Quick Summary of Content
Joint and ligament health is one of many areas dog owners’ often overlook or neglect. In some cases, dog owners are simply unaware of its importance over the course of their dog’s life. Why is joint and ligament health so important? Well, I’m glad you asked.
Nearly one million dogs a year succumb to an Anterior (ACL) and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) tear, rupture, or related injury just in the United States alone.
These sorts of injuries are relatively common for dogs. There are many factors — keeping dog slim, fit, active and agile — to consider and watch closely to reduce the chances ACL/CCL injury, or a dog ever requiring knee surgery.
Whether ligament or joint damage, dog knee surgery (also known as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgery) is costly and invasive. However, there is an alternative to surgery: herbs and supplements. This holistic approach aims to reduce inflammation and further damage to impacted ligament and joint areas.
Administering herbs and supplements to your dog in moderation also aims to facilitate healthy recovery from having sustained injury. In addition, this holistic approach has proven quite beneficial in preventing dogs from tearing and rupturing knee ligaments and surrounding joint area.
But with so many options available on the market, how is a dog owner to navigate all the various herb and supplement products to select the best one for their dog’s overall diet?
Before heading off to the store or surfing to the ends of the inter-webs, let’s explore 7 dog supplements to consider pre and post dog knee surgery.
1. Vetri-Science Omega 3 6 9 Fatty Acid Pet Supplement
One of the best herbal and supplemental products on the market, Omega 3 6 9 is the choice by owners of cats and dogs to ensure healthy skin, heart, and joint support for life.
With 90 gel caps to a bottle, this supplement helps to increase a dog’s metabolism while reducing and stabilizing to a fit and healthy weight. It consists of healthy doses of salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, eggs, walnuts, soy beans and canola oil. And like any supplement, there are a few side effects to consider with Omega 3 6 9. The most common side effects are diarrhea and nausea.
In addition, owners should check and confirm with their pet’s veterinarian before administering should animals classify as breeders or already pregnant.
2. Glycoflex
If you’re in search of a well-balanced source of protein, minerals, and sulfates that is clinically proven to increase hind leg strength, then look no further than Glycoflex.
Glycoflex is the trusted and recommended supplement unanimously chosen by veterinarians over the last 40 years and counting. It’s a hearty, chewable nutritional supplement providing ongoing ligament and joint health for dogs. Glycoflex can be purchased in basic, moderate, ultimate and maximum strengths, consisting of 120 tablets per bag.
If your dog is displaying serious signs of aging, limb discomfort, or limited mobility, then Glycoflex is worth considering. It’s a great value for the price paid when considering the boost to your dog’s overall quality of life.
3. Lubri-Ease
With 250 chewable tablets made mainly of turmeric, green lipped mussel powder, and ginger, Lubri-Ease is the ideal supplement for natural hip, joint, and connective issue health.
Lubri-Ease prolongs the quality of life for your dog by reducing joint-damaging effects in favor of joint supporting compounds. Its perfect for maintaining healthy joints for pets of any age.
4. Ultra-Flex Collagen
There are many brands of Ultra-Flex Collagen offering collagen concentrate and vitamin-C joint support. However, one the best natural supplements promoting both joint mobility and flexibility is Makondo Pets.
With 60 bacon-flavored chewable tablets, Makondo Pets boasts a supplement offering pets the following:
- Build and strengthen cartilage
- Grow and repair of connective tissue
- Strengthen and regenerate broken bones and fractures
- Brittle nail prevention and overall strength of nail
- Heals and prevents ulcers, wounds, and burns
- Prevents hair loss
- Maintains vitality and elasticity of hair
Ultra-Flex contains glucosamine in phosphate form, and is non-toxic, easily absorbed and has not better aftertaste. It’s bacon after all, and bacon makes everything taste better and life better than ever!
In addition, should your dog display any signs of arthritis, no matter how severe, Ultra-Flex Collagen will revive your dog back to youthful, spry days of mobility, movement, and activity.
5. ArthriSoothe
The name of this supplement alone should ensure great comfort of use for your dog: ArthriSoothe.
ArthriSoothe, a mash up of Arthritis and Soothe, increases your dog’s body turnover process in its entirety. It also boosts the overall quality of life for your dog, ensuring healthy functioning of joints, cartilage, tendons, and synovial fluids.
ArthriSoothe also decreases the strenuous wear and tear of joints, especially between the vertebrae and spite. It protects joint tissue breakdown, inflammation, and free radicals from attacking your dog’s body.
ArthroSoothe offers 250 or 500 chewable flavored tablets per bottle. It is also flanked with a 100% money-back guarantee should it not improve your dog’s hip and joint health and overall quality of mobility and activity.
6. Polyglcan
Out of all the herb and supplemental products on the market for dog joint health, Polyglcan is a liquid-based, post-surgery medication for dogs undergoing any type of joint-related surgeries.
Typically injected into the synovial cavity, Polyglcan replaces joint fluids containing naturally occurring components of synovial.
In addition, Polyglcan contains hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfates, and glucosamine to maintain overall joint and connective tissue health.
Before ordering and administering Polygclan, please speak with your veterinarian. It’s important to have an in depth about whether or not Polygclan is the best option as a herb and supplement for your dog’s diet.
7. Turmeric Curcumin
Last but certainly not least, BioSchwartz’s Turmeric Curcumin is yet another herb and supplement for dogs to consider. Pain-relief and increased support to hip and joint areas are the primary benefits of Turmeric Curcumin.
This all natural, non-geo, no fillers, binders or preservatives supplement is one of the purest you’ll find made on the market. It contains nothing but raw ingredients of turmeric powder and curcumin with no traces soy, gluten, milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, sweeteners, shellfish and sugar. Turmeric Curcumin offers a 30 day supply of 90 soft chewable tablets per bottle.
In addition to your dog’s digestive and immune system receiving a boost, it’s safe to say your dog’s days of pain and discomfort are over thanks to Turmeric Curcumin.
Helping your dog enjoy healthier and happier days ahead
As the saying goes, “every dog has its day!” Regardless of age, breed, or any other factor, let’s do our best as dog owners to ensure that every day is our dog’s day to enjoy healthy, happy, and active living.
Just as vitamins help compliment healthy living for adults, so do holistic approaches to herbs and supplements for your dog’s overall health. Your dog will greatly thank you for thoughtful administering of herbs and supplements concerning its ligament and joint health.
And it goes without saying, always include your veterinarian in the conversation about herbs and supplements designed with dogs in mind. This helps to ensure the best plan of action prudently considers your dog’s history of health and overall health of breed.
