Have you ever seen a dog on wheels? Believe it or not there are a few thousand dog wheelchairs sold each year to people whose pets are in need of a little help moving around. Mom and Pop shops are popping up across the country producing devices that can help handicapped dogs. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, dogs aren’t the only animals reaping the benefits of wheelchairs. Sheep, chicken and even pigs are finding a new set of wheels can change their lives. Using an animal wheelchair is one way of helping pets overcome joint disease, albeit a non-traditional one at that. But because contraptions like these can cost a bit more than some pet owners would like to spend, a more optimal way may be through the use of joint pain natural supplements such as Flexpet. Unlike an animal wheelchair, which helps pets move around, FlexPet actually works to build back the lost cartilage in the joints. It has even been known to work on dogs that have lost much of their ability to walk because of massive joint discomfort.

Degenerative Joint Disorder is a common condition in dogs; researchers believe as many as 20 percent of all dogs will experience it at some point in their lives. DJD is characterized by the loss of the smooth cartilage that covers and protects the end of the bones in the joint area. Since bones have nerves, it hurts when one bone rubs against another bone. The job of the cartilage is to protect the two bones from touching. But when the cartilage wears away and the bones are exposed, any movement can create pain and inflammation in the effected joint area as those bones rub against each other. DJD is also known to cause osteophytes to form on the bones. These are small, spurs of new bone that develop near the joint and cause additional pain for the dog.

There are two forms of Degenerative Joint Disorder. Primary Degenerative Joint Disorder usually happens as a result of normal wear and tear, which is especially common in aging dogs. Secondary Degenerative Joint Disorder occurs as a result of another condition affecting the joint such as elbow or hip dysplasia. Dogs with injured joints, such as a fracture involving the joint, or a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee, are more likely to develop DJD.

Common sense would say that many senior dogs have joint disease, but even younger dogs can have pet joint disease. Helping pets overcome joint disease is a big focus for thousands of pet owners all across the country. Many of these pet owners have spent the last several years looking at alternative ways to help their pets overcome joint disease because traditional medicines and treatments are either too expensive or come with unwanted side effects. When pets have joint disease it can lead to poor pet health and even pet obesity. Supplements like FlexPet are far less expensive than the cost of a joint replacement surgery or wheelchairs. In fact, a regular treatment of the dietary supplement pales in comparison to the thousands of dollars it costs for the alternatives.