What Are the Best Joint Supplements For Dogs

Many owners worry about arthritis in their canine friends, and for good reason as it can be quite common. This can show up from previous injuries, from having hip dysplasia and other reasons. Because of this, many will look for a high quality and best joint supplements for dogs to add to their pet’s diet for prevention or in the case a condition has already set in. A few considerations to keep in mind while you are shopping for a supplement are as follows.

Comparison Chart of Best Joint Supplements for Dogs

Picture	Name	Weight	Price	Rating
	Hip and Joint Supplement for Dogs	32 oz	$$	4.9
	H3 Essentials - Hip and Joint Supplement for dogs	6 oz	$	4.7
	Nutramax Cosequin DS PLUS MSM Chewable Tablets	132 count tablets	$$$	4.7
	Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewable Tablets for Dogs	150 count tablets	$$$	4.6
	Missing Link Ultimate Hip, Joint & Coat Dog Supplement	5 lbs	$$$	4.6
	GlycanAid-HA Advanced Joint Health Supplement for Dogs	150 count tablets	$$$	4.5

Independent Reviews of Top Rated Joint Supplements for Dogs

There are many different joint supplement choices available on the market. This can make it difficult selecting the right one for your pet. The following are some of the top rated joint supplements for dogs.

6. GlycanAid-HA Advanced Joint Health Supplement for Dogs

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This product is included in the list of best supplements for dogs because of its comprehensive list of ingredients. This supplement is designed to support your pet through joint surgery or if they have arthritis. You will find natural ingredients that are essential for your pet’s joint health. These tablets are tasty, pets enjoy them and there are no side effects. Created by veterinarians and made in the USA with ingredients from the USA, it helps with mobility, strong bones, cartilage and joint function. You will see your dog start showing signs of greater comfort within a few short weeks of starting them on this supplement.

5. Missing Link Ultimate Hip, Joint & Coat Dog Supplement

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This is an excellent formula to combine with solid nutrition for your adult dog, providing joint support. You will find Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as glucosamine, plant nutrients and fiber. You will notice joint improvements as well as overall health improvement, including a shiny coat. This powder is given at 1 teaspoon per every 25 pounds added to your dog’s food. With this supplement, it’s recommended to start with a smaller dose and work up to a full dose.

4. Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM for Large Dogs

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This is one of the best joint supplements for dogs because it has low molecular weight chondroitin and MSM, which makes it a very comprehensive supplement. It’s non-prescription with soybean and avocado based ASU as an ingredient. It’s an ideal treatment for dogs that weigh more than 60 pounds for pain and other joint issues. There are 150 pills in a bottle that are to be administered in two stages. You need to give two tablets a day for the first 4-6 weeks and then drop down to one pill a day.

3. Nutramax Cosequin DS Plus MSM Chewable

 

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You can get this joint supplement for dogs at 132 tablets, 180 or 264 tablets. It is the number one supplement recommended by vets for joints. It has organic, naturally occurring sulfur compounds and MSM. This will help support any dog and their joints through an active lifestyle. This is another tablet that recommends a higher than normal dose for the first four to six weeks with a maintenance dose to follow. This allows your dog to get the most effective treatment and relief.

2. H3 Essentials-Hip and Joint Supplement for Dogs-Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM

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This is an ideal joint supplement for smaller dogs and larger dogs. Doses are measured by the ball-shaped treats and you double dose for the first few weeks. There are 8 highly powerful ingredients that help to support joint health with your pet. It contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, Vitamin C and E, Omega -3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and Yucca Schidigera. In addition to the active ingredients you will also find Palm Fruit Oil, Rice Flour, Oats, Rice Bran, Flaxseed Meal, Olive Oil, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid and Chicken. Within a few weeks of treating your pet, you will notice they have less pain and more freedom of movement. These are also easy to give as they are made in treat form.

1. Best Hip and Joint Supplement for Dogs Liquid Glucosamine and Chondroitin MSM and Hyaluronic Acid

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This fast absorbing supplement comes highly recommended from vets. It is easy to administer because it comes in liquid form and it absorbs faster than other supplements on the market. All ingredients are human-grade and promote healthy joints and coat. This product also offers a 100% money back guarantee if you don’t love it. Within a few short weeks of using the product you will see more mobility and freedom of movement from your pet, better skin and less inflammation. It has also been shown to help with stomach trouble. It offers pure, distilled sulfur as an ingredient, 50 % more Chondroitin, 62% more Glucosamine than other brands, and OPTI-MSM, which has more sensitive than MSM.

Why Consider Joint Supplements for Dogs

With a top quality joint supplement, you can see improvement in your dog’s quality of life and mobility. You will also notice that their joints function better and that they are less stiff. If your pet has any stiff joints or arthritis you can see a sizeable difference in the way they move in just a few short weeks by adding a quality joint supplement to their diet.

