Your pet’s joints can take a pounding from a variety of daily activities – from diving for toys to jumping to high places, like perches or stairs. Much like humans, pets’ joints will change with time. But this doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to help support your pet’s joint health.

Giving your pets supplements to support healthy joints and connective tissue may help discomfort associated with normal exercise and daily activity. Supporting joint health and connective tissue early in life is important to your pet’s future joint health.

Here are some easy ways you can help keep your pet’s joints healthy for a more active, enjoyable lifestyle.

Photo courtesy of flickr user Micolo J

1. Take a few short walks during the day.
   Shorter walks put less strain on your pet’s joints and muscles. Try taking two 15-minute or three 10-minute walks per day to help your pet get the right amount of exercise without pushing his or her joints too far.
    
2. Create new playtime activities.
   What dog doesn’t love a good swim? Low-impact forms of exercise, such as swimming, can help stretch your pet’s muscles and support flexibility.
    
3. Give your pet a little TLC.
   There’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned massage to relax your mind and body. Massages can do the same for animals, helping relax muscles and stretch joints that may have stiffened during the night while your pet was sleeping or after a long day of active play. However, there’s no need to seek out an expensive pet masseuse. Just give your fur baby a good backrub in the evening.
    
4. Provide daily supplements for healthy joints.
   Try joint health supplements like Tomlyn’s Joint and Hip Chews for both cats and dogs to add beneficial vitamins, proteins and amino acids for joint and muscle support. Tomlyn even has a formula of Joint and Hip Chews made for senior dogs to help support their joint flexibility and mobility.

Take the time to ensure your pet’s joints are cared for properly to keep your pet’s lifestyle healthy and happy.