Muscle atrophy – how to strengthen your dog’s muscles?

A dog’s body is moved by muscles that contract under the influence of impulses transmitted by the nervous system. Dog muscles are divided into:

– skeletal muscles (striated muscles) – their movements are dependent on the animal’s will, allowing the dog to move its limbs, close its eyes and move its head,

– smooth muscles – they act independently of the dog’s will, responsible for the peristaltic movements of the intestines, dilating the pupils and regulating blood pressure,

– cardiac muscle – a striated muscle, independent of the dog’s will, that pumps blood, transporting oxygen from the lungs to the cells of the body.

Muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy in dogs, or atrophy, usually occurs due to lack of exercise (caused by immobilization after orthopedic surgery, for example), lack of regular training with the dog, but also due to a deficiency in protein or other nutrients. Dogs with injuries or arthritis often experience pain, which can lead to damage of muscle fibers. When muscle fibers are not fully activated, this can result in their weakness and atrophy in the dog.

Muscle atrophy can manifest itself not only in a decrease in the volume of the dog’s muscle mass, but can also be observed:

• weight loss
• muscle weakness
• limping
• unstable way of moving
• difficulty in maintaining the body
• change in body posture
• reluctance to be active

What for the muscles for a dog?

The key to maintaining healthy, strong and efficient muscles in a dog is primarily diet and appropriate physical activity. In addition, it is worth introducing supplements to the dog’s diet that support the muscular system.

One of the most effective muscle supplements is HMB. HMB, or calcium β-hydroxy- β-methylbutyrate, increases exercise endurance and muscle resistance to fatigue. It limits post-exercise damage to skeletal muscles. In addition, HMB prevents muscle loss in dogs and accelerates the regeneration of the body, so it is perfect for dogs that do not have the opportunity to build muscle mass through physical activity, e.g. animals after orthopedic surgery or with dysplasia or in dogs with degenerative joint disease, in the case of myopathy and other diseases associated with damage to skeletal muscles. You will find this supplement in our offer both in the tablet version Game Dog HMB 120 tab and in the powder version Game Dog HMB 200g.

In turn, the supplement recommended for canine athletes or dogs undergoing convalescence after diseases associated with significant weight loss is Game Dog Muscle Booster 400g . This is a supplement that not only builds and maintains fitness, but also supports the building of muscle mass in dogs, increases muscle efficiency and endurance, and minimizes post-exercise damage. Its composition includes primarily hydrolyzed beef protein, exogenous BCAA amino acids, taurine, bromelain, powdered eggs and B vitamins. The combination of these ingredients promotes better training results and faster post-exercise regeneration in dogs. This supplement can also be used to support lactating bitches in order to quickly return to excellent condition.

Why is it worth using Game Dog supplements?

The Game Dog brand is a brand created by enthusiasts, with dogs in mind that need support in the form of dietary supplements: sports dogs, working dogs, but also those that require a specialized diet due to their health condition.

Game Dog supplements are the highest quality products, made from selected ingredients, the effects of which are supported by scientific research. Our supplements are dedicated, among others, to older dogs with a delicate digestive tract, which is why we made sure that they are easily digestible and perfectly digestible.