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NZ VELVET AGILITY
ITS THE DOGS
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New Zealand Velvet Agility is a totally natural product suitable for every stage of your dog's life.
Limping in Dogs.
We're often asked questions about dogs limping, because owners get really worried that a limp means that their beloved pet has arthritis. A limp could be the first sign of a long-term problem that could turn a happy dog like the one below into a sore, unhappy shadow of his or her former self.
This isn't always the case – just like humans, sometimes animals suffer from aches and pains that don't necessarily signify anything serious. The limp could be caused by nothing more alarming than a simple injury; a sprain, strain or bruise and it might be as simple as a cut or a thorn or burr in their paw. It could also be related to the animal's weight – being substantially overweight can cause joint strain during running and playing.
The best approach is to carefully inspect the sore leg and to look for any obvious problems. Check underneath the paw for cuts, look in between the pads of the paw as well and check for redness or inflammation that might indicate an infection or allergy of some sort. Inspect your dogs toenails – long nails are common in older or less active dogs and can often cause limping. Overgrown nails need to be trimmed by a vet.
This might well give you all the information you need to diagnose and treat the problem – a small cut is easily attended to and thorns or burrs can be removed without too much trouble.
However, if this process leaves you none the wiser, then gently and carefully move the joints of the leg and feel up and down the muscles, paying close attention to your dog's reactions. If the dog tries to pull away at a certain point, or if you feel major resistance in the range of motion, then you've got an indication as to where the trouble lies. Stop if your pet shows signs of serious discomfort.
A minor limp that doesn't seem to provoke an obvious reaction might well resolve itself in a couple of days, just like it would in a human but if the injury seems to be joint related, is resulting in quite a severe limp and doesn't go away quickly, then its best to get the vet involved. Don't give your pet over-the-counter painkillers, its always best to get advice from a vet when it comes to the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) in animals.
The joint problem might not be related to arthritis at all, it could be something like a tendon or nerve injury, a back injury or an unstable joint but your vet is best placed to make a diagnosis, especially if X-rays or other diagnostic techniques are required.
If the diagnosis is at all related to a joint problem, or even if surgery is required for something like a cruciate ligament injury, then NZ Velvet Agility products are great choices to support your dogs health, especially since all our formulas are totally natural and have none of the side effects of NSAIDs. They're loaded with glucosamine, which is fabulous for joint health, and the deer velvet also offers many other benefits (click here for a more comprehensive breakdown of what's in deer velvet). Remember, at the end of the day, natural equals safe equals effective equals happy dogs
Arthritis in Dogs
One in five dogs will develop arthritis.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate supplements are fast becoming the most widely used supplements in dogs' diets. Arthritis in dogs is one of the most common health problems seen by veterinarians. Unfortunately, dog owners and veterinarians rarely notice the early warning signs of arthritis in dogs because these animals have the character to ignore soreness and discomfort until the arthritic changes in the joints have progressed significantly.
Most veterinarians now advocate the large body of evidence supporting the use of glucosamine as a nutritional supplement to aid joint health. Both the convalescing or arthritic dog and the hard working canine athlete will benefit from glucosamine.
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Deer Antler Velvet is the ONLY quality, renewable source of glucosamine known in the world today. Long term use of glucosamine, such as that found in NZ Velvet Agility products, may allow the discontinuation of Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, avoiding the undesirable effects of NSAIDs.
Canine Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is just one of the most studied veterinary disorders in dogs, and the most common solitary cause of joint inflammation of the hips.
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Hip dysplasia is an irregular formation of the hip socket that, in its most serious form, could at some point cause debilitating lameness and distressing arthritis of the joints. It is a hereditary quality that is affected by environmental factors. It can be discovered in many pets and also occasionally in humans, however is most typically associated with dogs, and is common in lots of canine types, particularly the bigger breeds.
In canines, it can be induced by a femur that does not fit properly into the pelvic socket, or poorly created muscles in the pelvic region. Large and giant types are most vulnerable to hip dysplasia (perhaps due to the BMI of the specific animal, however, several additional types can suffer from it. Here is a listing of leading 100 breeds influenced, by percentage. Felines are likewise recognized to have this disorder, especially Siamese.
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To lessen discomfort, the animal will commonly lower its motion of that hip. This might show up as "bunny hopping", where both legs relocate all together, or reduced vibrant motion (running, hopping), or rigidity. Because the hip could not move entirely, the body compensates by adjusting its usage of the vertebrae, commonly inducing knee joint or soft tissue problems to occur.
In pets, the trouble almost always shows up by the time the dog is 18 months old. The problem can be anywhere from moderate to gravely crippling, and may at some point trigger extreme osteoarthritis.
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It is most usual in medium-large pure bred pets, such as Newfoundland Dogs, German Guard Dogs, Labrador or Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers as well as mastiffs, however also happens in some smaller sized breeds such as spaniels and pugs and also from time to time (often with slight indicators) in felines.
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NZ Velvet Agility has proven to be an effective treatment for canine hip dysplasia, offering support and lubrication.
Deer Velvet for Dogs.
Building on 2000 years of traditional oriental medicine, New Zealand deer velvet antler is emerging as a modern natural health product with many applications. Scientific research is proving what oriental medicine doctors have long known – deer velvet antler is good for you!
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In clinical studies, New Zealand scientists at AgReasearch Invermay, near Dunedin, have shown that velvet can stimulate the body's immune system. Research showed that treating human white blood cells with extracts of New Zealand velvet stimulated the immune system, as measured by increased production of white blood cells. This response – immunopotentiation in scientific terms – is the body's defence mechanism. Increased numbers of white blood cells are produced to fight “intruder” bugs.
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Traditionally, velvet is used in Asia as a nourishing tonic – especially before winter – to prevent illness. It is an essential part of the “promoting wellness” rather than “curing illness” philosophy, on which oriental medicine is based. There is extensive anecdotal evidence of deer velvet antlers effectiveness , but now New Zealand is generating some rational scientific evidence to verify those claims. That is seen as an important step for New Zealand deer velvet antler in the international natural health markets, both for humans and pets.
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NZ Velvet Agility is a totally natural, holistic and renewable supplement that acts as a preventative for arthritis and joint problems in dogs as well as providing relief for suffering dogs.