Skip to main content

PawTracks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Top dog supplements for joint health and how they help your pooch stay active

Best supplements to give to your arthritic dog to help with joint paint

You might wake up sometimes (or all the time) with an achy back and your pup could as well. Just like humans, dogs can get joint pain and arthritis. This particularly happens in older animals and in certain breeds that are prone to it, like German shepherds. Luckily, there are a few things you can give them to help — and your canine will just think they’re getting an extra treat.

Senor golden retriever sitting in the grass
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How do supplements help with joint pain?

If you’ve noticed your dog acting stiff or limping, it could be arthritis or other joint issues. Make sure to talk to your vet to help diagnose (in case there’s something else going on like a broken bone) the issue. The dog doc will do a physical exam plus tests, such as imaging, to determine the underlying cause. If it turns out to be a joint problem, your vet might suggest a supplement, which can reduce inflammation and stimulate cartilage growth.

A senior black and white shih tzu with glassy eyes and an underbite looks off to the side

Which supplements are best for joint health

You want to look for something with glucosamine or chondroitin or both! Those two things help improve joint health and might actually work better in combination. Also, consider CBD and green-lipped mussel, which can be included in or given as an addition to your main chew. These are the top dog supplements for joint health.

Rogue Pet Science Origins Dog Supplement 

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Are you looking for a premium dietary supplement for your dogs? The Rogue Pet Science Origins Dog Supplement has a lot to offer. To start with, this dog supplement promises to uplift your canine companion’s health and vitality. Committed to all-natural ingredients, this is a dog supplement that harnesses the power of hand-selected ingredients to provide a comprehensive nutritional profile for your furry friends. Each serving is packed with the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your dog needs to lead a high-quality life. 

Cosequin DS

Formulated specifically for joint pain, Cosequin helps dogs suffering from pain and can be given to younger animals as a preventative supplement. Check with your vet, but you can start your pooch on this one even when they are just a year old. This chew contains both the big guys, glucosamine and chondroitin, plus MSM.

Naturvet Senior Wellness Hip & Joint

Animals of advanced age might need a little more help. This product is built for those beasties and contains glucosamine and chondroitin, plus omegas, which help with anti-inflammation, and are therefore good for arthritis and other joint issues.

PetHonesty Senior Hemp Mobility Supplement

Not just for older pups, this supplement also includes hemp to help a dog who has pain from advanced arthritis. It boasts a big ingredient list with all the usual suspects like GLM and collagen, but it doesn’t have steroids or GMOs. Each component targets a different issue to help keep your senior beastie going until the end.

Zesty Paws Hip & Joint Mobility Bites

Your pet might get a few different supplements every day. You can cut down on your meds chart with Zesty Paws, which contains vitamins as well as joint help. In this treat, you’ll find OptiMSM, a form of MSM created specifically to help your best friend stay active and feel his best.

No matter which chew you choose, your furry bestie will love the flavor and the way it makes them feel. Many of these will show visible improvement after a few weeks, so keep trying something new until the both of you land on the one that works best for you and Fido. Even with the benefits, you’ll still need to keep up to date with vet visits to make sure your guy is doing well and doesn’t require further treatment.

Editors' Recommendations

Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
What to do if your dog keeps throwing up with no sign of stopping
Here's what to try first and when to call the vet
A dog sleeping in a bed with a water bottle on his head and a thermometer in his mouth.

If you're like most pet parents, the sight of your beloved dog throwing up sends shivers of fear down your spine. Just like us, dogs occasionally eat something that disagrees with them and causes them to vomit. In most cases, your dog's vomiting will resolve on its own, but if your pup keeps throwing up, it could be cause for concern.

We'll give you the rundown on everything you need to know about why your dog keeps throwing up, from potential reasons why your pet might be vomiting to when you should take your pooch to the vet. 

Read more
Can dogs eat celery? The do’s and don’ts you should know
Your pup will probably love a veggie snack now and then
Woman chops up veggies including celery for her dog

Your dog's favorite snacks might include dog biscuits, fancy chews, or even that bacon you dropped on the floor one time, but can dogs eat celery? The truth is lots of dogs like veggies, even bland ones such as celery. While you wouldn't want this green and healthy nibble to become a staple in their diet, you can absolutely give your pup a celery snack now and then — and they might grow to love it.

Can dogs have raw celery?
As omnivores, our pet dogs need a balanced diet of both meat and plants. That's likely because their domestic history made them into scavengers thousands of years ago when our ancestors were still in the hunter-gatherer phase. In modern times, this diet preference has huge benefits because you can throw in some healthful treats that will give your pup a nutrition boost and keep them full.

Read more
Why do dogs eat cat poop? And how you can get them to stop
These tips will stop your pup from eating cat doo-doo
Dog wears a yellow sweater and looks at the camera

Sometimes you might think you hear your cat using their potty, but when you go into check, it's actually the dog eating cat poop. Gross! While it seems pretty revolting to us, dogs sometimes eat poop, the feline variety included. Coprophagia, which means eating poop, shows up reasonably frequently in pups, and certain diets, environments, and even breeds can make this act more likely (research says hounds and terriers are the groups most likely to chomp poop, in general).

So why do dogs eat cat poop, and what should you do about this behavior? Read on for a few things to check and a couple of tips to prevent this extra meal.
Why do dogs eat cat poop?
Theories abound, but it turns out lots of different mammals eat poop, their own and others'. One possibility is that not all nutrients fully digest when they go through our systems, which means there are plenty of vitamins to have by consuming feces. Sometimes, these cravings result from a nutrient-deficient diet that is easy to fix by changing up your dog's food.

Read more