The Best Dog Joint Supplements (Review) in 2019

What Ingredients to Look for in Dog Joint Supplements

There are several ingredients that can be included in dog joint supplements. Here are the main ones that you should look out for.

• Glucosamine

Glucosamine is sometimes referred to as chitosamine and it is a naturally occurring amino sugar. It is found in connective tissue of animals such as claws, tendons, skin and ligaments but the glucosamine that you find in supplements is mainly from shellfish. Dogs don’t get it from their food so supplements are their only source.

It plays a vital role in keeping cartilage healthy and may be able to slow down the natural wear and tear of cartilage in joints.

• Chondroitin

Chondroitin also naturally occurs in animal cartilage. It is a type of molecule called  glycosaminoglycans which attract water so they help to keep the joints lubricated. The chondroitin in supplements is derived from cattle trachea although it can be obtained from algae.

• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

Methylsulfonylmethane may appear on ingredients lists as MSM and is good at reducing inflammation around joints in arthritis. It helps to provide the building blocks that cartilage needs to repair itself and it protects it from further damage by free radicals.

• Hyaluronic acid

Joints need to be lubricated so that they can move freely and without pain. The fluid that lubricates joints is called synovial fluid. Hyaluronic acid is needed for the body to produce synovial fluid. It also helps with tissue repair and elasticity of joints.

• CoQ10

This supplement helps to reduce inflammation in joints so that they can move freely and without pain. It works in conjunction with vitamins C and E to perform this function.

• Turmeric

This is used as a spice in cooking but is also a powerful anti-inflammatory. It can help to decrease swelling and discomfort and increase the mobility of arthritic joints.

Why Give a Dog Joint Supplements?

You may be wondering whether you should be giving your pooch joint supplements at all. The best person to advise on this is your vet and you should always check with them before starting any supplementation. Some dogs cannot tolerate the ingredients in the supplements or may be allergic to them. They may be taking some medication that could react with them or they may have an underlying medical condition that would make the supplements unsafe.

Generally, there are two good reasons to give this type of supplement to your dog. The first reason is to help alleviate joint problems that your dog is already having. Perhaps your four-legged friend is noticeably limping or cries out when they walk? You may have noticed more subtle changes in behavior such as licking the joints, moving more slowly or spending more time in their kennel. This can indicate that osteoarthritis is setting in and that cartilage is degenerating at the joints. This can be due to underlying joint disease or simply from old age.

The second reason is to prevent arthritis of the joints in the first place or at least to delay it. Your vet can advise you if your pooch falls into the category of dogs that are more likely to develop joint problems. Some working dogs may be at risk as may dogs that commonly get joint conditions such as hip dysplasia. German Shepherds and Rottweilers are two breeds that are often affected.

In this case, formulations of glucosamine chondroitin for dogs will be very helpful because they will:

• Improve mobility

Life is not much fun for a dog who can’t get around especially if they previously enjoyed an active lifestyle. The lack of exercise can lead to other health problems including obesity.

• Relieve pain

Your dog cannot tell you that they are in pain but it is often clear from the way that they are behaving. No one wants to see their four-legged friend suffering so anything that cuts down the pain is a good idea.

• Maintain quality of life and interaction

Your pooch holds a very special place in your family and when they cannot play and interact with you, it’s very upsetting. A supplement that maintains quality of life for your pet helps to preserve the family relationships.

• Promote desirable behavior

A dog that is in pain and cannot move is less likely to obey your commands and may start to show undesirable behavior. By removing the pain, you remove the barrier to promoting desirable behavior.

How to Get the Most from Your Dog Joint Supplements?

Before you consider giving your dog any sort of dietary supplement you must check with your vet that it is safe to do so. Your dog may be on medication or have a health condition or allergy that means that the supplements will not be safe for them to take. Then, the most important thing is to choose a dog joint supplement that you can trust from a reputable supplier that complies with all the recognized guidelines.

You must give them regularly and as prescribed on the manufacturer’s instructions. Typically, this type of supplement is given once a day and you need to give them for at least a month before you can expect to see any difference. However, sometimes a higher dose is recommended for the first few weeks and then you can drop down to a maintenance dose. If you have trouble getting your pooch to take a chew, you may get on better with a liquid supplement.

