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Best Real Foods for Pets, Dogs, and Cats

Best Natural Joint Supplements for Dogs and Cats

Health Benefits of Green-Lipped Mussels for Dogs and Cats. Mussels are great for joint pain and arthritis and so much more. #raisingyourpetsnaturally — Green Lipped Mussels for Pets

(Updated 9/1/21)

Oh, the power of real food for pets! I just love how feeding the right foods to your pet can play an important role in both their medical condition and their behavior. Today I wanted to write about all the amazing health benefits of green-lipped mussels and how you can incorporate this little shellfish into your pet’s diet.

This mussel is found in New Zealand and actually considered an introduced pest in Australia. The main difference between the green-lipped mussel and other species is it’s dark brown and green around the lip of the shell. It also has only one adductor muscle and is one of the largest mussel species.

New Zealand mussels eat phytoplankton, which are rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and chlorophyll. Green-lipped mussels themselves are high in protein, iron, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, and vitamins C and B12. They are low in fat and rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Dr. Michelle Burch DVM from Safe Hounds Pet Insurance offered this explanation, “Green-lipped mussel supplementation is used to help decrease inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. The mussels’ anti-inflammatory effects come from two major components. The first is the natural form of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which converts into glucosamine and chondroitin in the body. Glucosamine and chondroitin will also help slow down cartilage degeneration while also providing building blocks to restore cartilage.”

She continued by saying, “The second beneficial component is a lipid extract of Perna canaliculus. Perna canaliculus contains a fatty acid that aids in anti-inflammatory properties but is also a potent antioxidant removing free radicals from the body, aiding in joint health. The fatty acid found in the mussels is more potent than EPA found in fish oils.”

Personally, I’ve been adding various forms of green-lipped mussels to Dexter’s diet. On a rotational basis as always. I’ve boiled them, dehydrated and given them in powder form. I haven’t yet tried green-lipped mussel oil, but that’s next on my research list.

Dr. Burch offered this tip when choosing a high-quality green-lipped mussel brand, “I recommend supplementing with powder, pill, or oil and choosing a brand that has minimal processing. High amounts of processing can cause degradation of the beneficial components, especially the fatty acid.”

As far as other mussel types, she stated, ”At this point, no other mussels have shown health benefits in dogs compared to the green-lipped mussel.”

Mussels are another heart-healthy food you can easily feed your dog or cat. They promote healthy heart and brain function. The green-lipped mussel is a natural anti-inflammatory and a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin, making this a great go-to for joint pain or to act as a preventative measure.

Instead of reaching for medications for your arthritic dog or cat, consider adding green-lipped mussels into their diet. As always, speak with your pet’s holistic veterinarian before adding foods or supplements into their health regime. And if your pet is allergic to shellfish, skip the mussels.

I would suggest starting out at ½ of the recommended dose.

Typical GLM dosing is 15 mg. of powder per 1 pound of body weight.

References: http://www.green-lipped-mussel-oil.com/green-lipped-mussels-info.html

Do you think your pet would benefit from Green Lipped Mussels? Tell me in the comments.

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