giving them a turmeric supplement.

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What Are Possible Side Effects Of The Drugs

A review study evaluating the efficacy and safety of NSAIDs that longer use of these medications yields better treatment response.But the study also reports that data regarding the safety of these medicines is lacking.

Gastrointestinal symptoms are the common side effects associated with these drugs. Carprofen causes erosion of the gastric lining of the colon .

One study reports occurrence of adverse events like diarrhoea, vomiting and loss of appetite with firocoxib treatment.

Administration of COX inhibitors with diuretics impairs kidney function in dogs. When administered as a painkiller prior to surgery, carprofen is found to mildly affectkidney function. However some studies state that it does not cause detectable differences. So, this point is still debatable.

One experimental study reports that NSAIDs like carprofen, meloxicam, and deracoxib can alter platelet function and thus should not be administered prior to surgery to avoid the risk of bleeding.

What Is Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis is a condition that occurs in dogs and is characterized by joint pain and inflammation.

Years of repeated movement leads to degeneration and injuries in the joint areas. Cartilage is degrade thus exposing bones to inflammation.

Bones are reabsorbed from areas where they are needed and produced in places where they are not required and this adds to the pain.

Dogs tend to experience stiffness in joints, limping, discomfort in getting up or lying down and they hesitate to perform activities like jumping.

Arthritis can occur due to a variety of reasons:

• Problems in immune system

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How Turmeric Can Benefit Your Dog

Turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin, might have similar benefits for our dogs. They include:

Relieve hip and joint discomfort

Curcumin has powerful antioxidant properties that can relieve pain in our dogs hips, joints, and muscles. Your dogs range of motion should increase, as the muscles become more flexible.

Aids digestion

The spice aids normal digestion by reducing bloating, gas, and the resulting discomfort. In fact, the dog food I give my pet already has turmeric as one of its ingredients. Even that small amount of turmeric has helped my dogs digestion as far as Ive noticed, he has never had smelly gas or bloating.

This is a convenient way to give your dog turmeric as a treat!

Mood enhancer

Curcumin has been shown to have a stimulative effect on brain cells. In my own case, my spells of depression have moderated. Even when I am feeling down, I can usually be productive. The spice should have the same effect on your dog and my dog, too.

Improve cognitive ability

Turmeric should help your dog feel more alert, attentive, and able to learn new commands faster. Part of that improved mental acuity might be because your dog will feel less distracting pain and be more physically responsive.

After experiencing all the benefits turmeric had on my own well-being and seeing how it might help my pet, I was ready to get my dog started on this spice. I had high hopes for good results, but still retained a little healthy skepticism.

Turmeric For Dogs: Benefits And Uses

For thousands of years, turmeric has been used in India for its medicinal benefits. It also gives curry its vibrant yellow color. Curcumin, the main component in turmeric, has powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticoagulant properties.Recent studieshave proven curcumins medicinal value for humans.

While studies havent been done to assess its advantages to dogs, holistic veterinarians and pet nutritionists encourage pet parents to use this healing herb to help their relieve canine chronic inflammation and pain caused by several diseases.

Read up to learn about the benefits and uses of turmeric for dogs, available formulations, and a golden paste recipe to try on your canine companions.

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Changing Your Diet May Also Help Relieve Knee Pain

Theres strong evidence that eating the Mediterranean diet may provide significant knee pain relief in people with OA.

Researchers reviewing three different studies found that people with symptoms of arthritis had an improved quality of life after starting the Mediterranean diet.

According to the study, the Mediterranean diet may benefit OA because of its anti-inflammatory properties, tendency to reverse metabolic syndrome , and reduce obesity.

Researchers say the diet is also rich in polyphenols , which can prevent inflammation and cartilage destruction, and this could also be why it shows benefit.

While there is no specific diet that works as a cure for arthritis, various studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet can help fight the inflammation associated with arthritis and slow the disease progression, said Gupta.

As always, getting the right dosage is key to staying healthy. While turmeric may help joint pain, more is not always better.

Consuming large amounts of turmeric can have side effects.

Subjects in a 2006 small dose-response study reported a range of adverse reactions from using 500 mg to 12,000 mg of curcumin daily, although the researchers found overall participants tolerated the high levels of the spice.

Of 24 participants, seven reported side effects that included headache, diarrhea, and skin rash. All but one of the people with side effects were taking over 4,000 mg of turmeric.

Side Effects Of Turmeric

For all these great benefits that turmeric offers, there has to be a catch, right? Well, according to The Whole Dog Journal, turmeric doesn’t have negative side effects so much as it has guidelines and stipulations. Here are a few of them:

1) Turmeric thins the blood. Again this is not necessarily bad, as thin blood helps reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, if combined with other blood-thinning medications, medical complications could arise. Always consult with your vet beforehand.

