HEALTH & WELLNESS

Can Dogs Take People Supplements?

Can Dogs Take People Supplements?

For all you dog lovers reading this, there is nothing worse than seeing your “best friend” limping around in pain. When you throw the ball and your dog makes a sorry eyed, sad look back, and slowly lays down, you know your buddy has an issue. 

Dogs have wear and tear just like we do. They are constantly running, playing and their joints wear down with age and many end up with arthritis as the years add up. 

 

Why Do Dogs Get Arthritis?

Arthritis occurs when the dog's joints become inflamed causing pain and stiffness. 

This can be caused by injury, obesity or inherited diseases such as hip dysplasia which is a common disease in smaller dogs where their hip sockets are not formed correctly leading to arthritis. This causes them discomfort and makes it difficult for the dog to get around - affecting their quality of life. 

 

Supplements To Help Arthritis In Dogs

Most dog owners consult with their vet as to what type of supplement they should buy to help with discomfort or joint issues. They might be told to buy a product that contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin, as this is common in many over the counter pet supplements. 

There have been clinical studies that show Glucosamine and Chondroitin have very impressive results in helping dogs. One study shows statistically significant improvements in scores for pain, weight-bearing and severity of the condition after 70 days using Glucosamine and Chondroitin. (1)

 

Can My Dog Take MY Joint Supplements?

Hey, if my supplement contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin and works for me….Why not share it with my pet?! 

Well, it is always best to ask your veterinarian, however, not all vets are educated on the vast supply and endless brands of “people” joint pills. So if you are staring at your kitchen shelf full of supplements thinking…Maybe this will help Chester….Let's provide you with some history on pets, people and Joint-4 supplements.

In 1998, a company called Euronutrition manufactured a product called "Gelenkpower 4" - Gelenk is the German word for joint. (The kind of joint found in your body - thought we needed to mention that). That same product is now called Joint-4 and is produced by the US counterpart, Xendurance and it is still produced in the EU. 

About two years into manufacturing this 4 ingredient, high dosage joint formula, customers in Europe started ordering more than one bottle and mentioned they were ordering for their dogs. (Cats came later) The company wanted to know more because this was not just one or two people ordering. Pet owners were pragmatically saying, "Well the product works for me so I tried it on my dog. My dog had been in pain and had slowed down considerably and now he is running around like a puppy!" 

Soon orders started coming in from regular customers for their dogs - and cats. Pet owners have been buying the Xendurance Joint-4 formula for almost 20 years now. 

 

What Supplement Ingredients Benefit A Dog?

Your vet will explain several to you but we will tell you why we think Joint-4 works.

Joint-4 is composed of four proven ingredients to help with joint discomfort; Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Boswellia, and MSM. At research dosage levels, these ingredients act as ongoing joint support when taken regularly.*

  • Glucosamine - Helps promote healthy cartilage*
  • Chondroitin - Helps maintain joint heath*
  • Boswellia - Supports the body's healthy inflammatory response*
  • MSM - Promotes healthy joint tissues and a healthy inflammatory response*

Many of these ingredients are in dog supplements at Costco or pet stores as well. The important question is - Are they in research dosages? Do they address the inflammatory response? And do they help your dog run around like a puppy again?

 

How Would You Give Your Dog Joint-4?

We hear that many people open the capsules and pour the powder from the capsules onto their dog's food. They usually try a low daily dosage or just 1-2 capsules, depending on the dog's size and weight, and then they experiment and increase as it keeps working. It may take some time to figure out what works best, and it does take some time to get into their system, just like it does in people. 

So does your dog need help getting into your SUV or climbing stairs? Are they slow getting up in the morning? Are you looking for a better quality of life for your best friend? Maybe the solution is already in your kitchen cabinet in a pouch called Joint-4!

(1) McCarthy G, O'Donovan J, Jones B, McAllister H, Seed M, Mooney C. Randomized double-blind, positive-controlled trial to assess the efficacy of glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet J. 2007 Jul;174(1):54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.02.015. Epub 2006 May 2. PMID: 16647870.

* We recommend asking for professional pet advice from your veterinarian if there are any questions or concern. This information is passed along from 20 years of customer service for the Joint-4/Gelenkpower-4 supplement both in Europe and in the US.

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