Glucosamine or green-lipped mussel for dogs: what the research says

The short answer: In the largest review of the research, published in 2022, the researchers found no pain-relieving effect of glucosamine and chondroitin in dogs and cats with osteoarthritis. There was support, however, for omega-3, the group that green-lipped mussel belongs to. That is why ANNUJOINTS is not built on glucosamine. It is built instead on the skeleton's basic nutrients and two herbs, turmeric and Cissus quadrangularis, where turmeric is one of the few herbs actually tested in placebo-controlled studies in dogs with osteoarthritis. Here we go through what is known, without promising more than the research does.

What the review found

A Canadian research group went through 57 articles with 72 studies of dietary supplements and enriched foods for osteoarthritis in dogs and cats.¹ Two conclusions matter for anyone standing in the shop choosing.

That does not mean that every product with green-lipped mussel works. The support applies to omega-3 in the amounts used in the studies. A product with a little mussel in each dose does not have the same support as one with a lot.

Do not just ask what is in the jar. Ask how much, in milligrams per dose for a dog of your dog's size.

Why we left out glucosamine

Most joint supplements for dogs in Swedish shops are still built on glucosamine and chondroitin. Those are the substances the review above advises against. When we put ANNUJOINTS together we wanted to build on something else: what bones and joints are actually made of, and herbs that have been tested in dogs.

The contents per tablet are calcium 162.8 mg, phosphorus 83.85 mg, vitamin D3 800 IU, Cissus quadrangularis 50 mg and turmeric 10 mg. Everything is listed in milligrams, so you can compare with any other product.

Calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3

The skeleton is rebuilt throughout life, and in the older animal breakdown runs faster than rebuilding. Calcium and phosphorus are the two minerals the skeleton is made of, and vitamin D3 is what allows the body to absorb calcium from food. Without D3, calcium does less good. This is not a herb and nothing new, it is basic nutrition, and that is deliberate.

Turmeric: tested in dogs, with mixed but positive results

Turmeric is the herb in ANNUJOINTS with the most research behind it, including in dogs with osteoarthritis. In a British study, 61 dogs were given either a turmeric extract or placebo for eight weeks, with neither vet nor owner knowing which. The vets' assessment showed a statistically significant improvement in the turmeric group, while the owners' own assessment fell just short of statistical significance.² In a Belgian study from 2017, 42 dogs with osteoarthritis were given for three months a food with turmeric extract, collagen and green tea, or the same food without the additions. The vets saw a significant reduction in pain on examination only in the turmeric group, and the owners' pain scores stayed stable there while they worsened in the control group. The objective measurements of how the dogs loaded their legs did not differ, however.³

Two things need saying honestly. Turmeric is poorly absorbed by the body, which a bachelor's thesis at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences summarises well.⁴ And the amount of turmeric in ANNUJOINTS, 10 mg per tablet, is lower than in the studies above. We use it as one of five components, not as the sole carrier.

Cissus quadrangularis: the "bone setter" of Ayurvedic tradition

Cissus quadrangularis is a climbing plant that in Indian tradition is called hadjod, roughly "the one that joins bones", and has been used for hundreds of years for fractures and joint complaints. The modern research is young. In an American pilot study, 29 men with exercise-related joint pain were given 3,200 mg of Cissus a day for eight weeks, and their joint pain on the established WOMAC questionnaire fell by about a third.⁵ The study had no control group, so the result is promising rather than proven, and there are as yet no corresponding studies in dogs. We include Cissus for the tradition and the early results, and we say it as it is.

How to compare two joint supplements

1. Count milligrams per day. Take the amount of active substance per dose and multiply by the number of doses for your dog's weight. If the amount is not stated, the product cannot be compared.
2. Count cost per day. Divide the price by the number of days the pack lasts for your dog. For ANNUJOINTS the figures are ready in the Cost per day calculator.
3. Check whether the product has a loading period. Many joint supplements are given at a higher dose for the first weeks, and then the first jar runs out faster than you think. ANNUJOINTS is given at a double dose for the first three weeks.
4. Decide when you will evaluate. Give it six weeks and write down what you want to see: the stairs, the car, the first steps after rest. If you see no difference within 42 days, you get your money back from us.

Weight does more than any supplement

A stiff older dog should see the vet first. Evidensia lists stiffness in the morning as one of the signs of osteoarthritis, and points out that osteoarthritis cannot be rested away.⁶ The right weight, moderate exercise and pain relief when needed are the foundation. Supplements come after that, and ANNUJOINTS is a complementary feed that supports normal joint function, not a treatment for osteoarthritis.

If you want the best of both worlds

The review gives omega-3 the strongest support for pain. ANNUJOINTS contains no omega-3, and it is perfectly fine to give a fish oil in sufficient quantity alongside it. There is nothing in ANNUJOINTS that clashes with omega-3. Still, start with one product at a time, so that you know what makes the difference, and check with the vet if the dog is on medication or a food with added calcium and vitamin D.

Frequently asked questions

Does glucosamine really work in dogs?

The largest review of the research found no pain-relieving effect of glucosamine and chondroitin in osteoarthritis in dogs and cats. Many owners still notice a difference, but it cannot be separated from other changes made at the same time.

Is green-lipped mussel better than glucosamine?

According to the same review, omega-3, which includes green-lipped mussel, has support for an effect on pain. That applies in sufficient amounts, so compare milligrams per day.

Does ANNUJOINTS contain glucosamine?

No. ANNUJOINTS contains calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D3, Cissus quadrangularis and turmeric. Glucosamine was left out on purpose.

Are there studies of turmeric in dogs?

Yes, two placebo-controlled studies in dogs with osteoarthritis have shown improvement in the vet's assessment, one of them also in the owners' pain scores. The amount in ANNUJOINTS is lower than in the studies, so see the turmeric as part of the whole.

Can I give ANNUJOINTS together with an omega-3 supplement?

Yes. There is nothing in the contents that clashes, but check with the vet if the dog is on medication or a food with added calcium and vitamin D. Start with one product at a time so that you know what makes the difference.

Read on

• Why do older dogs get stiff, and why does it seem better after five minutes?
• How to read the ingredient list on a pet supplement
• Supplements for dogs and cats: how to choose

That was the short answer. If you have a question about your own dog, email info@herbiovet.se. We reply within one working day.

Sources

1. Barbeau-Grégoire et al., A 2022 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Enriched Therapeutic Diets and Nutraceuticals in Canine and Feline Osteoarthritis, International Journal of Molecular Sciences 2022;23(18):10384, full text.
2. Innes JF, Fuller CJ, Grover ER, Kelly AL, Burn JF (2003). Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study of P54FP for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Veterinary Record 152(15), 457 to 460. doi:10.1136/vr.152.15.457
3. Comblain F et al. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract in owner's dogs with osteoarthritis. BMC Veterinary Research 13, 395. doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1317-8
4. Hellgren, bachelor's thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 2015, full text (in Swedish).
5. Bloomer RJ et al. (2013). Cissus quadrangularis reduces joint pain in exercise-trained men: a pilot study. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 41(3), 29 to 35. doi:10.3810/psm.2013.09.2021
6. Evidensia, Osteoarthritis in dogs, vet reviewed (in Swedish).