Every pet parent should keep an eye on the best joint supplements for dogs, because contrary to popular belief, joint supplements aren’t just for senior pups.
Apart from controlling diseases such as osteoarthritis, the best joint supplements for dogs reduce inflammation from daily activity, strengthen hips and joints, and promote mobility. Aren’t these benefits something you would want for your pup regardless of their age?
What is more, prevention is key. Taking care of your dog’s hips and joints now, means that they will probably have an active life running and playing for as long as possible.
Nevertheless, there are some dog breeds that are more prone to developing joint issues, such as Dachshunds, Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers and Saint Bernards, among others, and it has been recommended that they start taking joint supplements when they are as young as one year old.
Remember to always consult with your vet first though, since every dog is unique, and so are their needs.
But, if you already know that your furry best friend has to start taking joint supplements and you don’t know which one is the best of the market, we got you covered.
Key ingredients in joint supplements for dogs
There are a few key ingredients that are usually found on the best joint supplements for dogs. The two most common ones are glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) and chondroitin.
Glucosamine regulates the synthesis of collagen in cartilage and may provide mild anti-inflammatory effects while chondroitin sulfate inhibits destructive enzymes in joint fluid and cartilage.
Other key ingredients that you should look for in the best joint supplements for dogs are MSM, omega-3, turmeric and CBD or hemp.
The BIG problem with chondroitin
Chondroitin is a substance that occurs naturally in the connective tissues of people and animals, and has been used for many years as a supplement for bone and joint ailments and diseases.
To add it to our human and dog supplements, it’s obtained from animal sources, mostly shark cartilage, as it’s considered an ‘easily accesible source‘.
This makes joint supplements for dogs fall under the category of products that contribute to the destruction of endangered species, such as sharks. If we buy products that contain chondroitin sourced from shark cartilage, we would be caring for our dog, but terribly damaging our world and the life of hundreds of sharks.
But, what’s the solution to this?
Vegan joint supplements for dogs. Unfortunately, though, there are very few supplements that offer this opportunity.
Now that we have in mind the key ingredients the best joint supplements for dogs should have, and the big problem our world faces, let’s dive into it.
The best joint supplements for dogs
Pros:
- 100% vegan
- It contains plant-based chondroitin
- It has a unique blend of glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and omega-3 fatty acids sourced from plant-based ingredients
- It contains hemp, that has been proven to have benefits on the treatment of osteoarthritis
- Gluten, wheat and soy free
- To counteract overfishing, they source their omega-3 fatty acids from marine algae, which saves 60 tons of wild-caught fish for every 1 ton of omega-3 oil.
- They source the only allergen-free glucosamine for dogs from vegetable origin as the traditional source of shellfish creates a number of health and environmental problems.
- Plastic free packaging
- Chicken and peanut butter flavored dogs love
Cons:
- Buying one won’t be enough. Your dog will probably love them so much you’ll need to keep a good stock of Mokai’s joint supplements.
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, vegan chondroitin, MSM, vegan omega-3, hemp, turmeric, among others.
Pros:
- It contains glucosamine HCI and MSM
- Packages of 132 and 250 chewables tablets
Cons:
- It doesn’t have vegan chondroitin, it’s derived from bovine cartilage
- It contains brewer’s dried yeast, which may cause stomach pain, among other risks
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, bovine cartilage derived chondroitin, MSM, manganese, brewer’s dried yeast, among others.
Pros:
- It contains glucosamine HCI and MSM
- Wheat free
Cons:
- Its glucosamine comes from a shellfish source, one of the most unsustainable fisheries on the planet, which results in 5 pounds of by-catch for every pound of caught shrimp.
- It doesn’t have vegan chondroitin, it’s derived from porcine
- It contains brewer’s dried yeast, which may cause stomach pain, among other risks
- Depending on your dog’s size, they might need up to 6 to 8 chews a day, which is usually a lot more than other supplements.
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, porcine derived chondroitin, MSM, omega-3, brewer’s dried yeast, among others.
Pros:
- They contain OptiMSM (MSM under a process of purifying distillation)
- They contain glucosamine
- Bacon flavor
Cons:
- They contain glucosamine from shellfish, one of the most unsustainable fisheries on the planet, which results in 5 pounds of by-catch for every pound of caught shrimp.
- Don’t contain vegan chondroitin, it’s derived from porcine
- They have palm oil, which can be prejudicial for dogs’ health, in addition to being a major driver of deforestation and orangutan extinction.
- They present preservatives such as ascorbic acid
- Powder cellulose is one of the inactive ingredients, which some dogs can be allergic to
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, optiMSM, ascorbic acid, porcine derived chondroitin, kelp, among others.
Pros:
- It contains plant-based glucosamine
- It has MSM and hyaluronic acid
Cons:
- It doesn’t contain chondroitin, and this ingredient makes glucosamine work better
- It doesn’t come in a chewable form, so it’s not as enjoyable as flavored chewables for your pup
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, MSM, hyaluronic acid, manganese, vitamin C, among others.
Pros:
- It contains glucosamine, turmeric and MSM
- Chicken flavored
Cons:
- It contains glucosamine from shellfish, one of the most unsustainable fisheries on the planet, which results in 5 pounds of by-catch for every pound of caught shrimp.
- It doesn’t contain vegan chondroitin, it’s derived from porcine
- It contains palm oil, which can be prejudicial for dogs’ health, in addition to being a major driver of deforestation and orangutan extinction.
- Although it promotes otherwise, the list of ingredients contains artificial flavors
- It contains palm oil, which can be prejudicial for dogs’ health, in addition to being a major driver of deforestation and orangutan extinction.
- It has preservatives such as sorbic and ascorbic acid
- Powder cellulose is one of the inactive ingredients, which some dogs can be allergic to
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, MSM, turmeric, ascorbic acid, porcine derived chondroitin, among others.
Pros:
- It contains glucosamine, MSM and hyaluronic acid
- Bacon popcorn flavored
Cons:
- Powder can be somewhat difficult and messy to feed to our dog
- It contains glucosamine from shellfish, one of the most unsustainable fisheries on the planet, which results in 5 pounds of by-catch for every pound of caught shrimp.
- It doesn’t have vegan chondroitin, it’s derived from bovine
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: glucosamine HCI, MSM, vitamin C, green lipped mussel powder, fish oil, chondroitin, among others.
