Lifestyle

How Supplements Can Relieve Joint Pain In Dogs

Published

6 years ago

August 7, 2020

In this day and age, where intensive agriculture and farming practices along with environmental pollution have depleted the layer of fertile topsoil, our food supply contains fewer vitamins and minerals compared to previous decades.

As a dog’s parent, it is your responsibility to care for its health and happiness. There are many aspects to consider when thinking about your pet’s health and all of them are essential. Preventing issues can be an excellent start. Therefore, investing in reliable dog health insurance, attending regular vet visits, and choosing the right food can help you avoid problems in the long run. When it comes to choosing the right dog food, there are many aspects you need to take into account.

More and more people are learning about the potential benefits of supplementing their diet with targeted supplements based on different nutritional deficiencies. Pet parents are also beginning to recognize the importance of pet vitamins and supplements in order to maintain general health and wellbeing, to slow down the aging process, or to improve certain health problems.

Best types of supplements for your dog

The most fundamental categories of pet supplements include those for gastrointestinal (GI) tract health, liver detoxification, kidney health, joint health, and skin and coat health.

If you are feeding your dog a high-quality commercial food, chances are the most important vitamins and minerals are already in there. In the case of a homemade diet, it is best to work closely with your vet to balance the best homemade diet with the lacking vitamins and minerals, balance the phosphorus to calcium ratio as well as essential fatty acid balance. Adequate amounts of whole food sources of zinc, iodine, manganese, copper, selenium, vitamin A. E, and D are crucial.

Some dogs benefit from added supplements targeting specific organ systems, such as joint support in the form of glucosamine and chondroitin, green-lipped mussel, which decreases inflammation acting as an NSAID without harmful side effects. They are a rich source of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). An important GAG found in green-lipped mussels is chondroitin sulfate, which helps with arthritis pain.

Omega-3 fatty acids contain the anti-inflammatory EPA and DHA which help the cardiovascular system, brain, skin, and coat, and it helps maintain a healthy immune system.

The GI system is vastly supported by a healthy microbiome. Any pet can benefit from a probiotic blend designed for dogs. A healthy gut flora means a strong immune system because more than 70% of the immune system resides in the gut. Digestive enzyme supplements help increase nutrient absorption from meals, combats anxiety, clear skin, and better mental focus and memory being the main benefits.

Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful antioxidant produced in the body naturally, but its production decreases dramatically with age. Supplementing with CoQ10 is extremely important for the heart, as well as cell growth and maintenance.

Milk thistle is a plant and its active part is silymarin that has been used for 2000 years by humans for its beneficial properties, mainly for helping liver problems. Dogs can benefit from silymarin supplements too, given in adequate doses, depending on the size of the dog. Silymarin helps with liver detoxification, diabetes, pancreas problems, Intestinal Bowel Disease (IBD), and adrenal gland malfunctioning (Cushing’s disease).

Superfoods such as spirulina, astaxanthin, turmeric root are also beneficial, helping maintain the body’s homeostasis.

Raw honey, best from a local source, can also be a natural and powerful remedy. Local raw honey can relieve skin allergies, which are quite common in our day. Manuka honey from New Zealand can soothe irritated sore throats and coughs. Raw honey can help heal minor topical wounds sooner. Also, honey is an excellent remedy in soothing an upset stomach, since it has natural antibacterial properties.

Any dog can benefit from a boost of vitamins and minerals helping obtain a robust immune system and reducing the risks of getting a disease, accelerating recovery time after an illness, and promoting graceful aging. The right dosages for your pet can be discussed in detail with your preferred vet doctor.

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

3 days ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.