8 All-Natural Remedies For Dog Pain And Discomfort

Having lived for years, you surely understand what it means to be in pain. Your dog feels the same way you do when in pain. They may limp, lose their appetite, pant more than usual, become restless, whine and whimper, lick themselves excessively, tremble, and become less social.

No one wants their dog to experience such symptoms. However, if your furry friend does end up in that condition, you have to do something about it right away so your dog can get back to a pain-free, comfortable, and happy state. Consider these eight all-natural remedies for dog pain and discomfort:

1. Exercise

Even if your dog has arthritis pain, don't allow them to sleep all day indoors. In fact, this would only exacerbate their condition. Make sure you take them for a brief stroll on soft terrain on a daily basis.

Also, regularly engage them in gentle games inside the house. Try popular ones like hide the treat, tug of war, and throw and fetch. Keeping them on the move this way may help decrease their joint pain. Just see to it that the games aren't too vigorous for the state of pain and discomfort they're in. And when it's time to sleep, ensure that their bed is as comfortable as possible.

2. Weight Loss
The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention reports that about 60% of dogs in the US are overweight. Such disproportionate weight may cause strain in their joints and damage the cartilage there. The result is pain and discomfort that will only get worse over time. So to avoid such pain, do what you can to reduce the weight of your dog. Use these natural tricks:

• Feed your dog less carbs and more protein.
• Prepare your dog's food at home to avoid the typically high fat and starch content of store-bought foods.
• Gradually reduce the portion sizes of the food you serve your dog without starving them.
• Offer your dog several small treats rather than a few big ones.

3. CBD And Hemp Seed Oil
More and more health authorities are slowly embracing the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for pain relief in humans. Interestingly enough, the practice has spilled over to apply to animals, so you'll now hear of owners giving pets cannabis supplements.

Dogs, like other mammals, have cannabinoid receptors throughout their bodies. However, because of the high count of these receptors, dogs are more sensitive to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient of cannabis that produces a ‘high' effect. That's why you need to give them CBD products with zero THC content. Subjecting dogs to THC may result in lower heart rates, staggering, compromised balance, and dilated pupils.

However, CBD in itself never makes you high, and the same applies to your dog. So giving them pure CBD products like CBD oil, hemp seed oil, and CBD dog chews and treats is a great way to help relieve their pain and make them calm.

4. Turmeric
Scientific studies reveal that curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, may help control joint discomfort in dogs just as it does in humans. Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which make turmeric a good, natural pain remedy.

However, your dog's body doesn't automatically absorb powdered turmeric, so don't simply sprinkle the spice on your dog's food and assume it'll be effective. Instead, mix it with healthy fat like coconut oil. This makes it more absorbable by your dog's gut. You may also want to add some black pepper for the same purpose. Give your dog a daily dose of about a quarter teaspoon of the resulting paste for every 10 pounds of their weight. Otherwise, use the turmeric paste when preparing dog treats.

5. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an oxidant that reduces cell deterioration by neutralizing free radicals. It also helps in the production of collagen, which is a part of cartilage. Although dogs can internally synthesize vitamin C from glucose, the production goes down when they're in pain and discomfort.

Therefore, feed your dog things like papaya, blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, sweet red bell pepper, kale, Brussel sprouts, and spinach to replenish their vitamin C levels.

6. Glucosamine-Rich Foods
Glucosamine is a compound found in cartilage. It helps in forming collagen, which is an important component of joint cartilage and other connective tissues in a dog's body.

Cartilage reduces friction between bones. With enough cartilage at the ends of their bones, your dog can easily move and bear their weight without much trouble. But if the cartilage gets damaged, your dog experiences pain and discomfort at the joints.

With that said, give your dog foods that are rich in glucosamine to help them synthesize more cartilage. These include beef trachea, green lipped mussels, chicken feet, oxtails, shellfish shells, beef knuckle bones, and bone broth.

7. Massage Therapy

Dogs in pain develop tense and stiff muscles. These compress the joints, causing inflamed surfaces to rub against each other. The result is even more pain. You may leverage the power of massage to help their muscles relax. Use your bare palms to apply gentle pressure on the affected parts in a rocking to-and-fro motion.

Alternate between slow, gentle movements and hard, fast movements. The former has a soothing effect that relaxes the muscles. The latter stimulates the release of endorphins, which are a natural painkiller.

8. Ice Therapy
When you subject an injured part of your dog's body to extremely low temperatures, their body's defense system reacts by increasing the flow of blood to the affected area. This leads to an influx of oxygen and nutrients to the ailing part and promotes healing.

To perform ice therapy on your dog, first determine the exact part that's painful. Next, choose an appropriately sized ice pack and place it in a gel-filled wrap that's big enough to cover the injured part. Keep the dog still and let the ice pack stay in contact with the dog's skin for about 10 minutes. Sit back and relax as the ice works its therapeutic magic.

To Conclude
There are several natural remedies you can use to relieve your dog of pain and discomfort. Some of the most popular methods are discussed above, but it's always advisable to consult your vet before using any of them. A veterinarian is in a better position to advise you on which methods to use after assessing your dog's specific condition.