Senior Pets

As the days are short and the nights are cold we know that winter is well and truly here. This time of year means that you have to be especially careful with older dogs with arthritis and other joint problems. How do you keep your dog active this winter?

Making the Most of Winter Walks 

For the older dog who is gradually getting stiff or has arthritis, has other joint problems or has  suffered a slip or a fall or injured joints; then consider a joint supplement or relieve the pain of bruising or pulled muscles and ligaments with a soothing herbal lotion.

At Healthful Pets we sell a range

Karnlea was founded by Lara McCullough, a pet lover from Northern Ireland. Following the sale of her successful pet supplement business - prompting Lara to start a new chapter with the launch of Karnlea. Let's look at her range of supplements and see how they may work for you? 

Bone Broths

Karnlea Bone Broth was born in 2021 when Lara, the founder, realised the need for a bone broth that could be kept in a cupboard or on the shelf, freeing up valuable freezer space for our pet's food.

Karnlea were the first company to bring a cupboard-friendly broth out in the UK and Ireland. 

Best-Selling Holistic Pet Care Supplements by Proflax 

Dive into a world of holistic pet care with Proflax's comprehensive range of supplements. From powders like Tummy Tastic and Bottoms Up, to oils including Omega Vital and Puppy Power, treats like Superchews, and tinctures such as Keep Off Me Pure – we've got everything for Bone & Joint, Calming, Skin & Coat, and more. Elevate your pet's well-being with our vet-approved, natural solutions.

Our dogs health and wellbeing is of paramount importance and one main aspect of our dogs health is their musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments. In this blog post, we'll explore how incorporating Omega-3 essential fatty acids and herbs into your dog's diet can contribute to optimal musculoskeletal health.

Understanding your dogs musculoskeletal health

The musculoskeletal system plays a vital role in our dog's ability to move, run, jump, and maintain an active lifestyle. Factors such as age, breed, genetics and lifestyle can impact the health of our dog's bones and joints. Common musculoskeletal issues in dogs include arthritis, hip dysplasia, and general joint stiffness & inflammation, which if left untreated can be painful and can lead to additional inflammatory type health issues.

The cold weather can be problematic for any pet suffering from arthritis, as pain and stiffness can intensify in winter which can be an excruciating burden to deal with on a daily basis. When cartilage between your dog’s joints degrades, this can cause painful swelling and stiffness. The simple act of moving often becomes an unbearable chore. Arthritis is more common in senior dogs, but it can affect dogs of all breeds and ages. So to reduce pain and help your dog feel more comfortable, here are a few steps you can take as those temperatures drop.

Keep your dog warm

Providing warmth is one of the most important things you can do for

Over my more than forty years in veterinary practice there are certain conditions that I have seen far more commonly than others. In the 'top ten' of health problems are definitely itchy skins, recurrent digestive upsets, and persistent ear infections. Also in the unwanted hit parade of dog (and cat) disorders is joint disease.

Many, if not all, of the conditions in the hit list are treatable and often preventable by attention to diet and to natural supplements. This certainly applies to joint disease.

When you take on the responsibility of a new puppy, there are many decisions to make and much to learn – decisions about what to feed, whether to neuter, when to vaccinate, how best to socialise and so on. Generally not much thought is given to joint health,

Do you use a quality omega-3 fish oil for dogs and cats?…could this be the missing ingredient to support your pet’s optimum health?

Omega-3’s cannot be produced by the body, so cats and dogs must obtain them through diet or supplementation. Fish and its oils can support the health of your pet’s skin & coat, immune system, kidneys, heart, eyes, joints and many more.

Omega-3 fatty acids can originate from both plant-based and marine sources as follows:

• ALA, a short-chain, plant based omega-3 is found in seeds such as flaxseeds and nuts
• EPA

Natural therapies, good nutrition, herbs and homeopathy can all keep dogs affected by Hip Dysplasia more mobile and less stiff, with less reliance on potentially harmful pharmaceutical drugs. Let's understand more about Hip Dysplasia in Dogs (by Richard Allport, Diet-Dogs Product Advisor and Vet)

What is Hip Dysplasia and Signs of Hip Dysplasia in Dogs?

Hip Dysplasia is an abnormal growth and development of one or both hip joints leading to pain, stiffness and arthritis in the hips. It is most common in large breeds such as the German Shepherd Dog, Labrador Retriever, Great Dane and Saint Bernard. It seems to be a hereditary condition