Well, yes and no. This is a billion-dollar market. There is a lot of marketing around these products that come into your inbox, that comes to your Facebook page, that you see in magazines.
What is the actual evidence behind supplements for canine arthritis?
I'm afraid it's really weak. A lot of supplements are sold on anecdotal evidence, or evidence that's been taken from the human market, which might be really quite old. We're talking 1960s, 1970s. So when you buy a supplement and you look down and you see all of these little letters about all of these papers and these trials that were done, they probably do not relate to the product that you're purchasing. The supplement market is completely different from the medicinal market. It is not regulated the same. They don't actually even have to prove that they work.
So when it comes down to choosing a supplement, I've got some really easy advice for you. If you can't afford it, don't feel guilty. Okay? What I would rather you do is make sure your dog's weight is right. Make sure you're exercising your dog correctly. Get the foundations in at home. Don't throw the ball, and get that foundation stuff in place.
Which Supplements Are Best for Canine Arthritis?
If you can afford it, then go for omega-3 fatty acids from marine-based sources. So you're looking for something that's got salmon oil, krill oil, or the actual components called EPA, DHA or ETA. However, the problem is, we don't know how good the supplement you're purchasing is, because they don't have to prove that it actually works. So just be savvy guys, look after yourself, be aware of marketing.
For additional information about canine arthritis, check out Dr. Capon's work at Canine Arthritis Management.
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