Joint support for dogs becomes more important as they age, especially when it comes to maintaining mobility, comfort, and overall health. Maintaining dog mobility as they age usually involves implementing a joint support product, often containing ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin.
But while single-ingredient products may offer limited support, research and experience show that combining multiple joint-supportive ingredients—each targeting a different aspect of joint health—can produce far more effective and lasting results.
In this blog, we’ll explore the causes of joint issues in dogs, the pros and cons of conventional treatments, the most effective joint supplements, and how Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD can be a powerful addition to your dog’s joint health. Not only does CBD support joint comfort and inflammation, but it also works synergistically with other natural ingredients—like anti-inflammatory herbs and adaptogens—to support your dog’s body on multiple levels.
What Causes Joint Problems in Dogs?
There is no one causative factor for joint degeneration in pets, it is usually a mixture of the following factors:
Injuries
Injuries require time to heal, and if your dog doesn’t rest properly (which isn’t always the easiest, especially when they’re young) while healing, they are likely to re-injure themselves, creating scar tissue and accelerating joint deterioration
Obesity
This is a prevalent cause of joint disease. When the skeletal structure is stressed by carrying too much weight, the joint space is crushed, and bones grind against each other within the joint, causing pain and inflammation.
Nervous System Dysregulation
Chiropractic care for dogs is not promoted enough. Regular chiropractic adjustments improve your dog’s nervous system, thus improving joint behavior. The nervous system controls muscles, which in turn control joint movements. Without proper nervous system behavior, joint damage is inevitable.
Poor Diet
Feeding a low-quality or imbalanced diet is a fast track to joint degeneration. A low-quality diet is pro-inflammatory and will hasten joint degeneration. An imbalanced amount of nutrients (calcium, phosphorus, omegas) will also lead to inflammation and dysplasia (poor joint development).
Genetic Factors/Mutations
Many breeds are prone to joint dysplasia, such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dachshunds, Labradors, Great Danes, Pugs, Bulldogs, and Cocker Spaniels, to name a few. Specific diseases like Brittle Bone Disease (Osteogenesis Imperfecta), Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), Osteochondrosis, Patellar Luxation, and Legg-Calve Perth Disease are all genetically caused joint issues. Depending on the breed, some are more prone than others. Even with the best diet and exercise routine, these dogs can fall prey to joint issues, starting early on.
Lack of Physical Activity
“Motion is Lotion” is a great phrase; the more movement, the more lubricated and flexible joints will be. If your dog is chronically immobile, lazy, or you do not regularly exercise them, this will unfortunately lead to joint disease sooner than expected. Just as you become stiff when sitting in a chair too long, the same happens with your pets. Making sure they get proper exercise is critical to their overall health, not just their joint health.
Disease
Some joint disorders, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma, can be caused by other diseases. Although these are rarer cases, they can still occur in pets with compromised immune systems.
Conventional Treatments for Joint Disease in Dogs
NSAIDs for Joint Pain
If you’re using a conventional veterinarian for your dog’s health concerns, odds are the first thing they will prescribe for joint pain is a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). These drugs can be useful for very short-term relief but are rarely prescribed in such a manner.
With a little differentiation between them, almost all NSAIDs are prostaglandin inhibitors. Prostaglandins are lipid compounds that act like hormones, regulating key physiological processes such as inflammation, blood clotting, pain perception, uterine contractions, kidney function, and bone metabolism.
They are derived from arachidonic acid and released in response to stimuli like injury, infection, or inflammation. While prostaglandin inhibitors help temporarily relieve inflammation, a lack of their presence in the body will disrupt many bodily functions; in dogs, this is most noticeable in their GI system.
This is why these drugs come with warnings about GI symptoms like diarrhea, bloody stool, or vomiting. Chronic use of NSAIDs requires regular bloodwork, to monitor for organ damage. So, you can probably understand why these are ineffective long-term solutions for this issue.
Injectable Joint Treatments
Several options are presently available for injectable joint products.
