12 Natural Anti Inflammatories for Dogs

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word inflammation? 

Pain? Discomfort? Old age? Funnily, inflammation is your dog's body trying to help itself. In the right amounts, inflammation is necessary. When it goes overboard, that's when issues arise. 

This article discusses natural anti inflammatory for dogs as well as a number of other natural anti inflammatory options that pet owners can use to help their dog's joint pain, immune system issues, and more.

Read below to find:

1. The best anti inflammatory ingredients for dogs & products that include them. 
2. The best anti inflammatory foods to include in your dog's diet.
3. More information on dog inflammation and "inflammaging".

7 Natural Anti Inflammatories for Dogs

There are plenty of options that may work best for the inflammatory diseases or issues your dog is facing. All dogs are different, so there's no guarantee that these options will help your dog.

Note that you won't notice immediate results in most cases, especially if your dog has a progressed inflammatory issue. If these options do help, watch for improvements after 1-2 weeks. 

1. Turmeric 

Turmeric is known as an herbal anti-inflammatory for dogs, and for good reason. 

As it turns out, multiple studies have shown curcumin, turmeric's key compound, has great potential in addressing many inflammatory diseases. 

It’s also been shown that curcumin may be able to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and resolve cellular waste buildup. In fact, one study found that turmeric helped reduce occular inflammation in dogs.

Another study found that curcuminoids help pain relief in dogs with osteoarthritis.

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2. Polyphenols

Blueberries, apples, spinach, olive oil, and turmeric are all examples of polyphenol-rich foods that are safe for dogs to eat. 

According to the research, foods rich in polyphenols are also rich in antioxidants, which are known to reduce inflammation.

An unbalanced diet lacking these essential nutrients could contribute to inflammation and other significant health issues.

3. Probiotics and Prebiotics

Our dogs' digestive microbiome, or gut bacteria, plays a huge role in their metabolism and overall health. Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that get to work in your dog's gut. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that probiotic bacteria love to eat.

If there’s an imbalance in their microbiome:

• Intestinal inflammation can increase
• Leaky gut can sit in, which damages your dog’s gut lining allowing food particles, bacteria, and other toxins to leak into their bloodstream. 

How Probiotics Help Dog Inflammation:

Studies on probiotics show that they help colonize and reintroduce live bacteria into your dog's gut. This helps reduce inflammation, increase microbiome diversity, and restore balance to their digestive system.

How Prebiotics Help Dog Inflammation:

Prebiotics are plant fibers that stimulate the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which can also reduce inflammation and promote better gut health.

4. Essential Omega Fatty Acids

When there is a balance between omega 6 and 3 in your dog's diet, inflammation can be kept under control. Chicken and animal fats are great and healthy sources of omega 6, whereas organic fish oil is a great natural source of omega 3.

How Omega Fatty Acids Help Inflammation:

• Reduce production of internal compounds that promote inflammation
• Improve cell membrane health, cell communication, and recovery
• Supporting a balanced immune response, discouraging excess inflammation
• Promoting joint lubrication and fluidity

5. Exercise and Weight Management

According to the Veterinary Centers of America (VCA Hospitals), “being overweight or obese sets the stage for joint damage and osteoarthritis (OA), leading to chronic pain”.

So, maintaining your dog's healthy weight through exercise, dog’s food portion control, and an overall healthy diet can help to prevent joint inflammation and pain in the long run. 

6. Glucosamine and Chondroitin 

Glucosamine and chondroitin are considered holistic anti-inflammatories for dogs. 

They’re often recommended and prescribed by veterinarians as an alternative to treating joint health problems, like osteoarthritis in dogs who can’t tolerate NSAIDs or other pharmaceutical drugs.

One study showed that glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate had statistically significant reductions of pain and inflammation in dogs with osteoarthritis. 

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7. CBD oil 

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that naturally forms in hemp. According to some research, phytocannabinoids like CBD could help reintroduce balance into the your dog's system.

Many dogs have seen significant benefits to their mobility, comfort level, and overall wellness with the use of CBD pet products. 

One study on the benefits of CBD for dogs with arthritis saw a significant difference in the symptoms associated with their condition.

What’s more, full-spectrum CBD oil contains other vital hemp-derived nutrients like flavonoids, terpenes, amino acids, minerals, and more, that help reduce waste buildup.

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The Best Anti Inflammatory Foods for Dogs

The list above includes natural anti inflammatory compounds and ingredients for dogs. Below, we list 5 natural foods for dogs that have anti inflammatory properties.

The foods below can be great additions to the other remedies you're trying for your dog. 

When giving these foods to your dogs, make sure that they are natural and free from any flavoring agents, sweeteners, or other man-made ingredients that could be harmful. 

1. Ginger

Ginger root contains antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties that can reduce swelling, increase circulation, support the heart, and relieve joint discomfort.

2. Blueberries

Blueberries are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, anthocyanins, quercetin, myricetin, and other compounds that can significantly help inflammation in dogs. Joint pain and overall mobility health may be improved when blueberries become a regular part of your dog's diet.

