Many dog owners and their canine companions know the feeling: One day, you’re enjoying your regular jaunt around the neighborhood with your pooch, and the next, that spring in your pet’s step has suddenly dwindled.
Whether it’s an injury or plain old joint pain, this type of fatigue and irritability is common in many dogs, regardless of their breed or age.
But next time you’re looking down at Fido concerned on your morning walk, take a look at the collagen smoothie in your own hand. Just as it naturally encourages bone, skin, and joint health in us humans, dog collagen supplementation may offer a host of health and mobility benefits to your dog.
What is Collagen?
Collagen is a protein—in fact, it’s the most prevalent one in our bodies.1 Present in human bone, skin, muscles, tendons, and cartilage, it’s used not only to build tissue but also to keep it strong and flexible. Hence, joint health and smooth, radiant skin hinge in part on collagen production and intake.
The same goes for your dog, as collagen is just as present in much of the canine body. In fact, most animal tissues in general are bound together by this fibrous wonder protein.2
You might have noticed that collagen supplements are all the rage as of late.3 This is for good reason: our supply of collagen decreases with age (the same goes for all animals), and bolstering your supply may help counter age-related signs and symptoms.
Some of your human friends may be taking collagen solely to prevent wrinkles or firm up their skin’s elasticity. But collagen’s anti-aging benefits extend to inside the body as well, promoting robust joints and bones and keeping the body as a whole resilient.
Such advantages aren’t restricted to us two-legged creatures, either. Increasingly seen as a terrific addition to dogs’ diet, dog collagen may help your pup enjoy the freedom that arrives with optimal joint health—and full mobility.
What are the Symptoms of Joint and Mobility Problems in Dogs?
As much as you might wish your furry friend could tell you what’s wrong when something’s amiss, it’s going to take a bit more detective work. Below are some common symptoms of joint pain and mobility complications in dogs4:
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Limping
- Stiffness
- Slipping when trying to move
- Licking, chewing, or biting at the affected joints
What Are the Benefits of Collagen for Dogs?
Collagen for dogs may offer the same revitalizing boost that it does for humans.
For starters, studies show that collagen injections for dogs can organically nourish urinary health,5 but even a simple oral supplement may ease your pup’s transition into older doghood and enhance their vibrancy. Read on for a breakdown of the benefits a daily collagen joint supplement might offer your pup.
Joint Health Support
Nearly all dogs experience some form of discomfort in their joints, no matter if they’re a brawny Bernese mountain dog or an itty-bitty Pomchi. Consider it a structural issue: all that weight on four tiny legs!
Collagen may not help with your pup’s structure—and who would want to mess with that?—but it may nurture the wellness of her joints by shoring up tissue health and fostering healthy immune responses.6
Increased Mobility
Healthy joints mean improved mobility, and if you’ve ever seen your pup with the zoomies, you know he craves access to his full range of motion.
Collagen can propel your dog back into action by cultivating connective tissue health, which may ultimately place less stress on your pup’s joints. What’s more, collagen has the potential to support cartilage and help your dog run and play with puppy-like ease with healthy joints.7
Reduced Risk of Injury
There’s nothing that tugs at the heartstrings more than a dog wearing a cast or cone. The last thing you want is to see your pet injured, whether they’re an agility champion or a backyard amateur.
Studies showed that only 11% of injuries that occurred while dogs were playing the competitive sport “flyball” were the result of arthritis, and most of the other 89% of injuries might have been prevented by stronger bones and connective tissue.8
A collagen supplement may help keep your pup safe from injuries thanks to that bump in elasticity and resilience. This way, you can watch them on the field or in your yard without worry (or maybe even join in).
Increased Skin, Fur, and Dental Health
A collagen supplement is a wholly natural way to keep your puppy’s skin healthy, their coat long and shiny, and their teeth strong. The collagen humans take is typically extracted from animal skin (i.e. cow, chicken, pig, and goat skin).9 That very protein is what keeps animal skin pliable and youthful, too.
Similarly, a collagen joint supplement can keep your dog’s skin from wrinkling or growing finer with age. Not to mention, that same connective tissue keeps your dog’s teeth bound together and placed firmly in their gums. It can even strengthen hair follicles, allowing for the long, thick coat your smartphone camera loves so much.
Enhanced Gut and Digestive Health
The connective tissue that collagen supports is also found—you guessed it—in your dog’s gut. Increasing collagen in your dog’s diet can promote a healthy, thick lining in your dog’s digestive tract and facilitate digestive health.10
Is Collagen Right for My Dog?