Adequan for Dogs
The safest, and most commonly used is Adequan. Adequan is the most biologically active form of glucosamine, glycosaminoglycan. Injected, it can help block the release of enzymes that degrade joints, stimulate collagen activity within the joint, and thus provide better joint mobility.
This drug option is widely used by both conventional and holistic vets and is considered very safe. It is not going to reverse joint disease, nor does it relieve pain, but it is an option to consider adjunctively.
Librela for Dogs
The newest joint disease drug, Librela for dogs (or Solensia for cats), is anything but safe. This drug was tested initially on humans, for the same issue, and the FDA rejected its release (considering the FDA doesn’t do much to protect us from unsafe drugs, this is a HUGE red flag when they won’t release it for human use).
This rejection led to the FDA releasing the drug for animal use, since animal drugs have far lower safety thresholds and require much less (if any) long-term safety data. Librela contains bedinvetmab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks nerve growth factor (NGF), preventing pain signal transmission and reducing inflammation. While this sounds novel, the results have been disastrous to the general public, leaving hundreds of pets dead. The FDA has since released a letter expressing concern to veterinarians regarding its use.
Choosing the Best Joint Supplements for Dogs
When choosing a joint supplement for your dog, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Sourcing
Sourcing is one of the key factors when choosing just about anything for your dog. When it comes to supplements that you’re giving internally, it’s even more critical. The supplement industry is littered with options, and most of them are just that: garbage.
There is little to no regulation in the animal supplement industry (and even those are pay-to-play), so knowing your brand and demanding transparency is key. Make sure your joint supplements are sourced from whole food sources as much as possible, and ensure they don’t come from areas of the world that are polluted or have low standards.
Formulation
Just because a supplement says “Veterinary Formulated” does not mean much. Many veterinarians do not study ingredients to ensure their efficacy; many are just paid for their endorsement or formula without much education.
Formulas should be synergistic, and make sense. Combining certain ingredients together can sometimes be harmful. For example, many joint supplements in chew form use fillers like sugar, molasses, palm oil, wheat flour, maltodextrin, and synthetic flavoring (even if it says ‘natural flavor’ it’s still made in a lab) which completely counteract the point of the supplement.
Adding fish oils to chews is also a common trait- with no accounting for the fact that these chews oxidize in their own container- making the fish oil rancid and pro-inflammatory.
Potency
I’d venture to estimate about 90% of joint supplements don’t have therapeutic dosages in their products, rendering them mostly useless. Ensure your pet’s joint supplement uses therapeutic dosages for the ingredients they contain. Otherwise, they aren’t doing much of anything other than wasting your money.
Purity
Just as important as potency is purity. Ensuring the ingredients listed are clean and without additives or fillers will mean the difference between a supplement being effective or not.
Glucosamine supplements are a great example, look for Glucosamine Sulfate, not Glucosamine hydrochloride. The former has much more rigorous quality control, while the latter does not, and may be harmful to dogs with cardiac problems.
Top Joint Supplement Ingredients for Dogs
Now let’s discuss a few of the most common joint supplement ingredients and how they work.
Glucosamine Sulfate for Dog Joint Support
This is one of the most common joint supplement ingredients- you’ll find it in almost every joint supplement on the market. Glucosamine is important for maintaining joint integrity, by regulating the synthesis of collagen in cartilage and may provide mild anti-inflammatory effects.
Glucosamine is almost always sourced from shellfish, so beware if your dog has a shellfish allergy! Additionally, absorption can be troublesome for our pets due to its sourcing. This is why sourcing, purity, and potency are critical.
Ideally, the glucosamine should be Glucosamine Sulfate, with glucosamine hydrochloride being less suitable. In order to be therapeutic, the dosage should equate to at least 15mg/kg or 8mg/lb.
Glucosamine is not very effective on its own, and as time goes on, research is showing a lack of effectiveness for joint disease. So, although it is the most popular ingredient currently, as time goes on, it may lose its popularity.