3. Coconut (Or Coconut Oil)

Fractionated coconut oil (also known as MCT oil) can be an excellent way to get your dog a serving of healthy fats. Healthy fats like omega 3s and omega 6s are found in coconut oil.

These fats are natural anti inflammatories and should be incorporated into your dog's diet in some way. Learn more about coconut oil for dogs and how it could benefit your pooch.

4. Fish

Fish are known for the omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered some of the most powerful and important natural anti-inflammatory compounds known to man. Omega 3s can reduce pain and inflammation in dogs and humans alike, and fish are one of the best sources.

5. Leafy Green Vegetables

Arnica is a natural remedy for aches, pains, and general inflammation in dogs. It can also help your dog recover from bruises and hematomas.

Green leafy vegetables are great for dogs and can provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Some good options include:

1. Spinach: High in antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and K.
2. Kale: Rich in vitamins and minerals, known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Swiss Chard: Contains antioxidants and supports overall health.
4. Collard Greens: Packed with nutrients and can aid digestion.
5. Parsley: Acts as a natural diuretic and supports kidney health

Inflammation vs Inflammaging in Dogs

What Do We Mean by “Inflammaging?” 

Have you ever asked yourself, “why do dogs age faster than humans?”

If the answer was yes, you’re not alone. As it turns out, this same question has had scientists and veterinarians scratching their heads for decades. Luckily, their curiosity has led to a few studies, some of which are currently underway.

Here’s what we know so far… 

Chronic inflammation has been linked to premature aging in our dogs, which scientists now refer to as “inflammaging.” Given the fact that so many pet owners are interested in increasing their dogs' longevity, this research is pretty groundbreaking. 

But inflammaging isn’t the only thing that could be robbing years from your dog. Their metabolism, epigenetics, stem cell regeneration, and biological make-up all affect how quickly they will age. 

That said, there’s one factor we pet owners have more control over than we think… and that’s inflammation. 

As we mentioned earlier, not all inflammation is bad. In fact, a healthy dog will produce acute inflammation when addressing injuries, infections, and toxins that enter the body. 

Acute inflammation typically lasts a few hours to no more than a few days. Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is what we need to look out for.

What Causes Inflammaging in Dogs?

The first and most common cause of inflammaging is stress. 

Being in a constant state of stress can actually weaken your dog’s immune system, especially if your dog is already approaching their senior years. If their stress persists for a prolonged period of time, oxidative stress will inevitably set in. This will cause an imbalance between the production of their free radicals and their body’s ability to detoxify those cells. 

The more free radicals there are floating around in your dog's body, the more damage is done to their protein cells, fatty tissue, and overall DNA. 

Scientists have also found that high levels of proinflammatory cytokines (cells that favor inflammation) and Telomere shortening (DNA damage) contribute to inflammaging. 

Other theories of what causes inflammaging in your dog include: 

• Excess weight gain 
• Lack of exercise 
• Chemical exposure 
• Poor diet or inflammatory foods 
• Over-vaccinating

Thankfully, the awareness of inflammaging has pet owners around the world adopting more natural ways of combatting it, which in turn is slowing down their dogs' aging process and restoring their health.

So, what are these natural approaches to help with your dog’s inflammaging?

Let’s take a look…

Understanding Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation lingers for months, even years. Not only will it prevent your dog from healing properly, but it can keep their body in a state of constant alert. 

What’s most alarming about chronic inflammation is that it usually has a negative impact on your dog's cells, tissues, and most of all, organs. In fact, research on inflammation suggests that prolonged inflammation is indeed a contributor to most, if not all, diseases. 

Pretty scary, right? 

Now, we know it’s inevitable for our dogs to age, but inflammaging is not a normal part of their aging process. Signs of inflammaging in your dog may include: 

• Diabetes
• Arthritis 
• Immune decline 
• Cancer
• Cognitive decline 
• Heart disease 
• Etc. 

While it’s still unclear what actually causes inflammaging, scientists do have a few theories…

Final Thoughts on Canine Anti Inflammatories

Incorporating natural remedies like the ones listed above can only better health in our canine friends. The more you can remove inflammatory triggers like stress, anxiety, and most of all, purchase high-quality dog food, the better off your dog will be in the long run. 

If you have any questions or concerns or are looking for more home remedies for dog inflammation, feel free to reach out to the Lolahemp team. We’re happy to help in any way we can!

References:

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-researchers-reframe-dog-human-aging-comparisons

https://lolahemp.com/blogs/pet-health-and-wellness/best-dog-food-increase-longevity-with-the-right-dog-food

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3492709/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4963991/

https://nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301207&org=NSF&from=news

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5738810/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508397/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6971114/

https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2018/04/essential-fatty-acids-and-inflammation/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16647870/

https://lolahemp.com/blogs/news/cbd-oil-for-your-dog-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6390812/

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https://lolahemp.com/collections/all-products/products/lolahemp-cbd-600mg-60ml-tincture