by Team WellJoy
We love all parts of our dogs: their waggy tails, their inquisitive paws and their springy whiskers. Being a Pet Loyalist means also loving the invisible bits, and one of the most important unseen parts of our pets is their joints.
It’s easy to forget this when you see your dog bounding effortlessly across the park or leaping up for licks, but everything they do is underpinned by their joint health. Yes, even going to the toilet.
Your pet’s joints are the invisible mechanisms that keep them moving, playing, and getting into all those places they’re not meant to. Taking care of them is absolutely essential – especially if, hands up, you’re in the large breed gang.
Joints take longer than you think to recover
You might not realize, but every movement creates wear-and-tear on your pet’s joints. The cushioning cartilage within those joints is often the first thing to be damaged, and it’s much slower to regenerate than other parts of the body. Joint deterioration can be challenging to reverse once it’s established, so it’s essential that pets get everything they need to help with that recovery.
That’s why we developed our Joint+ supplement, as a way of supporting dogs’ joints every day, and keeping them at maximum mobility for as long as possible. You can introduce it to your pet from 6 months of age, or later in their life if you’re noticing them beginning to slow down.
Even if there’s no signs of joint problems – and remember pain or stiffness can be subtle and easily missed – adding in a joint supplement can be peace of mind for you, and extra support for your dog as they age.
Formulated to boost joint-supporting ingredients
What makes WellJoy treats and supplements different is that every single bite delivers the nutrients they need, as well as GutBoost® – the foundational layer of gut health support. A strong gut health foundation is essential; without it, our pets can struggle to absorb and utilize the good things we’re giving them, including targeted ingredients in their wellbeing products. It’s also a factor in joint health, because a poor gut microbiome contributes to whole body inflammation.
By giving them the nutrients they need to support their joints and the ability to put those nutrients to work, our Joint+ supplements sets your pet up to make maximum use of their supplement.
Extra-good ingredients
Our pets are more like us than you think, which is why you might recognize some of the Joint+ ingredients list.
In our Treats we’ve included Glucosamine, which is an essential building block for cartilage, and critical for joint function and repair. Chondroitin Sulfate is another important ingredient for supporting cartilage, and it also helps joint lubrication – to keep your pet spry and supple for longer.
For the pets that need a little more targeted help, our Supplements also contain MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), which is another important building block of cartilage repair.
A word about cartilage
We tend to think of cartilage and bone as static – things that only need attention when they’ve been damaged. Actually these are living tissues that are going through a constant process of being rebuilt. Cartilage is one of the slowest tissues to renew, and has a turnover rate that can be measured in years, rather than weeks or months.
As your pet gets older, their bodies spend more time recovering from daily wear-and-tear, and are slower to regenerate. This is when they should ideally get some extra support.
It’s delicious, we promise
All of our Joint+ Treats and Supplements have been field-tested by a panel of discerning (pet) experts. We set high standards for deliciousness, which means Joint+ went through several iterations before we decided on the final recipe. And, side note, we know it must taste good because some pet testers couldn’t resist from breaking into the packaging to steal a few extra Joint+ Treats...
This makes the whole experience more enjoyable for your dog, and for you. Throw out the pill pockets and the emergency packet of ham, you don’t need them.
Mr Darcy enjoying a Joint+ boost, by Pet Loyalist @coldlover
Support now, support later
WellJoy’s Joint+ Treats and Supplements are formulated for pets aged 6 months and up, so you can get your dog into a supplement routine at any point from there. Joint+ Treats are ideal for active pets who love a daily reward, while Joint+ supplements offer a more targeted boost for pets with specific needs.
It might be something you start doing proactively and preventively, or it might be an addition you make when you notice signs of joint stiffness – for example, hesitating before going up and down stairs, generally being a bit slower, or finding smooth floors hard to walk on.
It can be challenging to recognize that our pets are at an age where they need a bit of extra care, but supporting joint health can keep them enjoying all the things they love for longer. It can also potentially reduce or delay the likelihood of them needing medication later on.
The wider lifestyle effect
Joints are just one part of our pets’ bodies, but they have an incredible impact on so many other things.
Painful joints make it harder for them to enjoy all their usual favorite activities, as well as everyday things like going to the yard for a pee. In some cases, these can ripple out even further, making it more likely your dog will develop a UTI, for example.
It can also impact that all-important Pet Loyalist relationship, making it harder for them to jump up to their favorite spot next to you on the couch, or painful to take long walks together.
A final note on patience
You might notice subtle improvements within two weeks, but the more noticeable and significant changes are going to need a minimum of four to 8 weeks of dedicated, consistent use. That’s because joint repair happens slowly, even with additional help.
Other things can also improve joint health and mobility: keeping up regular gentle exercise to stimulate the synovial fluid that protects those joints, feeding a high quality diet, and making sure your dog’s not carrying extra weight (this puts more pressure on their joints).
Be patient, be consistent, and watch out for the small signs that let you know they’re feeling more comfortable – smoother movement, no pausing before jumping up for cuddles and that general sense that daily life feels that much easier for them.
If you’re wondering about how other Treats and Supplements can help, read about how WellJoy’s Dental+ works from the inside out to keep your pet’s teeth in top shape (without the nightly battle over the toothbrush).
We’re proud to say that all of WellJoy’s content is fact-checked and verified by a Pet Loyalist team, including a veterinarian trained in companion animal nutrition and a PhD board-certified companion animal nutritionist.