Chondroitin for Dog Joint Health
For good reason, Chondroitin is almost always paired up with Glucosamine on an ingredient panel for a joint support supplement. Studies have shown it to be synergistic when paired with glucosamine since it is in the same class of chemicals (glycosaminoglycans).
Chondroitin mainly acts to help maintain fluid balance in the joints, reduce the enzymes that break down joint tissue, and exert anti-inflammatory activity within the joints. The therapeutic dosage for chondroitin is the same as that for glucosamine- at least 15mg/kg to show effectiveness.
Perna: Green Lipped Mussels for Dog Joint Health
Green Lipped Mussel aka Perna is becoming increasingly popular in joint supplements, for good reason! It is an incredibly effective anti-inflammatory and helps stop joint degeneration. This is due to its high omega-3 fatty acid content, as well as containing glucosaminoglycans to help joint repair.
When it comes to purity, GLM is an excellent source, since almost all GLM comes from immaculate, well-regulated waters within a specific geographic area. The therapeutic dosage should be at least 25mg/kg or 13mg/lb but can be given in loading doses to bump up absorption to start.
MSM For Dog Joints
This is another super common ingredient in joint supplements. When discussing glucosamine, we mentioned that the sulfate form is best. This is because sulfur is a key component in the body’s production of collagen and glucosamine; think of it as a building block for joint repair.
MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, is a form of sulfur, methylsulfonylmethane to be exact. MSM helps to reduce inflammation, promote joint repair, and even reduce pain. The therapeutic dosage for MSM should be 300-500mg/10 lbs for dogs.
Turmeric for Dog Joint Pain
Turmeric is such an amazing herb, loaded with anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic, and pain-relieving properties that make it ideal for joint support. Turmeric for dogs has proven benefits for joint health and should be part of a good joint support supplement. It reduces inflammation and works as a natural pain reliever, making it ideal for those who start joint support later in life when symptoms are already present.
The active component in turmeric, curcumin, is part of a class of polyphenols called curcuminoids, similar to flavonoids. Beyond helping with joint pain and inflammation, it has systemic anti-inflammatory effects and helps to balance stress response. If your dog has a bleeding disease like IMHA, IMTP, or Evan’s Syndrome, please consult a vet before using turmeric, as it can thin the blood.
Boswellia/Frankincense for Dog Joint Pain
Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian frankincense, is a powerful herb traditionally used to relieve joint pain. Its effectiveness comes from boswellic acids, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help inhibit inflammatory enzymes, protect cartilage from damage, and reduce pain and stiffness.
Scientific research supports its benefits, showing that Boswellia significantly reduces pain and stiffness and improves joint function. With its natural pain-relieving properties and growing scientific backing, Frankincense for dogs is a must-have in joint support supplements.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD for Dog Joint Pain & Inflammation
Finally, our favorite anti-inflammatory must be mentioned: Full Spectrum Hemp Extract CBD Oil for dog joint pain. More and more joint supplements are realizing the importance of including this ingredient in their products, and for good reason.
Cannabidiol has been studied countless times and shown to be efficacious in relieving joint pain and inflammation. Even though it has been shown effective for specific issues like joint pain, having CBD on board in our aging pets’ health protocol is about so much more than relieving joint stiffness and pain.
FSHE is a critical tool in slowing the progression of free-radical damage, maintaining neurological/cognitive function, and also helping protect against serious diseases like cancer.
Why Combining Natural Joint Support Ingredients Works Best for Dogs
Combining multiple joint-supportive ingredients is one of the most effective ways to manage and prevent joint issues in dogs. Each ingredient offers unique benefits—some target inflammation, others help repair cartilage, support joint fluid, or relieve pain. When used together, these natural ingredients work synergistically to address all aspects of joint disease: degeneration, inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
For example, glucosamine and chondroitin help maintain cartilage structure and joint lubrication, while MSM and turmeric provide natural anti-inflammatory support. Perna (green-lipped mussel) adds essential omega-3s and joint-protective compounds, and Boswellia helps reduce stiffness and discomfort.
