How to Safely Use Frankincense to Help Your Dog's Joints

Building and maintaining strong, healthy joints is super important for our dogs, both young and old. Active dogs, especially, need strong and sturdy joints to live their best lives. While joint supplements are becoming increasingly popular, not all are created equal. Many are synthetic, and others have minimal manufacturing regulations. There are natural alternatives, though. Indian Frankincense is one of them.

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Why Do Dogs Need Joint Support?

While it’s true that as dogs age, they tend to develop pain and stiffness in their joints, it’s important to start thinking about their bone and joint health long before they’re in their senior years.

Starting as early as puppyhood, some joint and bone issues can begin to arise, such as:

• Hip dysplasia, a condition that typically arises because the ball and socket joints don’t develop at the same rate or become damaged.
• Dyschondroplasia, a metabolic disease that affects the bone and cartilage.
• Osteochondrosis, a condition that prevents cartilage from forming into bone

Plus, many active and working dogs develop arthritis early on in life due to injuries. After all, they’re on all fours all the time - running, jumping, and sometimes overworking their joints.

Sadly, this can result in chronic pain and inflammation in their joints. A dog who once spryly jumped onto the sofa for cuddles with their humans may now whimper with each painstaking step down a flight of stairs.

When these problems arise, veterinarians may prescribe pharmaceuticals or painkillers to alleviate the discomfort. While it’s important for your dog to take the medication your vet prescribes, you may choose, with the approval of your veterinarian, to include natural alternatives that supplement your dog’s treatment plan. Could your dog benefit from Frankincense?

Signs Your Dog Could Benefit from Frankincense

If your dog is showing signs or is at risk of developing osteoarthritis, then Frankincense may greatly benefit their health.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that especially affects older dogs and large breeds. Over time, dogs will experience worsening inflammation of their joints due to the deterioration of cartilage.It's a painful disease that affects their mobility and quality of life. Here are some risk factors:

• Being a large breed dog like a Rottweiler, German shepherd, or labrador retriever
• Obesity
• Prior injuries such as fractures or ligament tears
• A history of infections affecting the joints
• Hip dysplasia

That being said, osteoarthritis can affect any dog at any age. Even young dogs can show early signs of the disease. Here’s what to look out for:

• Stiffness, limping, difficulty moving
• Weight gain
• Reluctance to run or play
• Loss of muscle mass in their limbs or spine
• Pain when their joints or spine are petted

If your dog is displaying any of these signs, your veterinarian can do a full exam, including an x-ray of their joints, to determine if osteoarthritis is the cause.In addition, you can start your dog on a wellness routine that includes Frankincense. When used regularly, it can provide natural pain relief and reduce the inflammation in your dog’s joints.

Preventing osteoarthritis from developing in the first place is key. So even if your dog is young, start them on natural joint supplements.

This, in addition to a healthy diet and regular exercise, will help them enjoy a happy and active life for years to come.

What is Frankincense and is it Safe for Dogs?

Frankincense is natural and safe when used as directed. In fact, this natural ingredient has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

Also known as Boswellia Serrata, Indian Frankincense is a tree that grows in the mountainous forests of India. The gum resin from the tree is what’s commonly used in natural medicine.

In addition to its curative properties, people across millennia have also used this fragrant ingredient to make perfumes and oils.

From chronic inflammation to digestive problems, it has greatly benefited many dogs. It\'s commonly used to treat the following conditions:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Autoimmune diseases
• Skin problems
• Joint pain
• Arthritis

Although Frankincense is a popular essential oil, we never recommend dosing your dog with oil, either topically or internally. If the oil is priced very low, chances are it’s an inferior product and may even cause side effects. Even high-quality Frankincense oils won’t come with proper dosing instructions for your dog’s weight. So how can you best use this powerhouse ingredient to safely alleviate your dog’s joint inflammation and discomfort?  

How to Use Frankincense to Help Your Dog\'s Joints

Studies have shown that Frankincense inhibits the production of key inflammatory molecules that affect conditions like osteoarthritis in dogs. It can even help prevent the breakdown of cartilage tissue in joints. As a result, inflammation is reduced, lessening your pup’s joint pain.

Take a peek at its other benefits:

• Enhances cognitive function and mood
• Helps regulate the digestive system
• Promotes joint mobility
• Has no major side effects, so it’s great for long-term use

Does Frankincense for Dogs Have Side Effects?

Frankincense is generally considered safe to use for your dog’s health. But every pup is unique. As you would with any natural treatment, pay close attention to any potential side effects such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Drooling
• Difficulty walking
• Weakness
• Pawing at the mouth or face
• Vomiting
• Muscle tremors

It’s important to note that these side effects are typically only seen with ingestion of Frankincense oil, and not when combined with other bioavailable ingredients in supplement form. However, if you notice any of these symptoms, stop using Frankincense and consult your veterinarian right away.

The Final Woof

Joint health is a top concern for pet parents and their fur families. Stiffness, pain, and osteoarthritis can affect dogs of all ages. Thankfully, Frankincense has been safely used throughout the ages to treat pain and chronic inflammation.