In my practice group, the leading cause of natural loss or euthanasia of our companion animals is due to musculoskeletal disease. It’s a serious health problem that we veterinarians consistently see in our senior populations.
We also have a reasonable belief that musculoskeletal disease is probably going undiagnosed in more than 50 percent of the older dog and cat population.
Vets who practice Integrative Medicine primarily focus on diet, exercise, and supplementation. Speaking of the latter, even though there are myriad joint supplements available to choose from, the senior pet very much needs a joint supplement that is both pure and very well absorbed.
For a number of years in our group practice, ThorneVet’s Arthroplex has been our go-to supplement for rehabilitation and senior osteoarthritis. In its newly released format as a non-GMO and gluten-free soft chew – and particularly with the addition to its formula of Chondroitin Sulfate, Hyaluronic Acid, and MSM – I think Arthroplex is clearly the best joint support supplement on the market.
The two goals in rehabilitation medicine for any arthritis treatment should include, first, nourishing the joints, and second, providing the proper anti-inflammatory formulation to effectively reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of the affected joint.
Glucosamine sulfate is widely recognized by integrative medicine vets to be the best joint remedy for helping to rehabilitate and decrease inflammation. Significantly, GS helps the animal’s body produce chondroitin, which is a benefit because more chondroitin helps stop further joint degradation and inflammation.
And I am a big fan of Hyaluronic Acid – it’s a potent “chondroprotectant” that helps protects cartilage from damage by increasing the expression of chondrocytes in knee and cartilage cells, as well as by also stimulating the cells that generate synovial fluid in the joints, especially the knees.
Vitamin C supports the muscles that surround an affected joint by improving collagen production, which greatly benefits the maintenance of muscle strength.
The amino acid DL-phenylalanine helps the body’s natural production of opioids and decreases pain and inflammation.
Curcumin, the active ingredient derived from the amazing herb, turmeric, is in the optimal form for absorption as a “phytosome,” which is why I’m particularly pleased that Arthroplex contains curcumin in the patented CurcuVet® format. Curcumin provides a supportive natural inflammatory response in the arthritic joint.
The other plant-based ingredient in Arthroplex is Boswellia or Indian Frankincense. Boswellia is well known for increasing blood flow to the joints and for helping down-regulate harmful inflammatory responses.
Lastly, Bromelain, an enzyme mixture from pineapple, is a critical additive that helps reduce pain and decrease the scarring or breakdown of the joint.
The entirety of these natural remedies is now in an extremely palatable, easy-to-dose supplement. I think, as do many of my fellow vets, that Arthroplex is clearly the best choice to help our senior pets with stiffness, lameness, difficulty in rising or walking, and just plain slowing down.
Dr. Aronson and his wife, Dr. Geren T. Thurston, DVM, are the principal owner-veterinarians at P.A.W.S (Partners in Animal Wellness Services) Veterinary Center, in Tucson, Arizona, where, since 2008, they have led a team of 30 veterinary staff and associate veterinarians. Dr. Aronson received his V.M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.
Dr. Aronson has a consulting relationship with ThorneVet.