Full Spectrum Hemp Extract is especially powerful when combined with these ingredients. While it supports a healthy inflammatory response and promotes joint comfort on its own, it also enhances the effects of other natural compounds—especially adaptogens and anti-inflammatory herbs. Hemp extract helps regulate the body’s stress and immune responses through the endocannabinoid system, making it a perfect complement to any natural joint health protocol.
One example of a synergistic formula is EASE by CBD Dog Health, which combines Full Spectrum Hemp Extract with turmeric and frankincense—two well-researched anti-inflammatory herbs known to support mobility, reduce discomfort, and calm the immune system. EASE is specifically formulated for dogs with joint pain, arthritis, or mobility issues, and is a great option for dogs recovering from injury or dealing with aging joints.
When choosing a supplement for your dog, look for formulas that combine multiple high-quality ingredients—or consider pairing a trusted joint supplement with a high-potency Full Spectrum Hemp Extract to help your dog move more comfortably, naturally.
Dog Joint Supplements to Avoid
Not all joint supplements are created equal. Here are some popular products we don’t recommend, based on poor sourcing, low potency, or lack of transparency.
Dasaquin
This is one of the most popular joint supplements veterinarians recommend since a veterinary pharmaceutical company manufactures it. This product, while popular, doesn’t use high-quality ingredients and uses below therapeutic levels.
For example, their glucosamine is glucosamine hcl, the less desirable option. They also now use a mixture of Avocado/Soybean Unsaponifiables, which are also below therapeutic levels. They use a proprietary blend of Boswellia and curcumin, which hides the amounts, making it impossible to determine the quantities used (and thus, therapeutic dosing is impossible to determine).
The product is rounded out by adding the ever-vague (and rancid) “Fish Oil,” as well as “vegetable oil” (vague, non-specific), and flavoring. Yikes. Considering its price, you can buy much higher quality and effective joint supplements and get real results.
Cosequin
Made by the same company as Dasaquin, Cosequin shares many of the same issues—including low-quality ingredients and formulations that fall below therapeutic dosing. While it’s often marketed as a veterinarian-recommended joint supplement for dogs, it’s more of a starter product than a truly effective long-term solution for joint support.
The primary joint ingredients in Cosequin are glucosamine hydrochloride and sodium chondroitin sulfate, which are both present in relatively low amounts. As with Dasaquin, the use of glucosamine HCl over glucosamine sulfate is a red flag—it’s cheaper, less bioavailable, and generally less effective in therapeutic settings. Chondroitin content also tends to be below the levels shown in clinical studies to actually support joint health.
In addition, Cosequin is often formulated with unnecessary fillers, flavorings, and additives that provide no nutritional value and can even be inflammatory for dogs with sensitivities. Some formulas contain manganese ascorbate, which is added for joint support but is not necessary in most well-balanced diets—and can be problematic in excess over time.
Despite its popularity, Cosequin simply doesn’t deliver the potency, purity, or synergy needed to effectively manage or prevent joint issues in dogs—especially those already showing signs of arthritis or joint degeneration. Pet parents looking for real, noticeable improvement in mobility, comfort, and inflammation should consider higher-quality alternatives with therapeutic dosing and whole-food sourcing.
Final Thoughts on Joint Support for Dogs
Joint health is a critical part of your dog’s overall wellness—especially as they age. Whether your dog is showing early signs of stiffness or is already dealing with arthritis or mobility issues, the right combination of natural joint support supplements can make a world of difference.
From popular joint support ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, to powerful anti-inflammatories like turmeric and Boswellia, and the synergistic benefits of Full Spectrum Hemp Extract (CBD)—there are more effective, natural options than ever before.
Always prioritize products with clean ingredients, therapeutic dosages, and transparent sourcing, and don’t be afraid to combine multiple joint-supportive compounds for better results. When in doubt, consult a holistic veterinarian to create a plan that’s right for your pet.
Looking for a CBD oil for dog joint pain that works in harmony with other supplements? Explore our full-spectrum formulas like EASE, designed to support mobility, comfort, and whole-body wellness.
