Dog Joint Vitamins: The 5 Most Important Vitamins For Your Dog’s Joint Health

Dog Joint Vitamins:

Joint problems in dogs are surprisingly common—some estimates say that as many as 1 in 4 dogs has osteoarthritis.

And over time, arthritis can cause significant pain & discomfort, and can decrease your dog’s desire to be active.

Fortunately, there are some nutrients that can help improve your dog’s joint health. Some of them work by “cushioning” your dog’s joints, others reduce arthritic inflammation, and others help soothe pain.

Here are 5 of the most effective dog joint vitamins we recommend:

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is one of the most commonly used joint supplements, and with good reason. It’s one of the most effective ingredients when it comes to reducing arthritic pain and helping joints to glide more smoothly.

Glucosamine plays a role in the creation of cartilage and joint fluid, both of which keep your dog’s joints working smoothly and painlessly. Your dog’s body produces glucosamine on its own, but over time, it starts producing less and less. For that reason, glucosamine makes a lot of sense for older dogs and any dog experiencing joint problems.

Chondroitin

You’ll often see glucosamine and chondroitin together. They work in similar ways and can help reinforce one another; they’re more effective combined than either one is by itself.

Just like glucosamine, chondroitin can help restore the integrity of your dog’s joints by encouraging the production of cartilage to absorb shocks and reduce pain.

A 2007 study showed that supplementing with glucosamine/chondroitin provided a statistically significant improvement in pain levels and ability to perform weight-bearing movements in dogs with arthritis.

Omega 3 Fats

We talk about omega 3 fatty acids a lot here on the Miracle Vet blog, and for good reason—they’re some of the healthiest things you can feed your dog.

And while omega 3s are known for being heart-healthy, did you know they can also help improve joint health?

That’s because they exert an anti-inflammatory effect, helping to reduce inflammation caused by both developmental and degenerative joint disease.

The two best sources of omega 3 fats are fish and flaxseed, so make sure to choose a dog food or supplement that contains one or both of these ingredients.

Boswellia

Boswellia is a little-known herb that has been found to have an effect similar to that of NSAIDs. A study conducted in 2004 found that supplementing with boswellia for 6 weeks helps to resolve some of the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.

Turmeric

Hands down, turmeric is one of the best vitamins for your dog’s joints. Turmeric is a bright orange spice that’s often used in Indian food. And it contains a powerful anti-inflammatory chemical called curcumin that can help reduce pain and inflammation, making it a great joint supplement for your dog.

And this isn’t just theory. A 2012 study investigated the effect of curcumin on dogs with arthritis, and found that it does help to treat the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Other studies have found curcumin to be as effective as aspirin for relieving pain!

It’s an all-around healthy thing to add to any diet, whether human’s or dog’s, so our recommendation is to make sure your dog gets some turmeric daily.

Recommended Miracle Vet Products For Joint Support

There are two ways you can get some of these joint vitamins into your dog’s diet:

You can purchase them separately, as supplements, or you can choose a dog food or dog treat that’s been fortified with these nutrients.

Both methods will work, so do whatever works best for you. In our experience, however, choosing a dog food that contains these nutrients is both (1) less expensive overall and (2) much more convenient.

(And if you’ve ever had trouble getting your dog to take a pill, you know what we mean!)

Luckily, here at Miracle Vet we offer a Super Premium Dog Food that contains 3 out of the 5 vitamins mentioned in this article:

• Glucosamine
• Chondroitin
• Omega 3 fats (from flaxseed)

It’s an incredibly healthy dog food made with whitefish and duck. Dogs absolutely love it.

Another great option is our Probiotic Chews. These convenient little snacks contain 2 out of the 5 vitamins mentioned in this article:

• Omega 3 fats (from flaxseed)
• Turmeric

They’re made with a natural bacon flavor that’s sure to get your dog’s tail wagging.

So there you have it! The 5 best dog joint vitamins to help keep your dog feeling comfortable and pain-free. Show your dog just how much you love them by adding a few of these nutrients to their diet.

And if you’re interested in the products we mentioned in this article, click here for our healthy dog food and click here for our probiotic chews.