Joint Health for Dogs

The other evening, I was leading a neighborhood doggy yoga class at our community park. Yes, you read that right—doggy yoga. It’s our latest neighborhood trend. And let me tell you, it’s quite the sight to see Great Danes attempting downward dog!

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we all settled in at the pavilion to chat about our usual favorite neighborhood topic—dog care, from dog treats to grooming. And since we had form, balance, and flexibility on the mind, the convo shifted to maintaining joint health for dogs.

I don't know about you...well, actually I do.

We all want our favorite furry companions to stay active and healthy as long as possible. It breaks my heart to see a dog struggling to get up, limping as they walk, no longer able to join us for hikes, swims, and dog yoga sessions. It's not just about extending our four-legged friends' lives—it's about promoting a long, healthy life.

The best joint supplements for dogs are certainly a part of that!

Why Joint Health for Dogs Matters

Joint health is essential for keeping dogs happy, active, and independent. As a mobile human who loves to hike, walk the neighborhood, and explore, I've often thought the loss of mobility might just be one of the worst things ever—not being able to get around to do what I need and having to rely on others. Then it hurts when I move—and when I don't.

I can put myself into the shoes of a dog with joint problems.

Dogs may have accidents because they can't get up to go to the door. And the people around them may not understand why the accident happened. So, they get upset.

Depression can set in.

When I support my dog's joints, I'm helping them retain not just their mobility longer, but also their enjoyment of life.

Healthy Treats for Dogs Should Include Joint Support

When I look for the healthiest treats, I want to see multiple benefits from one treat. This allows me to give them one treat that pretty much does it all. Healthy joints, healthy heart, skin, bones, immunity, digestion—all of it. So, the healthiest dog treats will contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and protein.

Ideally, they're also all natural and even single ingredient—a whole food. That way you don't have to worry about long list of ingredients you can't pronounce or added sugar.

When it comes to joint health specifically, I want to find dog treats that naturally contain:

• Glucosamine for dogs cartilage thickening, anti-inflammation, and pain reduction
• Collagen, the structural protein for a stronger overall frame. Stronger bones support joint health and reduce pain
• Omega 3, which is a healthy fat that's known for it's anti-inflammatory properties
• Hyaluronic acid, which is a lubricating compound that also has anti-inflammatory properties
• Chondroitin, which helps joints retain water, so they stay more lubricated and thicker for better padding
• Among other nutrients like calcium, iron, phosphorus, with further support structural health.

The good news is that each of these is found in certain whole foods. These include bone marrow, organ meats, and cartilage, preferably from grass fed beef cattle, because they have 2X higher omega 3 vs. factory farmed (grain-fed) cattle.

So, we're looking for single-ingredient dog treats that contain these three whole foods. Here are some of my dogs' favorites

The Humble Dog Bone

It seems like a toy. But the right kind of dog bone supports joint health in dogs.

Real dog bones from beef herds are naturally filled with bone marrow. This bone marrow is a little sweet and has a buttery texture when heated by either cooking or a dog's body heat as they chew on the bone.

Dogs absolutely love this stuff. As they gnaw, they get a little of the marrow out at a time. This becomes a reward that makes chewing on dog bones very stimulating.

They just don't get the same effect when we give them bone broth. What's the fun in that?

Dog bones serve another joint support function too! Dogs chew on bones to strengthen their jaw muscles. Strong muscles better support the jaw joints, which also reduces jaw joint pain that might make it harder for a dog to eat later in life.

If you need another reason to choose a dog bone over bone broth, I do want to mention that dog bones are also a dog's version of the toothbrush. They remove plaque and stimulate gums to keep them healthier. This can reduce harmful mouth bacteria by 60-80% in just 12 weeks according to one Rutgers University study.

This just happens to help with dogs who have extra nasty dog breath.

Don't tell my terrier Pixie that I told you. But she had the rankest breath when I first brought her home from the shelter. It was S tier bad. In my home, our dogs chew on dog bones 2-3 times a week. So, we fixed that problem fast.

And now I don't turn away when she comes in for a slobbery dog kiss.

You can find my dog’s favorite bone to chew on here.

Beef Trachea

These are also healthy treats for dogs. And may just be the best joint supplements for dogs out there. The trachea is mostly cartilage, so you know it already has all of the components of healthy cartilage, as listed above. It's lower in fat than bone marrow, so my dogs aren't getting as much omega 3 with these.

If your dog is sensitive to fat or has pancreatitis, this may actually be a better option

Trachea is also a softer chew. So they may be more appropriate for senior dogs who already experience jaw pain or have missing teeth. They do take a while to chew, so they're still great for for teeth cleaning. But I also like them because they're less of a commitment.

They come in two sizes and generally my dogs finish them in one sitting. So they're unlike dog bones which I have to take away after 15-20 minutes to freeze for later.

With trachea, I know my dogs are getting a straight shot of nutritious joint supporting compounds without the extra work. You want glucosamine for dogs, you say? That's primarily what these are. And my dogs sure like them a lot better than taking a glucosamine tablet.

Now, I still get dog bones because I refill them when the marrow is gone. You can check out my marrow bone refill guide for fun recipe ideas and tips.

You'll definitely want to try beef trachea tubes glucosamine for dogs.

Beef Lung

And finally, there's the organ meat. While liver or kidney would be okay, they contain toxins because they're detoxifying organs. Lung is a much healthier dog treat for joint health. They're small but also easy to break into pieces so you can give your dog more or give them to a smaller dog without overfeeding.

I also like to use these for training sessions. They're a delightful way to treat your dog to nutrition and teach them how to behave at the same time.

You can find beef lung dog treats here.

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