02/09/2023
Let’s talk about supplements (aka nutraceuticals). As a veterinarian this is a question that I get all the time: “what supplements do you recommend for musculoskeletal health or overall health and performance?”
There are hundreds if not thousands of supplements on the market, all claiming to provide different benefits, which can make things confusing for consumers. In addition, the supplement market is not regulated by the FDA in the same way as prescription medications, which means that there is little standardization or oversight. Some supplements on the market have solid research behind them demonstrating not only safety, but efficacy. Others don’t. And upon third party analysis some supplements have even been found to simply not contain what they claim to, or contain dangerous additives or contaminants.
So what supplements are safe and beneficial for our performance dogs? The specific supplements discussed below are all ones that I trust and recommend, made by reputable companies that back their products with studies on safety and efficacy. Each of the products mentioned are products that I use or have used with my own dogs.
As a side note, I do not have any personal affiliation with any of the companies mentioned nor do I have any financial incentive or receive any compensation for recommending any of these products.
1. Glucosamine/chondrotin supplements. These are prophylactic supplements that every performance dog should be on started on at about 1 yr of age. Arthritis can be caused by both a normal load on an abnormal joint (think a dog with hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia where there is conformational defect in the joint) and by an abnormal load on a normal joint (think repetitive micro trauma to the joint secondary to training and competing). The later is what most commonly occurs in our performance dogs, and every dog is at risk. Glucosamine/chondrotin is a combination of substances that block the inflammatory cascade within the joint and also have protective effects within the joint, reducing cartilage degradation, bony remodeling, and inflammation of the joint lining. While glucosamine/chondrotin alone is a good protective joint supplement, some glucosamine/chondrotin supplements on the market go even further and contain additional substances, such as MSM, curcumin, boswelia, avocado unsaponifiables, egg shell membrane, green lipped muscle, or other additives that have demonstrated efficacy and synergy with glucosamine/chondrotin to further reduce joint inflammation and prevent against cartilage degradation. Because of the increased efficacy of these combination products, I prefer glucosamine/chondrotin supplements like Nutramax’s Dasuquin Advanced and Vetriscience’s Glycoflex over straight glucosamine/chondrotin.
2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Omega 3 fatty acids - most importantly EFA and DHA - have many benefits including for joint, heart, brain, kidney, and skin/coat health. In the context of joint health, omega 3 fatty acids work to decrease joint inflammation and cartilage degradation, reducing pain and slowing the progression of arthritis. This is both a prophylactic supplement beneficial for all performance dogs, and should also be part of a therapeutic regiment for dogs with arthritis and other health issues, such as heart disease. The ratio of EFA to DHA is important, as is the dose and source. Some sources of omega 3 fatty acids may contain toxins such as heavy metals and many OTC fish oil products that you can find at pet stores, etc are dosed insufficiently as per the label to provide significant health benefits, especially when it comes to joint health. Because of safety and efficacy, my personal preference for an omega 3 fatty acid supplement is Nutramax’s Wellactin.
3. Myos. Myos is a unique supplement for muscle health called fortetropin, which is derived from fermented egg yolks, and works by both promoting muscle building to increase muscle mass and strength, as well as decreasing muscle destruction to prevent or reduce muscle wasting and improve recovery from injury. This supplement is particularly useful for older dogs, dogs recovering from injuries or surgery, and dogs that do not easily build or maintain muscle mass.
4. 1-TDC. 1-TDC is a unique fatty acid derived from beef tallow that has been shown to decrease muscle and joint pain and inflammation, improve oral health and decrease oral inflammation, and aid in recovery following physical activity or injury. Like omega fatty acids, this supplement is potentially beneficial for all performance dogs, as well as dogs specifically with or at risk for dental disease.
5. Adequan. Adequan is an injectable joint support supplement that works synergistically with other joint support supplements such as glucosamine/chondrotin and omega 3 fatty acids to reduce joint inflammation, strengthen and restore damaged cartilage, and improve joint lubrication. While useful for dogs with arthritis, this product is of particular use prior to the onset of arthritis or very early in the disease process. Therefore it is of use both prophylactically and therapeutically. Although I am including this in the category of joint support supplements, this product is actually characterized and regulated as a medication by the FDA and therefore does require a prescription from your veterinarian.
6. Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin for neuromuscular and gastrointestinal health, as well as red blood cell production and cellular health. Dogs cannot synthesize their own vitamin B12, and therefore vitamin B12 must be obtained through the diet. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to problems like anemia, neurologic, and/or gastrointestinal disease. While complete and balanced diets should contain sufficient vitamin B12 levels, many dogs are deficient in vitamin B12 due to decreased absorption in the gut as the result of medical problems such as food allergies, parasites, or inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore it is never wrong to consider supplementing, especially if you have a dog with a history of gastrointestinal issues. Supplementation can be achieved using an oral vitamin B12 product, such as Nutramax’s Cobalequin, or through a series of vitamin B12 injections. It is best to work with your veterinarian to test and monitor vitamin B12 levels prior to and during supplementation if a B12 deficiency is suspected. However, being a water soluble vitamin (meaning that the body will eliminate any excess vitamin B12 beyond what it needs) it safe to supplement without prior testing.
7. CBD. CBD, or cannabidiol, is derived from the h**p plant, and is potentially useful in many ways. Studies have show that CBD has beneficial effects for reducing pain and inflammation due to arthritis, as well as reduction of anxiety, seizures, and allergy symptoms in dogs. The research on CBD in dogs as well as humans is ever expanding, as is our understanding of the endocannabinoid system, which is a series of receptors within our body that are important for normal baseline functions essential for overall health and survival, such as digestion, immune function, mood, sleep, reproduction, and more. CBD is not something that I recommend for every dog, but may be beneficial for certain dogs, especially those suffering from musculoskeletal pain and inflammation or anxiety/stress. When considering using CBD the most important things to consider are source, dosing (most OTC CBD products marketed for dogs that can be found in pet stores and pharmacies recommend way too low of a dose to be of any significant benefit), and consulting with your veterinarian to make sure to avoid any possible medication interactions, as CBD does interact with some prescription medications. Given the amount of research behind their products in terms of both safety and efficacy, Ellevet is the number one veterinary brand of CBD that I trust and recommend.
