How to take care of your dog’s Hips & Joints 101

Your everything guide to stronger canine bone health—before old age sets in.

By now, you might be familiar with a particular internet pug who infamously seals our daily fates with a flick of his thirteen year old bones. If Noodle goes limp, it’s a “no bones day.” If Noodle stands, it’s a “bones day.”

And while we now check these predictions more religiously than our own horoscopes, we’re also reminded that our dogs’ bones get old just like ours. That when the weather gets chillier or we get a little exercise lazy, our dogs probably feel that same familiar stiffening in their bones.

Wear and tear on our structural systems are, more or less, just a part of getting older. But relief is possible with the right supplements, exercise, and plenty of rest. For when your dog starts moving a bit slower, consider this your ever-expansive guide to their symptoms, signs, and remedies to better bone health.

By now, you might be familiar with a particular internet pug who infamously seals our daily fates with a flick of his thirteen year old bones. If Noodle goes limp, it’s a “no bones day.” If Noodle stands, it’s a “bones day.”

And while we now check these predictions more religiously than our own horoscopes, we’re also reminded that our dogs’ bones get old just like ours. That when the weather gets chillier or we get a little exercise lazy, our dogs probably feel that same familiar stiffening in their bones.

Wear and tear on our structural systems are, more or less, just a part of getting older. But relief is possible with the right supplements, exercise, and plenty of rest. For when your dog starts moving a bit slower, consider this your ever-expansive guide to their symptoms, signs, and remedies to better bone health.

How do I know if my dog’s hips and joints are hurting?

Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia are the two leading causes of hip and joint pain in dogs. The former can be genetically or situationally triggered (and most common in larger breeds), while the latter is solely an inherited trait that often comes as a precursor to arthritis.

If your dog is being affected by either of these, you’re likely to notice:

• Lameness, or the inability to properly use limbs, when they initially get up, followed by a gradual return back to normal movement as they begin to move
• A limp on the affected leg
• Slower movements or longer time to arise
• Increased proneness to slip on slick surfaces
• Trouble climbing stairs or exercising

How do I help treat their discomfort or pain?

Besides finding a consistent exercise regimen that works for both of you, supplements. Finding the right mix of supplemental nutrients to balance their regular diet is critical for those hard-to-find (but all the more necessary) bone and joint strengtheners.

While your dog should get their main supply of these nutrients through food, it’s still very possible to exhibit signs of deficiency—especially if their bones are already getting older. The right supplement formula should combat any existing joint and hip problems while fortifying their longer-term bone health.

At Maev, we partnered with external experts and world-class veterinary nutritionists to hand select the perfect blend of nature’s best bone strengtheners. Our proprietary Hip & Joint formula includes:

• Collagen, the most essential protein for healthy cell, skin, tissue, and muscle generation. We add collagen-rich bone broth to our formula to pack in amino acids that reduce inflammation while rebuilding joints and lean muscle mass.

• Calcium, the mineral that maintains and protects your dog’s bones and teeth. It also specifically works to rebuild brittle or weak bones, particularly in dog’s with osteo issues.

How long should my dog take Maev’s Hip & Joint supplements?

While our supplements can act as a quick countermeasure against one-off no bones days, they’re most impactful when integrated into your dog’s daily routine. Sustaining this habit now will help fortify your dog’s structural system before old age has had a proper chance to settle in.

Just think about it like this: When you take your vitamins in the morning, so should they. Find a method that works for your home—whether that’s giving their supplements in a snackable bar form or “hiding” it in their dinner bowls.

Either way, they’ll get their full nutritional value (without being any the wiser) and you’ll both be back to your regularly scheduled runs in no time.