Some supplements have different doses for different sizes of dogs so make sure that you are giving the correct dose to get the most benefit out of the supplement. Once you have started your dog on these supplements they must stay on them for life. If you stop giving them the supplements the cartilage will begin to degenerate again.

Tips for Managing Joint Pain

In addition to giving them dog joint supplements, there are plenty of other things that you can do to help your dog with their joint pain. Here are some of them.

• Go for regular check-ups with your vet to make sure that your dog is on the best treatment plan and has all the pain control they need. Your dog may be prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs).
• Watch your dog’s weight and reduce their calorie intake if necessary. Obese dogs load their joints with extra weight and this makes the symptoms worse. If your dog is not very mobile, they will need fewer calories.
• Take your dog out for controlled exercise but only for short periods and make sure it is on a soft surface.
• Cold, damp conditions make arthritis worse so keep your dog warm and dry and provide a warm compress if they seem to be in pain from a particular joint.
• Consider visiting an animal massage therapist or an animal acupuncturist who may be able to help with your dog’s flexibility and pain levels.
• In advanced arthritis, surgery may be an option but this is your vet’s decision.
• Make your home easy for your dog to navigate by installing ramps to help them get upstairs and into your car and put down carpet on slippery surfaces.

Best Dog Joint Supplements FAQ:

Q: How do dog joint supplements work?

A: Dog joint supplements have active ingredients that work in harmony with your dog’s body. They support the repair and maintenance of synovial fluid and cartilage so the joint can function normally. Therefore, the bones can move smoothly across each other and mobility is increased.

Dog arthritis supplements also reduce inflammation and therefore bring pain levels down.

Q: Are there side effects of joint supplements in dogs?

A: The ingredients in dog joint supplements are generally very safe but some dogs can get side effects. Glucosamine and chondroitin can both cause stomach upsets and your dog may develop vomiting or diarrhea or constipation. You may be able to reduce the severity of the side effects by reducing the dose or giving the supplement with food. Some dogs get these symptoms when they are taking the high, initial dose but get better when the supplement is reduced to the maintenance dose after a few weeks.

A more serious concern with glucosamine and chondroitin for dogs is the possibility of an allergic reaction which could be severe and even fatal. Glucosamine for dogs is commonly derived from shellfish and you may not be aware that your dog has a shellfish allergy. If the allergic reaction is mild, you may not even notice it but an anaphylactic reaction requires immediate veterinary attention. It is possible (but not very easy) to source glucosamine products that are made from corn or other plants.

If you know that your dog is allergic to corn, wheat or soy, watch out for these on the ingredients list of the supplement.

Q: What causes joint problems in dogs?

A: Joint problems in dogs are caused by the same thing as in humans. The structure of the joint becomes inflamed and causes arthritis which is the medical term for inflammation of the joints. It is caused by wear and tear.

The surfaces of the bones in a joint are usually covered with a smooth layer of cartilage and lubricated with fluid. Arthritic joints have damage to the cartilage so the bone surfaces rub together and new bone forms which makes the joint even stiffer and causes more pain.

It is quite normal for joints to become arthritic with age but some conditions, such as hip dysplasia, cause it to happen in younger dogs.

Q: Can I give a dog human joint supplements?

A:  It is never safe to give dogs any kind of medication that has been formulated for humans. Dogs and humans have very different metabolisms and substances that are harmless for us can be very toxic to dogs. Pet supplements can also be harmful to humans!

Therefore, it is only safe to give your dog veterinary joint supplements that have been approved for use in canines. If you are in any doubt, always check with your vet.

Our Top Pick

Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewables

The top pick of the best dog joint supplements is a tried and trusted product that has been tested in medical research. It is in a chewable tablet form and will support cartilage matrix production and will inhibit cartilage breakdown.

The formulation includes avocado and soybean unsaponifiables together with active ingredients which are glucosamine hydrochloride, methylsulfonylmethane and sodium (low molecular weight) chondroitin sulfate.

Sources:

1. How to Help Dogs with Joint Problems and Stiffness - wikiHow
2. How to Treat Arthritis in Dogs: Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, NSAIDs, and More - PetMD