Those who know me know that I try to give my animals the best I can, focusing on fresh food and supplements. So I wanted to share some info on the things that I offer our dogs and cats.
Expensive joint supplements are everywhere and becoming more and more popular as consumers are spending more money on their furry family members. It's hard to pick a good supplement that will contain what's on the label as supplements are not very well regulated.
During my years as a vet tech, I've had a lot of experience with joint supplements and anti-inflammatories which has given me a little extra knowledge on the matter. But experience or not, one thing we can almost all agree on is that fresh products are better than processed products. In one of those Hippocrates moments of "Let Food be Thy Medicine.." you can get joint support in natural, whole foods.
Glucosamine
Chicken feet are a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin that deliver up to a whooping 450mg of glucosamine per foot! They aren't the prettiest things in the world but are a lot more cost efficient and the least processed source. They aren't very easy to find though. For raw chicken feet, your best bet is to check out any ethnic grocery spots though I've occasionally found them at our local chain grocery stores. You can find dried chicken feet in some pet supply stores, mainly feed stores, but there's no guarantee how old they are or where they originated from (China?)
If you're interested in offering your dog some dried chicken feet, I offer a 10pack bag for $6 (if you're local).
Omega 3's
Many people are familiar with Omega 3 fatty acid supplements and why they're good for joints, but there are other ways to offer fresher and cheaper options than pills or powders.
I offer our dogs sardines as well as New Zealand green lipped mussels. First the sardines. I buy 5lb boxes from a large ethnic market for only $9! The sardines are completely whole so again, not the prettiest thing to deal with but worth it. Sardines are a great option for Omega 3's since they, of course, have a high amount of Omega 3's but also a low mercury level. I feed Sardines to my dogs a few times a week. Sarge eat them whole, while Pepe and Zoey get them cut in half.
The dogs also get New Zealand green lipped mussels - they are aptly named for the bright metallic green that lines the shell. No, they do not eat the shell but just the muscle meat. I also purchase these from the same ethnic market. I can buy them on the half shell for $5/lb or just the mussel meat for just $5.50/lb.
If you take a look at almost any veterinary OTC joint supplement, many (most) will have these mussels listed as an ingredient, but in an 'extract' dried and processed form. They have long been part of joint supplements without many even knowing they can buy them whole and fresh! For us, the additional benefit is that we also eat the same mussels, so we share with the dogs :) Our dogs also eat a few of these every week.
Our dogs routinely eat sardines and mussels a few times a week, the past few years. At ages 9, 11, and 13 they have no known joint or mobility concerns. Raw bones are also part of their daily diet but I still monitor them with items like chicken feet, and they are never left alone or unattended with any kind of chew. If you chose to incorporate new items like chicken feet or trachea, be responsible and always monitor your pets.
Sources:
Clinical efficacy and safety of Lyprinol, a patented extract from New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna Canaliculus) in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee: a multicenter 2-month clinical trialChicken Feet, Beef Tracheas, and Other Natural Glucosamine Sources for Dogs
Glucosamine by Mayo Clinic
Glucosamine for Dogs: What are the best sources?
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