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Supplements to help pets struggling with mobility
A dog’s joint health is one of the biggest concerns for pet parents. Witnessing a dog living with pain and struggling with their mobility can be heartbreaking, which is why many pet parents choose to add supplements to aid their dog’s joint health. Joint supplements can help to soothe joints, improve mobility and make life a little easier for their pup.
A number of factors can cause joint pain in dogs. Arthritis is a common cause, particularly in senior dogs, but such issues aren’t necessarily age-related and don’t exclusively affect older dogs. Obesity, developmental conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, and various injuries can all lead to canine joint pain.
Joint supplements are designed to provide nutrients and ingredients which nourish the joints and support their health. They are not a veterinary treatment nor a painkiller, but can help to benefit your dog’s joint health and mobility — helping to keep them moving comfortably for longer. Here, we’ve collated our choice of some of the best joint supplements for dogs. There’s no viable way to give a star rating to dog food supplements so — as with our other supplement lists — we have developed criteria that allow us to approve certain products.
How we rate dog joint health supplements
Our expert pet nutritionist, Laura Ward, has developed a set of criteria for recommending dog joint health supplements.
“Dog joint health supplements can have several active ingredients — there is no one best recipe. With that in mind, the below are a selection of active ingredients which we’re looking for in a joint supplement, often in combination.”
Green Lipped Mussel, Glucosamine, Chondroitin (or Phytodroitin), Methylsulphonylmethane (MSM), Egg Shell Membrane, Boswellia, Omega 3 (EPA & DHA), Hyaluronic Acid, Turmeric, Fenugreek Seed, Devil’s Claw, Ginger Extract, Collagen.
Laura points out: “The one exception is any CBD product targeted at joint health, although many pet parents combine CBD with other kinds of supplements. As with all our approved supplements, they must not contain artificial antioxidants or preservatives, sugar, artificial colors or flavors.”
Read on to discover our choice of the best joint supplements for dogs, with links to buy them if you wish.
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Pup Choice Hip and Joint Support Beef Flavored Soft Chews
These beef-flavored chews have been formulated by veterinarians to help manage stiffness, and improve mobility and flexibility. Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Green Lipped Mussel Powder and Boswellia Powder are all among the ingredients listed, so lots packed into each of these chews.
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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Joint Supplement
These hip and joint soft chews are formulated to help ease joint pain and arthritis; although these health issues are associated with senior dogs, they’re suitable for pups aged eight weeks and upwards. Active ingredients include Omega-3 fatty acids, Collagen, Glucosamine and Hyaluronic Acid. Both large breed and small breed variations are available.
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VetriScience GlycoFlex 2 Healthy Hip and Joint
Made in the USA, these bite-sized chews also come in chewable tablet form. Active ingredients include Glucosamine and Green-Lipped Mussel, to help build healthy cartilage and produce synovial fluid to lubricate joints. VetriScience also has a ‘Veterinary Strength’ product as an alternative.
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pawTree Joint Support Plus
Containing Glucosamine, Green-Lipped Mussel, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen and Turmeric, these soft chews can support healthy soft tissue and cartilage by helping to promote viscous joint fluid. MSM manages aches and discomfort. Suitable for all ages, available in small and large chew versions.
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Pet Honesty Hip and Joint Supplement
There’s a lot of good stuff packed into these chews, available in chicken or bacon flavor – Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Turmeric combine to ease stiffness and aches, and support the health of your dog’s joints.
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PeakTails Arthrix Hip and Joint Plus Dog Supplement
Chondroitin, Glucosamine and MSM are all active ingredients in these chewable tablets, but they also include Cetyl Myristoleate which can minimize the wear and tear of cartilage. The presence of Vitamin C can enhance joint function, too.
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PetLab Co. Joint Care Soft Chew Joint Supplement
These chews come in two tasty flavors – salmon and pork – and are aimed at dogs who are living with stiffness and reduced mobility. Active ingredients include Glucosamine – derived from shrimp – Green Lipped Mussel, Turmeric and Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids to support bone and cartilage health.
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Ark Naturals Joint Rescue Chicken Flavored Supplement
These gluten free soft chew squares contain Glucosamine, MSM and Chondroitin, but more unusually also sea cucumber; rich in minerals and proteins, it contains antioxidants that can help to reduce inflammation. Available in four flavors – beef, chicken, lamb and venison.
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pawTree Beef/Chicken Bone Broth
Offering something a little different to soft chews, this liquid beef broth – a chicken flavor is also available – can be poured onto your dog’s food as a meal topper, and to moisten dry food. With active ingredients including Glucosamine, Collagen and Chondroitin, it can be beneficial for sore or stiff joints. Though bone broth can supply ingredients to support joint health, this isn’t a joint supplement as such.
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Vital Planet Hip and Joint Beef Flavor Powder
Gluten and grain free, this beef-flavored powder can be sprinkled on to your dog’s dinner, though it’s also available in chewable tablet form if you (or your pup) prefers. Ingredients include Glucosamine and MSM, as well as Turmeric and Boswellia.
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Zesty Paws 8-in-1 Bites Chicken Flavored Soft Chews Multivitamin
These are excellent for providing all-round health benefits, with a blend of ingredients that can support skin condition, immune system and liver health. The presence of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM helps to provide muscular support for joints and hips. Choose from chicken or peanut butter flavor.
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Paramount Pet Health Extra Strength Glucosamine Hip and Joint Supplement
This liquid supplement mixes with food and water, so it’s easy to add to your dog’s diet and offers an alternative to chews and tablets that some pups may be reluctant to eat. Active ingredients include Glucosamine, MSM and Chondroitin, which can help to reduce joint pain and ease cartilage damage.
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Vetoquinol Flexadin Advanced with UCII Collagen Soft Chews
These soft chews are suitable for dogs and cats, and contain Omega-3 fatty acids to help soothe sore joints and relieve inflammation. The inclusion of Vitamin E can help to prevent the deterioration of cartilage, while UCII is a type II collagen that provides additional joint support.
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Joint MAX Triple Strength Granules for Dogs
This powerful powder includes Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Creatine Monohydrate and other active ingredients to help reduce pain and stiffness, deliver joint support and rebuild muscle around affected joints. As well as these granules, Joint MAX is available in soft chew and chewable tablet form.
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Pet Wellness Critical Joint Relief
These soft chews can provide fast-acting relief from joint stiffness and arthritis. Active ingredients include Glucosamine – to aid cartilage repair –green-lipped mussel to help reduce inflammation of the joints, and MSM. There are no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.
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Best Joint Supplements for Dogs
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Final word
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