Canine joint health tips in honor of National Service Dog Month

To recognize National Service Dog Month this September, YuMOVE, a joint supplement for dogs and the American Kennel Club's official dog joint supplement, is raising awareness of what these helpful pups do and offering joint health tips so service dogs can live their fullest lives.¹

What service dogs do

From helping people feel less alone to making them happier to helping people cope in times of crisis, there are many benefits of owning a dog.² Along with providing all these benefits, service dogs offer tailored, 24-7 support to people with disabilities, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental diasbilities.³

Photo courtesy of YuMOVE.

Photo courtesy of YuMOVE.

From puppyhood, service dogs undergo intense training to perform tasks that may be challenging for their partner. Some examples include helping people who are blind with navigation, alerting people who are deaf to the presence of people or sounds, and noticing low blood sugar or incoming seizures, and additional life-saving tasks.^1,3

As service dogs are often on the go and have many responsibilities, this can be taxing on their joints. Here are some ways to help promote joint health for service dogs to continue helping the people they love thrive¹:

• Relax regularly – Because these dogs are so active, regular low-impact exercise can help support their joint health. They do need breaks and relaxation, which can be hard to achieve as they are on duty most of the day. An ideal relaxation time for service dogs is when their partner is enjoying down time.
• Offer joint supplements – These can alleviate occasional joint stiffness and help support joint structure and mobility. They are also convenient because they can be given daily with food or as a treat.
• Consider alternative therapies – Such as physiotherapy which can support a dog's range of motion, stress levels, and joint stiffness.Or hydrotherapy as the water removes pressure from the dog's joints and empowers them to move easily and offers resistance to strengthen their muscles.

All of these joint health tips should be performed under the care or supervision of a professional veterinary therapist.

References

1. YuMOVE offers joint health tips to keep service dogs moving during National Service Dog Month in September. News release. YuMOVE. September 20, 223. Accessed September 20, 2023. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yumove-offers-joint-health-tips-to-keep-service-dogs-moving-during-national-service-dog-month-in-september-301932937.html
2. Arford K. 10 science-based benefits of having a dog. American Kennel Club. Published October 20, 2020. Accessed August 21, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog
3. Service animals. ADA National Network. Accessed September 20, 2023. https://adata.org/factsheet/service-animals