Is your furry friend not quite as spry as he once was? Is having difficulty getting upstairs, or even just out of his bed? He might be suffering from the early stages of arthritis or another degenerative joint disease.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just older dogs that suffer. That’s why it’s a good idea to consider your options for the best dog food for joint health. I set out to do just that in this review with help from my dogs, Pickle, Peanut, and Archie.
Along the way, I also stumbled across what I feel is the best dog food for hip dysplasia and joint problems. Are you ready to hear more? Let’s get started then.
My Top Pick
Usually, it's hard to single out one particular product as a clear winner. But in this case, we can clearly recommend Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets JM Joint Mobility as the best dog food for arthritis and joint problems. This dog food formula contains all the necessary ingredients such as Omega 3 for joint inflammation and glucosamine to improve joint mobility. It is also easy on the pocket while offering good nutrition for your dog.
Bottom line: It’s an excellent product that is good value for money.
Purina has made this very rich in omega-3, EPA, and glucosamine. This is a good option for a senior dog who is battling arthritis. It offers balanced nutrition that will also suit a younger dog with mobility issues.
This comes in at an affordable price point for most people. It offers a more mid-range price level. The high levels of omega-3 assist dogs with high levels of inflammation. They also promote joint health.
The glucosamine delivers all your dog needs to keep their cartilage healthy and strong. The formula is easy to digest and didn’t upset Pickle’s stomach.
It does have a nice protein content of 30 percent. If you look at the list of ingredients, that comes from trout or salmon. The glucosamine, however, comes from chicken by-product meal. The first ingredient is rice, and it also contains cornmeal.
There’s been quite a backlash against corn products in dog food over the last few years. It’s perfectly understandable – grains don’t suit all dogs. This food does have some corn in it, but it’s not in huge quantities.
Can you find better food? Most definitely, but not unless you’re willing to pay quite a bit more. Overall, the tasters agree that this food gets a second look.
If you're on a budget and need some good nutrition for your dog, this is an excellent place to start. The rice content in the food is not ideal, but it's better than some of the other fillers we've found in less expensive food.
3 ½ out of 5 Great nutrition at a price that won’t break the bank.
Hills has established a sterling reputation over the years. They have a range of specialist products for all doggy needs. This food is designed to assist in improving mobility. It’s also good if you have a dog who needs to go on a diet (I’m talking to you, Pickle).
This rates as the best dog food for joint problems as a result of being overweight.
Hills is a reputable company with high-quality products. This is a simple way for your dog to lose weight, which is helpful for mobility and arthritis issues. The fatty acids in the product will help to lubricate the joints, too.
Peanut wasn't having any of this. The other two were fine, but he wouldn't eat it. If your dog is a fussy eater, try a small bag first.
I’d consider this option for my older boy, Archie. To be honest, Pickle would benefit as well. She could stand to lose a few pounds. It’s a well-balanced product overall and will be well-received by most dogs. Pickle didn’t seem to notice it was “diet” food.
If you have a senior dog that has mobility issues, this is a good option. It contains more than enough protein for energy. Your dog should feel full all day on it. The added omega-3 is a huge bonus, particularly for arthritic dogs.
4 ½ out of 5 A doggie lifestyle change that will leave them fitter and friskier.
To be able to place an order, you need a vet’s prescription. That’s a bit of a schlep, but in this case, it’s worthwhile.
This food is formulated for dogs who have, or who are at risk of developing joint disease. This is not only for senior dogs; it also works well for dogs who’ve had some sort of injury.
The formula is well-balanced and should keep your dog feeling full and satisfied. It is nutrient-dense and rich in fatty acids. All the ingredients are aimed at staving off inflammation and promoting good joint health.
The higher levels of chondroitin and glucosamine will assist with strengthening the cartilage in your dog’s joints. The formulation is aimed at not only treating symptoms but preventing further degeneration. It has a nutritionally balanced profile.
Dogs with sensitive tummies should do okay with this formulation. It’s a better formulation for dogs who have renal issues. That said, remember to speak to your vet for advice first before you decide to switch.
You have to have a vet’s script to get it. I can live with this, but it’s a bit of a pain.
Overall, Royal Canin is one of the most well-recognized and well-respected pet food brands. In a way, having to get a script from the vet might be a good thing. It’ll ensure you’re treating the right thing.
4 ½ out of 5 Get proactive about your dog’s joint health
This is formulated with an older, larger dog in mind. It contains 38 percent protein and so is very nutrient dense. Only 15 percent of the calories come from fat, so it’s good for weight maintenance as well.
