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When to start dog hip and joint supplements & which ones are best?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 2 years and 2 months old | 55 lbs

At what age can I start my dog on a hip and joint supplement? I know she will end up with hip and joint issues just want to make sure I can give her some preventative care for as long as possible. And what is a good one to use?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on April 1st, 2018

I usually start dogs at risk when they are adults. I recommend Dasuquin Advanced. I would also start an Omega3 supplement to reduce any joint inflammation. Keeping your dog fit and lean is more important than any supplements. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella.

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 21st, 2018

    Hello, thank you for your question. It would not be wrong to start your dog on a supplement to help lubricate her joints and prevent/slow the development on arthritis. You could start with Cosequin or another glucosamine supplement. These can be purchased online/over the counter at your local pet store. Additional ways to help minimize the development of arthritis include maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle. Hope this helps!

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Related Questions

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At what age can I start giving my dog glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for her hips and joints? Since she is a German shepherd and the breed is predisposed to hip and joint issues? Or would feeding a food with glucosamine and chindroitin in it
Hello and thank you for choosing Boop by Petco! Since glucosamine and chondroitin fall under the category of medications we refer to as nutraceuticals (fancy word for supplements) there is no specific age that is recommended. Generally, we start recommend using these types of medications when pets reach the senior stage (7+ years of age). Since Bella is still young, I would recommend feeding a quality food that is formulated specifically for large breed dogs as it will include all of the beneficial joint health additives. I am personally a fan of Purina foods, but any of the other brands (Hills, Royal Canin, etc) are all excellent foods. This way you don't have to worry about trying to remember giving Bella pills everyday and nothing in her routine has to change. The supplements may be needed further down the road. Hope this helps a bit. Best of luck to you and Bella!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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I have a 9 yr old wire haired terrier & I'm wondering at what age I should start her on a joint supplement? She's very active with my younger dogs so just trying to look ahead for best quality of life for them all. Also what is best brand (amount of
Any time starting today is a great time to start April on a joint supplement. My favorite brand is Cosequin. The actual dosage is on the bottle. It will never hurt to start them a little early! Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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My dog is 12 years old and has osteoarthritis in the hip. I am giving her glucosamine. What else can I do for her?
I am sorry to hear about Bella! A glucosamine chondroitin joint supplement every day is a good starting point but we prefer one with added MSM (such as Dasuquin with MSM), and I would also consider a daily fatty acid supplement (such as Welactin) as these can have anti-inflammatory effects in the body. There is an injectable medication called Adequan that can also help joint health that your vet can give your dog. Oftentimes, however, if arthritis is severe then prescription medications from the vet are needed in addition to these supplements. There are drugs in the NSAID group (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that can be very helpful (one example you may have heard of is Rimadyl). There are also secondary drugs such as Gabapentin and Amantadine that we can give. You can read more about your options at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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In your option, what is the best joint supplement for dogs?
My personal preference, completed unrelated to Boop by Petco or Petco, would be Cosequin ( http://www.cosequin.com/dogs/ ) or Dasuquin ( http://www.dasuquin.com/en/products/#dog ). Both are made by Nutromax Labs.
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Hi I have 4 months old st bernard.is there any kind of vitamins at stores that we give him to protect future hip and joint problems?
If he is eating a good quality large breed puppy food, he should not need vitamin supplementation. If you want to give him one, you can't go wrong with Pet Tabs ( https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/pet-tabs.aspx ). A joint supplement, such as Cosequin ( https://www.cosequin.com/ ) or Dasuquin ( https://www.dasuquin.com/en/products/ ), can also be started. Additionally, keep Brandy lean and active.
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What antiflammatory can i give a dog? Glucosomine/chron?
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Anti-inflammatories need to be prescribed by your vet. But I highly recommend starting an Omega 3 fish oil which is a natural anti-inflammatory. I like Nordic Naturals or VRS Omega Benefits. Also I prefer veterinary glucomamines like Dasuquin or Glycoflex. I wish you the best! https://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/ https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=34368 https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33709
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Hi! We adopted my dog so we aren’t exactly sure if his age... we believe he’s around 5 yrs old. When is a good time to start him on joint supplements (Glucosamine/Chrondroitin)? He is a very energetic/active Doberman! Thanks! :)
Congratulations on your new addition! Most dogs that develop arthritis do so at around middle age and later, so around 5-8 years old. However, it depends on a large number of factors including weight, genetics, activity (more is typically better), with diet playing a small part. If you want to start Reef on a joint supplement, it definitely is not a bad idea. I recommend using one formulated specially for dogs, which can be found in pet stores. I typically recommend the Nutramx brand of supplements, but there are plenty of great ones out there. The key is to choose a supplement that you can give consistently, as these may tend to get a little expensive for a large dog. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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I have 2 German Shepherds with hip dysplasia. They both get joint supplements. Is their any benefit to giving calcium? Or even muscle and bone supplements to them to help with the hip dysplasia?
Hello and thanks for using Boop by Petco! If Halo and your other dog are on a good quality, balanced diet there is no benefit to giving calcium. I'm assuming you mean that they are already on a glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine supplements vary in quality so make sure they are on a quality veterinary product like Dasuquin. Adding in an omega-3 supplement may also be helpful. Nordic Naturals pet products offers a good omega-3 supplement for pets. Finally, it would be a good idea to ask your veterinarian about Adequan injections. These injections can be very helpful managing hip dysplasia and are very safe!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
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What are good joint supplements for dogs?
Dasuquin with MSM and Cosequin DS Plus MSM (both by Nutramax Labs) are excellent products. I prefer these because it is the same company that makes the human product, Cosamin, and one of the few companies that submits its products for outside testing to verify ingredients. The GlycoFlex line of products would also be one to consider. These are my own personal recommendations.
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I have a 2 year old greyhound lab mix. I was wondering if I should start her on hip and joint supplements now to prevent issues when she gets older?
Hello, thank you for your question. It would not be wrong to start your dog on a supplement to help lubricate her joints and prevent/slow the development on arthritis. You could start with Cosequin or another glucosamine supplement. These can be purchased online/over the counter at your local pet store. Additional ways to help minimize the development of arthritis include maintaining a healthy weight and active lifestyle. Hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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