Ingredients

There are many different types of ingredients that will offer joint support. Some supplements will have ingredients that also support your pet’s musculoskeletal system. It’s a good idea thoroughly read up on the ingredients to see which will help your pet the most. Even if your pet isn’t developing arthritis and joint trouble, supplements can be an excellent preventative measure to add to their diet. Some of the ingredients and what they provide for your pet are:

• Bromelain- relief from pain, allowing more freedom of movement.
• Soybeans or Avocados or a combination of them- natural cartilage protection.
• Carprofen- pain reliever given by prescription only.
• Acetylsalicylic Acid- NSAID pain relief that you can get without a prescription.
• Creatine-increases muscle strength in your pet.
• Chondroitin- destructive enzyme blocker.
• Glucosamine-rebuilds cartilage.
• Citrus Bioflavinoids-shown to reduce joint inflammation.
• MSM- reduces swelling and inflammation.
• Manganese-helps with Vitamin C absorption.
• Omega Fatty Acids- reduces swelling and inflammation.
• Hyaluronic Acid- helps with joint lubrication and is a component of synovial fluid.
• Vitamin C- free radical protection, healing properties and immunity booster.
• Perna Mussel- Natural Chondroitin and Glucosamine.
• Tart Cherry- anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant.
• Quercetin-damaging enzyme reduction.

What to Consider in the Best Joint Supplement for Dogs

Joint supplements come in a variety of forms such as powder, tablets and liquid. All of these offer similar benefits with a different means of giving it to your dog. Since some dogs can be notoriously bad pill takers, it’s important to have these options. If you are not sure which to get, speak with your vet about recommendations

• Concentration

One of the most important considerations is the ingredients and their guaranteed concentrations. You should compare this information between brands, to decide which has the most of the active ingredient you need. Select the product that will provide your pet with the highest amount of therapy and protection.

• Anti-inflammatory Agents

A major component in joint therapy is anti-inflammatory ingredients. It’s important to have these ingredients in a dog joint supplement you’re using. These reduce inflammation which is one of the largest contributors to arthritis pain and other troubles. One example of an anti-inflammatory ingredient is MSM. This is very safe, and effectively relieves pain from dysplasia and arthritis. Another one to consider is Bromelain, which is usually found in lower concentrations than MSM but is very important for your pet’s joint support.

• Antioxidant Benefits

Antioxidants always play a key role in optimal health but they are even more important with joint support. Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants and it is a major player in repairing and replacing cartilage in your pet’s body. It will also boost their overall immunity. You want to use products that have high concentrations of Vitamin C. You will also want to see Vitamin E and Grape Seed Extract for the best results. Antioxidants help the body with cellular regeneration and other important functions.

• Ingredient Purity

You want to make sure you are using joint supplements that are pure in quality. For the best results seek out at least 97% purity with your Glucosamine Sulfate and 99% purity with Glucosamine HCI.  The purer the ingredients are, the better support they will provide your dog with.

• Flavor

It may not seem like something to be high on the list, but flavor is important for your dog. They are a natural carnivore and therefore meat flavored is the most favored over grape, apple or others. Dogs aren’t natural fruit or veggie eaters so they won’t enjoy these. It will be much easier to get your pet to take their joint supplement if the flavor is something like cheese, meat or peanut butter.

• Guarantees

A good guarantee usually means the company is confident their product will do as they say. This company will uphold a higher standard of quality control because they offer a guarantee, this reassurance gets passed on to their clients as well. Companies that offer guarantees, are generally more focused on the customer and what they need from the product.

• Qualities

When you are looking for a joint supplement you will need to see what kind of qualities. Along with a few things that you want it to do, there are a few things you don’t want the supplement to do. Some items you will want to look for or avoid in the best joint supplements for dogs are as follows:

1. It doesn’t have any known allergens in the ingredients.
2. You can still use other medications for your pet while they are on the supplement.
3. Positive results in little time.
4. The ingredients are high quality and natural.
5. It can be given without side effects to your dog.
6. There are positive reviews about the product’s quality.

• Selecting a Form

When you are searching for your joint supplement you will also need to consider the form it comes in. You can select between liquid, tablet or powder. There are drawbacks and benefits to each. You likely already have an idea of which your dog may take the best. Tablets will have binders in it which can make them a little harder to absorb, making it longer before your pet will see the effects. Your liquid supplements are ready to be absorbed so will do so more freely.

Determining Your Dog’s Needs

While you may know there are joint supplements for dogs, you may not know if your pet needs them. There are a few signs you can keep an eye out for that will tell you it may be time to start looking for the best joint supplements for your dog. These signs include:

• Regularly limping without any reason.
• Avoiding going up or down stairs or struggling to do it.
• Doesn’t run as often or looks uncomfortable as they do so.
• You may see them lick their joints a lot.
• Takes a long time to get up when lying down or yelps when they get up.
• Won’t play and jump as often.
• Yelps without a known reason.

Any of the above or combination of the above can be a good indicator your pet will benefit from dog joint supplements. Frequently, when you select a high quality supplement and provide it regularly, you will see an increase in energy, movement and freedom.

Also check out our guide on how to select the best dog vitamins and best fish oils for dogs.

Conclusion

With so many different supplements available, it can be tempting to simply treat your pet at home and hope for the best. It is recommended that you seek a vet’s advice to insure you treat your dog with the correct supplement in the correct matter. You will also want to see what options you have for your pet if they are in a great deal of pain. While these products are meant to help with your pet’s sore joints, it is important to remember they are not intended to replace veterinary care or advice. It is strongly encouraged that any treatment plan gets thoroughly discussed with your vet before you begin treating your pet.