www.iheartdogs.com is an absolutely wonderful resource. Having said that, their post, 10 Best Supplements for a Senior Collie (iheartdogs.com), lists 10 supplements for senior collies but there aren’t any links or references to evidence supporting the use of these supplements. Keep in mind that this content is applicable for many dogs, not just collies! We decided to take a closer look at these supplements to examine safety, effectiveness, and evidence to support their usage.
For some of the supplements, we have posted affiliate offers. For others, we do not feel comfortable making product suggestions as dosages and formulations must be carefully monitored by a veterinarian.
Without further ado, here is our analysis of the 10 supplements recommended by iheartdogs:
1. Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Joint Support
According to The Dog People [1], “A randomized, double-blind study performed in 35 pet dogs showed that supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate had a positive clinical effect in dogs with osteoarthritis.¹ Thus, it could be beneficial in dogs with this condition.” In contrast, The American Kennel Club cites an article from the Open Veterinary Journal that states “Although glucosamine and chondroitin have benign adverse effect profiles, the clinical benefit of using these agents remains questionable. Further study is required to clarify the uncertainty around the clinical benefit of using these agents and quantify any treatment effect that exists.” [2]
Our verdict: Larger, quality studies are needed to determine effectiveness, but most sources maintain that there is anecdotal evidence that this supplement provides relief. While the side-effect profile seems favorable, always talk to your dog’s veterinarian first!
One top option on Amazon with a 4.5 star rating is Nutra-Vet’s hip & joint supplement Click here to view. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
UPDATE, April 2023: SkeptVet posted an excellent piece regarding glucosamine, check it out:
2. Probiotics for Immune & Gut Support
We examined dozens of articles on this topic, and the consensus seems to be that probiotics are safe for pets, but there isn’t hard evidence as to their effectiveness.
Skeptvet provides science-based content related to pet health. They state the following regarding probiotics [3]:
“The overall assessment of the evidence in this review is pretty similar to my view that the evidence is limited and weak and, while encouraging for some conditions and organisms, is not yet clear about the real benefits, if any, of probiotics. Further research is certainly warranted, and clinical use may be appropriate in some circumstances, but we have yet to convincingly demonstrate meaningful benefits of probiotics to prevent or treat illness in dogs and cats.”
Our verdict: Larger, quality studies are needed to determine effectiveness, but most sources maintain that there is anecdotal evidence that this supplement provides relief. While the side-effect profile seems favorable, always talk to your dog’s veterinarian first!
3. Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids for Skin & Inflammation
According to the West Towne Veterinary Center out of Madison, WI, “Omega 3 EPA & DHA have better evidence in human and pet literature than practically all other supplements combined. The challenges, however, are delivering an effective anti-inflammatory dose in a convenient, cost-effective way.” [4]
The Animal Medical Hospital out of Charlotte, NC echoes this sentiment; “There is plenty of peer-reviewed evidence that omega-3 fatty acids for pets can have positive effects, and while it may not cure everything under the sun, many pets can benefit from adding some fish oil into their daily routine.” [5]
Our verdict: The experts love this supplement – ask your vet if it is right for your dog!
Check out this highly rated Omega 3 option on Amazon!
4. Milk thistle (Silymarian) for Your Dog’s Liver & Kidneys
According to VCA Animal Hospitals “Limited studies in animals have been performed but there is anecdotal evidence that silymarin works to treat liver disease by inhibiting cell-damaging enzymes and by providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.” [6] They also go on to say that little is understood about potential side effects. An article from Veterinary Medicine International confirms VCA’s position. [7]
Our verdict: The effectiveness of Milk Thistle in dogs is largely unknown. To that point, we will not be writing reviews on any milk thistle related pet products, nor will we link directly to affiliate listings for you to purchase this product.
5. Turmeric
iheartdogs refers to turmeric as a “wonder spice” but doesn’t state which dogs should avoid it. Fortunately, the folks at Canine Journal provide a list of dogs that should avoid turmeric: [8]
- On blood-thinner medications
- Upcoming surgery (due to blood-thinning properties)
- Kidney disease
- Gall bladder problems
- Iron deficiency
- Pregnant
Our verdict: Since some pet health problems often aren’t yet symptomatic or are undiagnosed, turmeric seems risky. If your vet gives you the green light, go for it, but be sure to ask about the risks. This is another one that we will not review or link to affiliates for.
