Best Joint Supplements For a German Shephard

This page is all about German Shepherd health advice

A strong and athletic dog like the German shepherd needs a diet that is adapted to the characteristics of the breed and also to its lifestyle and preferences.

This breed requires a lot of daily exercise, although as the dog ages, it is normal for it to reduce his physical activity. Because of this, the nutritional needs of the German shepherd vary with time

In order for your German shepherd to have a complete diet, you may need the help of nutritional supplements, which will help them to make up for their deficiencies and improve their health.

Here are 6 things you need to know when choosing the best nutritional supplement for your German shepherd.

Choose a supplement with multiple active ingredients

Glucosamine is one of the most common active components, MSM, chondroitin and turmeric are effective nutraceuticals (curcumin).

Another of the most common active ingredients is chondroitin sulfate. This is a natural chemical found in the cartilage of dogs, and when mixed with glucosamine, it improves the health of their joints even more.

You may be missing out on potential benefits if your supplement only contains one or two of these. Every dog responds to different therapy, so when in doubt, give a wide variety of nutrients.

Give your GSD the right amount of active ingredients

Because it is considered a large breed, the diet of this dog should favor its joint health so that it does not suffer from joint problems throughout his life.

If the amount of active components (in milligrams) is not specified, it is likely that the product has low amounts that will not have a therapeutic impact on your German Shepherd’s joints.

To do it the right way, your German Shepherd will need 20 milligrams of glucosamine per kilogram of body weight each day. In addition, dry dog food manufacturers have begun to include minimal amounts of glucosamine in their products. Make sure your dog is getting the proper quantity.

Choose a Hypoallergenic Option in cases of allergies or food sensitivities

If your dog has previously had an allergic reaction to the components, the best option is to choose a hypoallergenic supplement.

Special precautions need to be taken with this type of food to avoid cross-contamination.

Although there is no guarantee that your dog will not react to the substances, the fact that they concentrate on components that rarely cause sensitivity in dogs makes them much more likely to cause allergies.

These food allergies in dogs are complicated. Fortunately, they are also the least common type of allergy in dogs.

Take into account the age and condition of your German Shepherd

As your dog gets older, supplementation with vitamins and minerals can be very favorable in preventing the onset of certain diseases or the progression of others.

A joint supplementation program should be started before your German shepherd shows signs of discomfort. (Ideally, at about five years of age).

A joint supplement can provide significant help and it may take 1 to 2 months for evidence of improvement to appear.

Tasty and easy to administer

It is important that your German shepherd consumes the supplement comfortably and smoothly, liquids, chewable tablets and soft chews are the most common delivery methods for joint supplements, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Soft chews and liquids seem to be the most popular as they manage to satisfy most canine palates when it comes to palatability.

Be sure to check the production standard.

We know it depends on where you read us but, be aware of the country where the supplements you use are produced, as many low cost pet stores, internet retailers and supermarkets sell supplements created in countries with lower production standards than the United States.