2) Turmeric could make your dog stink. There is a notable scent that comes from a high curry diet, but since your dog doesn’t sweat the same way humans do, and because of the low dosage, this will probably never come up.

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How Do I Give My Dog Turmeric

Even if the dosing above seems straightforward, turmeric is not as simple as going into your kitchen and sprinkling turmeric on your dog’s food every day. It’s a good idea to mix it with healthy fats or black pepper to maximize the curcumin absorption or create a turmeric paste to easily feed your dog doses or use as an antimicrobial agent on the skin. One quick recipe suggests you mix ½ cup of turmeric powder, 1 cup of water, 1.5 tsp of freshly ground pepper, and 70 mL of coconut or olive oil over low heat, and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks of advantages . Or, you can try Superfood Sciences new convenient and mouth-watering organic turmeric chicken dog treats! These semi-moist organic chicken dog treats with organic turmeric are perfect for training and add an essential healthy ingredient to your best furry friend’s diet.

The Absorption Of Turmeric

The problem with turmeric is that itdoesnt absorb very well in the body. If you just sprinkle it on yourdog’s food, he may not reap the benefits of the spice. The best thing todo is to mix turmeric with coconut oil and administer it to your dog’sfood. This can enhance the absorption of the turmeric spice.

You can also mix black pepper withturmeric to improve its absorption as well. The best way to maximizebenefits and absorption is to heat the turmeric. This process willincrease the bioavailability of the spice to ensure that your canine companion gets all the fantastic health benefits that turmeric has to offer.

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Does Turmeric Dosage Vary Based On Weight

The opinion varies on this one. Some say yes, some say no.

We do follow and recommend a weight based turmeric dosage.

You will wonder, then why we do not follow a weight-based dosage for humans, why for dogs then?

This is a good question and here is a logical explanation

Weight of an adult human does not vary a lot from person to person . For example average weight for 5 feet 6 inches adult is 65 kgs while that of 6 feet is 74 kgs. Basically, a 13% difference between the two.

But that is not the case with dogs an adult Pug weighs much less than adult Great Dane . Thus a Great den is 10 times larger!! Similarly, a Poodle will always be much smaller as compared to a German Shepherd Dog which is 7 times larger.

Thus, it may be wrong to give the same dosage of turmeric to an adult pug and adult great den.

Thats why we believe a weight-based dosage for dogs is a better method.

How Long Does It Take To See The Effects Of Turmeric

Unfortunately, turmeric doesnt offer a quick fix, so youll need to take it daily to notice results. If you were wondering how long it takes turmeric to work, this can vary from person to person. However, you should usually expect to start noticing improvements in around 4-8 weeks when taken daily.

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How Do I Tell If My Dog Is In Pain

If your dog is in pain they may:

Turmeric For Dog Arthritis: 8 Evidence Based Benefits Dosage And Recipes

I receive so many emails asking for inputs if turmeric can help in dog arthritis.

So today I am going to discuss the same. Starting with why turmeric can be of help and then move on to how much to give and some easy ways to do so.

I have divided the article in 3 broad sections:

The first section discusses which medications are used today for dog arthritis and how they work.

Second, tries to relate arthritis condition and working of medications with how turmeric works using scientific studies and research. I feel this was lacking in most turmeric for dog arthritis articles I have come across.

Lastly, some testimonials and how to use turmeric for dogs.

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How Much Turmeric Do You Give A Dog

The rule of thumb is 1/8¼ teaspoon of turmeric paste per 10 pounds of body weight per day. Start by giving your dog less than the recommended dose, then gradually increase up to the maximum dose. Feed the paste only once daily at first, then at each meal.

Monitor your dog for side effects. If you notice side effects, stop feeding the paste for a few days, then resume at a smaller dose. Work with a holistic veterinarian to make sure that you are giving your dog the appropriate dosage.

Can Dogs Eat Turmeric

Turmeric is safe for dogs in small doses, and it may have a positive impact. One study has shown curcumin, a frequently studied phytonutrient found in turmeric, may support healthy joint mobility and comfort.

Turmeric has been used in humans for years and has gained popularity in the pet supplement space, says Purina nutritionist Karina Carbo-Johnson, MS. In fact, she says, the Brain Health chew tabs from EverRoot have turmeric root powder as an active ingredient.

You might find turmeric listed as an ingredient on your dogs food label. Its purpose is to enhance the color and/or flavor of the kibble, however, not to provide any anti-inflammatory benefits.

It turns out the levels of turmeric used in coloring or flavoring dog food are not likely to have any noticeable health benefits. So, while turmeric is safe for dogs to consume in small amounts, they probably wont see the anti-inflammatory benefits the spice is touted for in humans by eating it in dog food.

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