Collagen is right for just about any dog—puppy, adult, or senior—but it’s best to obtain your vet’s go-ahead before weaving it into your dog’s diet. If you do get the green light from your dog doc, including collagen in your pup’s diet will help them reap the protein’s benefits—again, regardless of their breed or age.
But collagen has a variety of other uses beyond what’s mentioned here and without major side effects. After all, it’s the most prevalent protein our bodies—and our dogs’—produce. In sum, collagen may support joint and cartilage health in older dogs that are prone to the soreness and stiffness that tend to coincide with age, but its potential capacity to enhance tissue health may be just as beneficial for younger pups.
So, whether you’re dealing with a dog who’s exhibiting signs of joint stiffness or you simply want to promote your pup’s overall health, a collagen supplement is a choice you can feel good about.
Sources of Collagen for Dogs
You might be wondering if it’s possible to introduce a collagen-rich diet to your dog. The answer is a resounding yes: There are many foods rich in collagen, particularly the animal flesh and connective tissue that naturally contain it (i.e. meat, eggs, and fish).
This is precisely the reason why bone broth is a trend-forward method for humans to consume more collagen. Broth made from animal bones offers impressive amounts of collagen. When it comes to your pup, bone broth can easily be poured over their meal.
There are also plant-based foods that organically increase collagen production as well, such as: leafy greens, tropical fruits, nuts, beans, and bell peppers, to name just a few.11
However, you’ll notice that many of these collagen-rich foods are part of a “human food” diet (with the exception of your dog’s occasional sneaky bite of chicken).
While many dry dog foods on the market contain meat, most don’t offer that concentrated supply of collagen that a slab of steak would. For this reason, it’s best to offer your pup her daily dose of collagen via an all-natural supplement.
A daily supplement containing straight-from-the-source collagen, like the ALL-IN supplement from Vetericyn, will help ensure that your pup is getting the daily intake she needs without the risks that come with completely changing her diet or feeding her “human food” her digestive system isn’t used to and might reject.
Include Collagen in Your Dog’s Diet with Vetericyn
Health, longevity, strength, and happiness—it’s safe to say this is what we all want for our dogs. Collagen supplementation is one of several ways to achieve these goals, particularly in terms of enriching joint health and providing mobility support.
And Vetericyn is here to make it easy. Our ALL-IN dog supplement contains a healthy dose of collagen, along with other beneficial nutrients and superfoods like fish oil, magnesium, and ashwagandha. Created to give your pet a boost from the inside out, it may also improve cognitive function and the absorption of nutrients while encouraging hair growth and supple paws. Braid it in your dog’s daily routine, just like you would your own daily multivitamin.
Wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy your next morning walk with your furry friend, knowing he’s got that spring in his step? And wouldn’t it be nice to know that while you’re sipping your collagen smoothie, his body is absorbing vitamins and nutrients right alongside you?
ALL-IN provides you with peace of mind, knowing that both you and your dog can enjoy years of fun and plenty of discomfort-free zoomie sessions (that is, if you can keep up).
Reviewed by C. Scott Van Winkle
Scott has been with Innovacyn for the past 11 years and has been working within the Burlingame portfolio of companies for the past 23 years. Scott brings a diverse background to Innovacyn. With an upbringing as the 5th generation on his families cattle ranch, Scott has a passion for animal health and the continuous improvement surrounding agricultural practices. Scott earned marketing and business management degrees from the University of Idaho and holds an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University.
Sources:
- Harvard University. Collagen. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/collagen/
- Florida State University. Animal cell structure. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/animalcell.html
- The Guardian. What is collagen and why is it so popular in the beauty industry? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/06/what-is-collagen-and-why-is-it-so-popular-in-the-beauty-industry
- Caring Hands Veterinary Hospital & Hospitality Center. Signs of joint pain in dogs: types, causes and treatment. https://www.denvervet.com/site/blog/2021/07/15/signs-of-joint-pain-in-dogs
- UC Davis. Urinary incontinence in the dog. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/hospital/animal-health-topics/canine-incontinence
- National Library of Medicine. Collagen supplementation for joint health: the link between composition and scientific knowledge. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10058045/
- Translational Animal Science. Impact of supplemented undenatured type II collagen on pain and mobility in healthy labrador retrievers during an exercise regimen. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9512092/
- National Library of Medicine. An internet survey of risk factors for injury in North American dogs competing in flyball. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7877682/
- National Library of Medicine. Collagen extraction from animal skin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9219788/
- Cleveland Clinic. Collagen. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen
- Healthline. 13 foods that help your body produce collagen. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/collagen-food-boost#why-diet-matters
- Texas A&M University. Arthritis in dogs. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/arthritis-in-dogs/
- Nutrients. Collagen supplementation for joint health: the link between composition and scientific knowledge. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10058045/