I’ve chosen this as the top contender because you could also feed it to a younger dog. I wouldn’t go so far as swapping it out for puppy food, but it packs a good nutritional punch.
Its nutrient-dense formula will allow even pickier eaters to get their full range of nutrients. I’ve noticed that Archie doesn’t eat quite as much as he used to. It’s not a serious concern, because he’s not the most active dog.
If you have a more active senior or a large breed dog, this food is ideal. I haven’t seen any other food quite like it, and I’ve been testing dog food for a while now.
It’s nice that it doesn’t have a lot of unnecessary fillers. What did the taste testers say? “Please, mom, we want some more!”
Eggs can be problematic for some dogs. I also worry about how this food will go over with picky eaters. On paper, it all looks great. If my dogs are anything to go by, it tastes good too.
To be on the safe side, start with a smaller bag. I'd also wean the dog off their old food slowly. Do this by incorporating about 25 percent of the new food. Then increase the proportions until they’ve switched completely.
Overall, you’re not likely to get much better than this. This food would make it into my dog food rotation. It’s as close to five stars as I’ll ever get. I did mark it down because of the price, though.
4 ¾ out of five The best nutrition on both sides of the Mississippi.
This is the one wet food that I’ve included here. I think if I hadn’t my panel might have gone on strike. This is a product designed for improving joint health. It contains chelated minerals to aid absorption and has a nice range of nutrients.
I like that the chicken used isn’t raised in cages – my dogs think all chickens should be out and about—and so be fair game. That said, they won’t need to go chasing down any birds if this is on the menu.
All three dogs seemed to love the flavor, and the nutrient profile is fantastic too. The taste panel was licking their chops big time afterward.
I didn't like the smell. Since I'm not about to use this as an air freshener, that's not a big deal. I do wonder if fussy eaters would take to it.
Overall, this is a product worth giving a whirl. I'll be repurchasing it—Pickle said so.
4 out of 5 Dinnertime for doggies just got delicious
It’s hard to admit that our beloved friends are starting to get older. Just like with us, though, that greying muzzle means that they’re more at risk of developing degenerative joint diseases.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to ease the symptoms. In this section, we’ll investigate that in more detail.
Signs that indicate arthritis or joint disease include:
Here, in particular, you want to watch out for issues when the dog is waking up. Once they get moving, the problem can ease up, but when they’re getting up after a nap or lying down, they’ll have issues.
Several different issues can cause issues for your dog. Others include:
It doesn’t matter if you have a large breed or smaller one, they need to be a healthy weight. Any extra ounce of weight is just going to mean more pain for the dog over the long-term. Even if they don’t have an issue now, obesity increases the risks of developing joint issues.
If you have a larger breed dog, you have to take extra steps to ensure that he’s healthy. Start him off on the right food as a pup and watch the number of treats he gets. Those puppy dog eyes are hard to resist, but it’s for his own good.
Before trying to pump your dog full of supplements, try to make sure his diet is right. If he’s more prone to developing these issues, a healthy diet is your best bet. You want to keep him away from highly processed and inflammatory foods.
Steer towards the more natural products and be scrupulous about checking the ingredients. Grains and sugar can cause significant problems when it comes to inflammation. Think they don't put sugar in dog food? Think again – check the ingredients for some of the cheap brands.
Here are some ingredients to look out for to reduce inflammation and support the joints:
If your dog will take raw food, another option is to get them uncooked chicken necks and chicken feet in particular. These are naturally rich in glucosamine. There’s only one proviso, though – they must be fed to the dog raw.
What I do is to buy in bulk. I then separate it into portions and freeze the food. It must be solidly frozen for at least three weeks to kill off any parasites. These make a handy and tasty snack for your dog—and they’re quite affordable too.
That’s another roundup done and dusted. The taste panel is happy to retire for the evening, knowing that they’ve done a good job. Although all the products in our best dog food for arthritis reviews are top quality and nutritional foods, our favorite is Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets JM Joint Mobility.
It offers the best nutrition for dogs with special mobility needs. This formula is designed to support joint health and contains high protein to develop lean muscles for a fit and healthy pup. It is a top quality dog food that will not stretch your budget while giving your furry friend the best chance to develop healthy joints.
Overall, you want to do your best for your furry friend. All these foods contain wholesome ingredients that can contribute to good health and will help to improve your dog’s mobility and strength.
Do check out our picks for English Bulldogs and Pomeranians.
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