Faith’s knight in shining armor Reuben, the son of Jude Stringfellow and Faith’s rescuer, is at home right now spending some well-deserved time with his pet and hopefully boosting his morale in the process. He is home visiting Faith and the rest of the family on a two week rest and relaxation trip, where he will be visiting his loyal pet that is still ranking higher than him in the military!

Recently Faith was featured in a Dr. Phil blog to discuss her book to be released in the very near future. The book entitled ‘My Dog Faith’ is 100% finished and is being shopped around from some of the most popular publishing houses to date!

Faith and Jude will be swinging through Grand Rapids MI, the home of Promaxol, very soon and everyone here is ecstatic to see the movement that is Faith hitting our fair city and after her visit, she will be doing a long list of radio spots to promote the story of her struggles and victories as well as her book.

Soon she will be on the Steven Bell radio show, of Network Masters, and will be doing a huge tour in Taiwan. Keith Perrin is a disc jockey in Taiwan as well that will be giving her a spot to talk over the book on his podcast show that reaches 30 million listeners and sometimes as many as 60 million. She will also be with Jude doing talks at the Taiwanese pet products convention that is moving the pet care field forward into the future. Jude has also been speaking to students in Texas as well Oklahoma at the FCCLA. Every year the FCCLA hosts a convention from May to April. It is a national leadership conference that helps students and young adults realize their goals and work towards their achievements.

Faith’s health has been GREAT, and she has been attended Ardmore Higher Education Watermelon Festival and Tinker Air force Base in Oklahoma City for the Animal Adoption day at the animal shelter there. They adopted out 16 animals that day and Faith’s philanthropy work is inspiring to say the least.

Why are Faith and Promaxol the perfect partners? In many ways we are working toward the same goal, a goal that involves inspiring people, changing their perceptions of ‘the way things are’, and loving what you’ve got. Faith and Promaxol are helping people and pets everywhere change their lives for the better!

Everyday, Faith sees people from all over the planet. And although she is probably unaware of the extent of her influence, she has amazing stories to tell! Within the short time she has been with Promaxol, she has managed to touch each and every soul in the company, including their family and friends.

In the beginning, almost everyone behind Promaxol had heard of Faith, whether it be from a talk show, radio, Internet, or even Ripley’s Believe It or Not! We all knew a little and collectively thought we knew all we needed. We were wrong. So this blog is going to serve as a window into Faith’s world, which we’ll call Faith in Action, that we all can climb into anytime to learn more.

Vetionx, the company behind Promaxol, was given the blessing of sharing our support with a strong character like Faith, and we knew we had big shoes to fill. We knew from her posture and her stance that we had to have a good product to keep her feeling fit, happy and youthful. We knew that all of the work we did with her would in some way be held under a microscope or scrutinized, or maybe even shed new light on the pain that a pet can experience, and how we as humans view it.

For eons humans were oblivious to animal pain, and just as once we “knew” the Earth was flat, we also thought animals were unable to feel pain. Yes, it’s true! The medical community was once of the opinion that animals couldn’t feel pain. That said, Faith is the perfect example of why the medical community might think that would be true. She has taken a situation that seemed painfully impossible and has overcome it like she never had a problem at all. But it is clear that her strong will and perseverance found the perfect match with a nurturing family at the Stringfellow home.

When things fall into place so nicely, it seems to be proof positive that not only is there a supremely good, guiding force showing us the wonderful things that can and will happen, but that it’s time for us to play a role too.

With Promaxol, our role is to Keep the Faith with all-natural health solutions; with Faith in Action, we’ll be here documenting Faith’s every bipedal step!

Arthritis happens when your dog’s cartilage-producing cells die, and the cartilage itself degrades. The lack of cartilage between the bones causes them to rub against each other when your dog moves, leading to extreme pain. Severe cases of arthritis can lead to a total loss of joint function.

Arthritis is more commonly found in older dogs, but animals of any age can develop arthritis.

Common causes . . .

• Infection
• Excess weight
• Lack of exercise
• Immune system complications
• Previous injuries, such as a car accident
• Genetics

It’s possible that your dog is living with a serious case of arthritis, but only displaying minimal symptoms. In some cases, the amount of pain a dog feels differs from day, and alterations in your dog’s behavior might be attributed to regular mood changes. It is important to watch carefully for recurring behavioral differences, as they may be indicative of arthritis.

Signs that your dog might be suffering from arthritis . . .

