Supplements for the Joints of a Great Dane

The most commonly used supplements formulated for joint health contain glucosamine and chondroitin. They are available in liquid, powder or solid forms. Made from sea mollusk cartilage, these supplements help to repair a dog's damaged joint tissue while offering some slow-acting anti-inflammatory benefits.

Vitamin C and E supplements are available in gel tab capsule or tablet form and they play an important role in maintaining the collagen necessary to combat joint tissue damage and inflammation that often affects Great Danes.

The tolerance level for these vitamin supplements differ from dog to dog and may also change with time and the environmental conditions of your pet. Consult your vet for the most effective dosage.

Dietary fats found in cold-water-fish oils, available in gel tab form, contain useful anti-inflammatory properties that, when administered regularly, can help improve your Dane's ease of movement by reducing joint inflammation. Normal maintenance dosage for a healthy 100 pound dog is 2000 mg of fish oil. Dosage for a dog with severe joint health problems would be higher. Let your vet deterine a proper dosage.

MSM or methyl sulfonyl methane, an anti-inflammatory ingredient present in most plant and animal tissues, can be helpful in repairing a dog's joint tissues. Available primarily in capsule form, the use of veterinarian-approved forms of MSM supplements can help enable your Dane's cartilage to soak up water and act as a cushion for his bones. Normally available in 500 mg doses for dogs, you should consult your vet to determine proper dosage.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, aren't supplements in the conventional sense; they're prescription medications. NSAID brands such as Rimadyl, and edible tablet, and Metacam, a liquid dispensed into the dog's mouth or his food, ease a dog's joint pain and are commonly prescribed for arthritis and other conditions.