The 3 Best Joint Supplements for Dogs
TL;DR: Keeping your dog’s joints healthy is crucial for long-term mobility and pain prevention. Joint supplements can help reduce inflammation, support cartilage health, and promote overall well-being. Here are the top three vet-recommended supplements:
- Fish Oil: The only medically proven supplement to slow joint degeneration; rich in Omega-3s, reduces inflammation.
- Glucosamine & Chondroitin: Supports cartilage health and lubrication, commonly used for arthritis relief.
- MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): A natural sulfur source that may block inflammation and aid tissue repair.
- Joint Supplements vs. Diet: A balanced diet with joint-supporting ingredients (especially fish oil) is key.
- Choosing the Right Diet: Incorporate fish oil, food toppers, lean protein, and low-impact exercise.
- Fish-First Diet Benefits: Naturally anti-inflammatory and safe for most dogs, making it a great dietary choice.
For best results, always consult with a vet before adding supplements to your dog’s routine.
Dogs are athletes and acrobats, performing impossibly agile feats during every game of fetch. As they jump and run, their joints undergo strain, which can lead to pain and health problems down the line. This can have a major impact on some breeds that are more likely to have genetic hip conditions like dysplasia.
The best joint supplements for dogs can keep your best friend agile for years, reducing pain and strain. How do dog joint supplements help canine companions maintain long-term joint health and functionality?
In this blog, we’ll share a few vet-recommended joint supplements for dogs to help your pet stay active and healthy for life. Continue reading to learn about common hip and joint problems in dogs and which supplements might be able to help.
Understanding Joint Supplements for Dogs
As dogs age, it’s common for them to experience arthritis, which can cause inflammation and negatively impact mobility. Likewise, older dogs are more susceptible to ligament tears.
Arthritis and injuries may seem to come on suddenly. You might notice that your dog has become less active, seemingly overnight. They might lose interest in playtime, struggle on the stairs, or avoid comfy nap spots that require them to jump. This is more common in large breeds and breeds with a predisposition to dysplasia of the elbow or hip.
In reality, these changes don’t happen overnight. It’s common for a dog’s ligaments to deteriorate over time. Since you can’t see it happening, the only way to prevent problems is with a proactive approach.
Joint supplements for dogs can provide your pet with the nutritional support they need to prevent injuries. They can help pet parents get ahead of long-term mobility problems.
In other cases, joint supplements can help reduce pain and inflammation in dogs already experiencing injuries and arthritis.
The 3 Best Hip and Joint Supplements for Dogs
What makes a good joint supplement for dogs? It’s all about the ingredients. High-quality dietary support is crucial for long-term joint health.
Below, we’ve highlighted three quality ingredients found in the best dog joint supplements.
1. Fish Oil
Fish oil is the only supplement medically proven to slow joint and ligament degeneration. It is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, including joint inflammation. As this is a higher-calorie supplement, it’s best for dogs that are not currently overweight.
Other benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids for dogs include:
- Shiny, healthy coat
- Healthy, supple skin
- Reduction in symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Reduction in hyperactive behavior
- Improves symptoms of chronic kidney disease
- Boosts heart health
- Lowers blood pressure
- Supports recovery in dogs with cancer
- Slows age-related cognitive decline
Vets agree that giving dogs fish oil for joint health is as effective as many medications. In fact, it can reduce the need for NSAID medications for pain management.
This is great news, since long-term NSAID use is associated with side effects that can include ulcers, kidney damage, and liver damage. Supplementing with fish oil ensures you can give your pet the lowest effective dose and avoid these uncomfortable complications. Check out our Wild Alaskan Omega Fish Oil, here.
2. Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Glucosamine and chondroitin may be able to help slow the progression of arthritis and joint degeneration. You’ll find this combination in many supplements intended to treat arthritis in dogs.
Each ingredient has unique properties that can benefit dogs with arthritis. Glucosamine can help promote cartilage generation in some dogs. Chondroitin does the opposite, working to prevent cartilage destruction. Some believe it can also promote joint lubrication, which can relieve pain and enhance movement.
Research on the efficacy of these two ingredients is still ongoing. That means most of the positive results are anecdotal. In other words, dog owners report seeing a difference in their dog’s comfort and activity levels. While this is promising news, more research is necessary to definitively prove that they’re effective.
3. MSM
MSM stands for Methylsulfonylmethane. It’s a naturally occurring source of sulfur, which dogs need to improve their cellular health.
Many vets believe supplements containing MSM may block joint inflammation in some dogs. It’s also considered an antioxidant, which can reduce oxidating stress on joints. They’re also known to support and promote tissue repair. As a result, MSM tends to be most effective for dogs that are already experiencing pain from arthritis.
Since many dogs are deficient in sulfur, it can also be a good preventative supplement for overall health. Many vets recommend MSM for aging dogs. However, there isn’t much evidence that MSM specifically prevents joint injuries or arthritis. Even so, it’s a popular ingredient in many vet-recommended joint supplements for dogs.
Does My Dog Need Joint Supplements?
Ideally, your dog won’t need hip or joint supplements. They should be able to get everything they need to promote overall health from their primary diet.
Choosing a complete, wholesome, and nutritious pet food is the most proactive approach to supporting your best friend’s long-term joint health. It’s crucial if you have a large breed dog or a breed with a known genetic predisposition for joint problems.
There are many well-formulated dog foods out there that offer quality nutrient additives. These formulas contain ingredients that decrease inflammation and strengthen joints. For example, fish-first dog food is a quality source of fish oil, the #1 dog joint supplement listed above.
Tips for Choosing a Joint-Friendly Diet
- Try food toppers. We realize it can be hard for some dogs to change their diet. If your dog likes their current food, you can add joint supplements to your pet’s favorite food to boost its nutritional value.
- Prioritize fish oil. For injury prevention, look for foods that contain fish oil. If your dog is already experiencing arthritis or an injury, consider food containing MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
- Keep it lean. Weight management is also a major component of preventing joint problems in dogs. For overweight pets, a nutritious, lean diet is the first method of defense. Focus on decreasing fat and increasing lean muscle.
- Get active. Prioritize low-impact exercise to help your pet maintain their fitness level. As a bonus, this can improve your dog’s overall health, including their cardiac health.
When choosing natural joint supplements for dogs, always consult with your veterinarian. This is especially important if your dog has known food allergies or sensitivities. The best joint supplements for dogs will be science and evidence-backed to prove they’re effective.
The Benefits of a Fish-First Diet for Joint Health
Fish is a natural source of Omega-3s, which naturally reduces inflammation and promotes joint health in dogs. Likewise, fish allergies in dogs are very rare. That makes a fish-based diet a nutritious and safe option for many pets. If your dog is predisposed to joint issues, it may be time to make the switch to a lean, nutritious seafood diet.
For dogs who have a preferred food, fish oil supplements are a great addition to an injury-prevention diet. Learn about the functional health benefits of our seafood-based dog food toppers.