6. CBD Oil for Pain & Inflammation
iheartdogs states that studies for CBD usage in dogs has shown “great promise” but again, doesn’t link to any evidence. According to the Morris Animal Foundation, “One of the most common reasons pet owners use and veterinarians prescribe CBD is to treat osteoarthritis. There is compelling evidence in dogs that CBD, when used in conjunction with other standards of osteoarthritis care, provided additional pain relief in these patients with no signs of toxicity. However, there are a few studies that show little to no benefit. Pain alleviation using CBD in some form is receiving attention in veterinary research and we expect to learn more as these studies are concluded.” [9]
Our verdict: Absolutely nobody wants to see their pet in pain. If your vet permits, give CBD a try, but try not to develop unreasonable expectations. On a positive note, some pet owners describe Charlie & Buddy’s Hemp Oil for pets as a “miracle in a bottle”. Be sure to read all of the reviews before deciding as there are surely some not so optimistic buyers. Click here to view this product.
7. Fiber for Your Dog’s Digestive System
CAUTION! Do not give your dog any fiber without first consulting your veterinarian! The last thing you want is to create issues involving poop! The American Veterinary Medical Association states that while fiber is beneficial, practitioners should conduct an evaluation of each individual pet’s diet before making a recommendation. [10]
Our verdict: Additional fiber is a great option for some pets, but do not try this at home. Because so many variables are at play, we are not suggesting any individual pet fiber products at this time.
8. Additional Protein
If you Google search “do dogs need extra protein?”, you’ll see several articles that outline the DANGERS of excess protein for dogs. While there are instances where additional protein is beneficial, DO NOT make this decision without the guidance of a professional.
Our verdict: So many sites make bogus claims about protein and even offer potentially unsafe supplements. We aren’t publishing any reviews or promoting any of these products at this time due to safety concerns.
9. Mushrooms for Dog Immune Support
Per VCA Animal Hospital “Do not use medicinal mushrooms without veterinary monitoring, as prolonged use or high doses may cause harm.” [11]
Our verdict: The internet is rife with blogs and businesses promoting the use of mushrooms for dogs. They are quick to promote these products, yet we had trouble finding hard evidence as to their effectiveness. Because this supplement MUST be monitored by a veterinarian, we are not making any suggestions at this time.
10. Collagen Rich Bone Broth
The Chief Veterinary Officer of the American Kennel Club, Dr. Jerry Klein, maintains that “while bone broth is full of healthy bone marrow, cooked bones themselves are incredibly dangerous for dogs. Save yourself a trip to the emergency room and make sure no small bones escaped your notice.”
In the same article, AKC states “Or better yet, stick with a quality, balanced dog food that already incorporates bone broth from A Pup Above—a company determined to make it easy to know what’s in your dog’s bowl.” [12]
Our verdict: Rather than buying broth, trust the experts at the American Kennel Club and buy a dog food that includes bone broth.
References:
- A Vet’s Guide to the Best Glucosamine for Dogs: What You Need to Know (rover.com)
- Can Glucosamine for Dogs Help Treat Arthritis and Joint Pain? – American Kennel Club (akc.org)
- Overview of the Evidence for Probiotics in Cats and Dogs | (skeptvet.com)
- Evidence-Based Supplements (westtownevet.com)
- Something Smells Fishy: The Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Pets | Animal Medical Hospital Blog – Charlotte, NC
- Milk Thistle or Silymarin | VCA Animal Hospital (vcahospitals.com)
- Evidences on Molecules Most Frequently Included in Canine and Feline Complementary Feed to Support Liver Function – PMC (nih.gov)
- Turmeric For Dogs: Benefits, How To Use, Side Effects & More (caninejournal.com)
- What Do We Know About CBD and Pets? (morrisanimalfoundation.org)
- Dietary fiber aids in the management of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Volume 260 Issue S3 (2022) (avma.org)
- Medicinal Mushrooms | VCA Animal Hospital (vcahospitals.com)
- 8 Reasons Bone Broth is the Superfood Your Pup Needs – American Kennel Club (akc.org)