• Taking more time to get going in the morning
• Reluctant to perform necessary climbing or jumping
• Less interested in walks and play activities
• Slow moving
• Limping or favoring a limb
• Stiff and/or sore
• Lethargic or depressed
• Sleeping more often
• Struggling with stairs/getting in the car
• Suffering from hot/swollen joints
• Sitting and standing with difficulty
• Gaining weight
• Displaying strange attitude or behavior
• Licking affected area
• Pulling away from affection
• Losing muscle tone or bulk
• Eating less

If you notice that any of these signs continue for more than two weeks, consider scheduling a visit to the veterinarian. In the meantime, there are many efforts you can make at home to improve your dog’s comfort.

To help ease your dog’s discomfort . . .

• Nutritious, organic diet for weight control and overall health
• Natural supplements that can promote joint health and ease pain
• Mild exercise
• Gentle massage
• Lots of careful affection

Never give your dog arthritis medications that are meant for humans. Your veterinarian is also a valuable resource to help increase your dog’s comfort and minimize the chance that the arthritis will worsen.

Since man’s best friend may not be the best conversationalist . . .

It’s important to pay close attention to your dog’s physical cues that something is wrong. Maintaining a healthy, active relationship with your pet and vet will make it that much easier to spot behavior that may be indicative of a serious problem, and to take the correct steps you and your dog need to ensure a happy, healthy companionship for life.

Below are questions and answers that address some of the concerns for owners of dogs with joint and muscle difficulties:

Q. How common is joint and muscle trouble in dogs?

A. Just like people, most dogs will lose flexibility and muscle strength as they age. However, joint and muscle troubles are much more likely for any dog – young or old – that is not in good overall health. Obese dogs especially are at risk. According to the Arthritis Foundation, one in every five U.S. adult dogs suffers with arthritis.

Q. What are some of the causes of joint and muscle complications in dogs?

A. A number of factors can cause these problems for dogs:

• Infection
• Excess weight
• Lack of exercise
• Immune system complications
• Previous injuries
• Breed and genetics

Q. How can I tell if my dog has joint or muscle discomfort?

A. It is important to keep an eye on your dog’s behavior. If you notice persistence of any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to see what exactly the problem is.

• Stiffness or soreness
• Slower movement than usual
• Weight gain
• Resistance to touch
• Abnormal walking
• Hesitancy to use stairs or do any climbing
• Lethargy or depression
• Hot or swollen joints

Q. Is my dog’s trouble likely to be arthritis?

A. It is probable. Arthritis is very common among humans and their pets. One in five U.S. adult dogs develops arthritis. Older and unhealthy dogs are even more likely to have the disease.

Q. Is there a link between arthritis and obesity?

A. Definitely – The extra weight that an obese dog’s joints and bones have to support can be very wearing on the cartilage. Often, obese dogs eat a diet that is not conducive to bone and joint health in the first place.

Q. What exactly is arthritis? What does it do?

A. Arthritis is basically pain caused by joint damage. It might involve a deterioration of the cartilage, joint tissue inflammation, or synovial fluid imbalances. If there is a problem with the cartilage, your dog may not feel it until the problem is well advanced, as cartilage has no nerves. The usual symptoms of arthritis in dogs include pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Q. What is the average age a dog develops arthritis?

A. Arthritis can happen at any age, but dogs (even healthy ones) have a 65 percent chance of developing the disease as the dog approaches seven to 11 years of age.

Q. What can I do to help my dog?

A. There is no cure for arthritis, so prevention starting in the puppy years is the best plan. If your dog is already experiencing arthritis, there are a number of ways you can support your dog’s quality of life at home.

• Healthy diet for weight control and overall health
• Mild exercise
• Natural supplements that can help ease arthritis
• Gentle massage
• Lots of careful affection
• Natural supplements designed to support joint health
• Provide plenty of soft warm places for your dog to curl up
• Discourage stair use, perhaps with a baby gate

Q. Can I still take my dog for walks?

A. Certainly! Walks are helpful even for dogs with arthritis as a chance for exercise and joint movement. Just make sure that the walks aren’t too long, and that the surfaces your dog walks on are not very hard. Grass will be easier than cement.

Q. Will my dog still want physical affection from me and my family?

A. Yes. Some dogs with arthritis will get depressed, and showing them love can help. However, be very careful about where you pet your dog, and be especially gentle with tender areas.

Q. What about giving my dog human pain medicine?

A. This is not a good idea. Certain drugs – like aspirin and ibuprofen – can be toxic for dogs. It is best to meet with your veterinarian and discuss natural approaches for pain relief, like glucosamine.

Don’t worry – there are millions of humans that live full, active lives in spite of their arthritis, and dogs are just the same. Your dog can remain happy even if the joints are not quite as strong as they used to be. As long as you take steps to ease the pain, and keep it from getting worse, your dog can continue to be your faithful companion for many years to come.