Joint supplements for dog's

Hi pawfriends! It's me Luna again. Today's topic is about supplements for joint health. There are many different opinions regarding this topic. This article is  based on scientific researches, beside of that I would like to mention that my mummy has used this kind of supplements also for her first dog with osteoarthritis and there was a visible improvement in the dog's quality of elderly life.

When to use joint supplements?

- For aging dogs: 

Aging comes with some little negatives such as joint pain and stiffness. Your dog can have this symptoms even before osteoarthritis is really developed, especially larger breeds are more prone to these ailments. Why does this happen? It’s kinda the same for dogs as it is for humans. As our bodies age, we lose the natural ability to make healthy cartilage and thus, incur damage to our joints.

- For sport, very active and gun (hunting) dog's:

Sporting dogs are predisposed to injuries due to the type of activity that puts increased strain on their muscles, bones and ligaments.

In all cases physical therapy, weight management, hydrotherapy and other options can also improve a dog's comfort and mobility.

It’s important to note that no nutritional supplement will correct structural damage to a dog's joints!

Which brand of supplement to buy?

We have chosen to keep this article neutral and not to mention brand names since the market supply is different in each country. We strongly recommend seeking advice from a pet nutritionist or your veterinarian. Below are recommended ingredient combinations you can look for.

- Tablets/powder with a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), Green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus)

- (fish) oil with omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

- CBD oil 

A recent study found a decrease in arthritis pain and improvement in activity in dogs taking CBD after just 4 weeks. Importantly, there were no harmful side effects detected in the dogs in the study. Therefore we have also added CBD to the list.

Quality of the supplement:

When choosing which supplements to purchase, it is necessary to inquire about the product’s source and strength before using.

Choose products made with ingredients sourced in the USA, EU or UK (or in other countries with strict regulatory oversight and testing). This can be the "more expensive" option in the market but you want quality to reassure your dog's health and wellbeing!

Only purchase lab grade glucosamine chondroitin.

When do you start seeing results? 

It may take several weeks to months of administration before there’s a noticeable improvement in mobility and attitude, strongly depends on the dose. 

What is the dose one should use for their pet?

For maintenance you can follow the dosage guide on the product itself. In case that more intensive treatment is needed you can show the supplement to your vet so he/she can calculate the required and safe dose. Example of dosage: a standard dose for glucosamine is 15 mg/kg.

Are there side effects?

Veterinarians state that side effects are almost unheard of as long as the supplements are used in the recommended dose. Your dog might experience an upset stomach in the beginning but this generally resolves as the dog's digestive system adjusts to it.

Literature 

1. McCarthy G, O’Donovan J, Jones B, et al. Randomised double-blind, positive-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet J 2007 174(1):54-61.

2. Wooten, Sarah J. “Joint Supplements for Dogs: The Helpful vs. the Hype.” DVM 360, 16 June 2017, veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/joint-supplements-dogs-helpful-vs-hype.

3. Verrico, Chris D.a,b; Wesson, Shondac; Konduri, Vanajad; Hofferek, Colby J.d; Vazquez-Perez, Jonathand; Blair, Emeke; Dunner, Kenneth Jrf; Salimpour, Pedramg; Decker, William K.d,h,i; Halpert, Matthew M.d,* A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of daily cannabidiol for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis pain, PAIN: September 2020 - Volume 161 - Issue 9 - p 2191-2202 doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001896 

4. Rialland P, Bichot S, Lussier B, et al. Effect of a diet enriched with green-lipped mussel on pain behavior and functioning in dogs with clinical osteoarthritis. Can J Vet Res 2013;77(1):66-74.

5. Hielm-Björkman A, Tulamo RM, Salonen H, Raekallio M. Evaluating Complementary Therapies for Canine Osteoarthritis Part I: Green-lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus). Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009;6(3):365-373. doi:10.1093/ecam/nem136