As pet owners, we love to spend time with our furry friends. Whether they’re hiking a trail with us, chasing a laser dot or just following us around the house keeping us company, they’re a fun and cherished part of our lives.
Healthy joints are integral to your pet’s active life, and actively caring for them can help improve the quality of his life – and your fun time together.
When your dog or cat is young and energetic, you might not give a lot of thought to his joint comfort and flexible movement. But recent studies confirm that you should actually be paying attention to them while he’s still quite young.
Newer research tells us that one in five dogs, especially larger breed dogs, could use extra support for optimal hip and joint health throughout their lives. Which is to say your dog could benefit from additional support way before his senior years.
The need for extra support is just as great with cats, if not greater. Nearly one in three cats over the age of eight could use support for their joint function and comfort.
In a moment, you’ll discover how you can take advantage of the latest breakthroughs in joint and connective tissue support to help make your pet’s life more comfortable and enjoyable.
Thankfully, today you have more options than slow-acting glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.
Keep ‘Em Moving – How Cartilage-Supporting Agents May Help Promote Your Pet’s Joint Health
There are a variety of natural substances that can help maintain hip and joint health and support your pet’s cartilage health as she ages, but what exactly is cartilage?
Cartilage is the firm elastic living tissue that lines the two bone surfaces in a healthy joint.
Cartilage cells produce long chain molecules called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). When GAGs combine with water, they provide cushioning to help protect your pet's bones during movement and exercise.
The most common GAG is chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin is naturally present in healthy cartilage and connective tissue.
Another GAG naturally found in normal cartilage is hyaluronic acid, or HA. HA helps cartilage maintain its flexibility, elasticity and strength.
Cartilage is unique because it has no blood or nerve supply, so it can’t survive on its own. It must get all its nutrition and oxygen from your bone and joint fluid.
With each additional year of age, cartilage can lose increasing amounts of water, becoming drier and less elastic. Joint fluid production may decrease, and your pet’s natural production of GAGs slows, making it tougher to replace lost cartilage.
Eventually, your pet could reach a point where her body may not be able to replace lost cartilage fast enough to maintain optimal hip and joint health.
Special cartilage–supporting agents may be able to help maintain the health of your pet’s cartilage cells and enhance your pet’s joint function and performance.
Signs Your Pet May Benefit From Extra Support For His Joints and Cartilage
Your pet can’t tell you when he’s not feeling his best, so it’s important to watch for the silent cues that let you know he may need some extra help.
If you notice your cat or dog having trouble with these issues, he may benefit from extra support for his joints:
-
Lameness in one or more of his legs.
-
Lethargy and reluctance to jump or play.
-
Difficulty getting up and down.
-
Walking with stiffness.
-
Hesitancy or difficulty with going up or down stairs.
-
Reluctance to jump up or down (i.e. off or onto furniture).
-
In cats, hiding more than usual and poor coat (because it’s hard to groom).
-
In dogs, loss of stamina evidenced in slower, shorter walks.
It’s never fun to see your pet struggling with any of these. But the good news is that there are things you can do for him to help support his optimal joint function.
Sad But True – Why Most Joint Formulas May Not Provide the Benefits Promised
Over the years, I’ve heard many pet parents express frustration with joint health formulas that contain only glucosamine and chondroitin.
I agree – benefits can come slow with these formulas. Many pet owners simply give up on using them when they don’t appear to be helping.
Additionally, there are two potential problems with giving your pet formulas that only contain these two ingredients:
-
Much of the glucosamine on the market is derived from shellfish, specifically crab, lobster, and shrimp shells.
-
Chondroitin molecules are large, making it a challenge for your pet to digest.
For all these reasons, I’m frequently asked whether there’s an alternative option, especially one that works quickly.
The good news is that there is another option. We now have a whole new generation of effective – and fast-acting – ingredients to choose from.
Let’s take a closer look at how these newer ingredients may help support a healthy range of motion and joint health – and do it quickly…
This Natural Substance Offers a Wealth of Benefits For Your Pet’s Joint Health
Eggshell Membrane is the smooth, glossy lining on the inside of an eggshell. It’s the protective barrier between the egg white and the mineralized eggshell.
What makes eggshell membrane so unique?
It contains a wealth of compounds that can benefit your joints and surrounding tissues, including:
-
Collagen – A fibrous protein that supports cartilage and connective tissue strength and elasticity.
-
Elastin – A protein that supports skin, cardiovascular, cartilage and spinal health, giving tissue its elastic tension and ability to resume its shape after stretching.
-
Desmosine and isodesmosine – Two amino acids that are responsible for elastin’s elastic or “rubbery” properties.
-
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) – Includes glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid – vital polysaccharides that are structural components of connective tissue, interstitial fluids and skeletal structure.
-
Transforming growth factor-B – A protein that plays a crucial role in cellular differentiation and immune function.
With all these valuable components working together, eggshell membrane helps support a healthy range of motion, deliver compounds to your pet’s cartilage and the soft tissues surrounding his joints and promote a healthy inflammatory response.
This Eco–Friendly Eggshell Membrane Matrix From the American Heartland Has an Interesting Story
Carefully extracted from fresh eggshells, Natural Eggshell Membrane, or NEM® brand eggshell membrane matrix, offers important building blocks for your pet’s joints.
Rich in collagen, elastin, GAGs and other proteins, this innovative matrix supports the stability and flexibility of your pet’s joints and helps maintain her joint cartilage.*
NEM® is an eco-friendly product with a fascinating story behind it…
Watching truckload after truckload of discarded shells departing from a local Midwestern egg-breaking facility, NEM’s founder wondered how he could help prevent 600,000 tons of egg shells from being discarded into American landfills each year.
After extensive research, he discovered eggshell membrane had been used for many years in Japan and offered a variety of health benefits, including joint health.*
Experiencing a eureka moment, NEM’s founder launched his company with a mission to transform this wasted resource into a powerful, naturally-sourced joint health supplement.
Today, this forward-thinking company is contributing to consumer wellness and preventing thousands of tons of eggshells from becoming environmental waste.
The process they use to manufacture NEM is just as environmentally friendly.
Using a gentle patented process conducted in FDA inspected, NSF certified GMP facilities, the eggshells are separated from their membranes. The isolated membrane is then partially hydrolyzed and dry-blended to produce 100% pure NEM powder.
Made completely in the U.S., every lot of eggshell membrane undergoes testing to verify it is low in heavy metals and free from pathogenic bacteria.
Plus, it’s guaranteed to be free of any GMO material.
What the Research Says… How Eggshell Membrane Can Benefit Your Pet’s Joint and Cartilage Health
NEM brand eggshell membrane is truly a breakthrough in joint support. It contains powerful – and fast-acting – potential benefits for your pet’s joints.*
Because NEM naturally contains many of the same key compounds found in healthy joint cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin and hyaluronic acid), collagen and peptides, it offers:
- Support for your pet’s joint comfort and flexibility.
- Easing of joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity.
- Maintenance of cartilage and connective tissue.
- Fast and continued support for your pet’s overall joint health.
There are several positive human studies on eggshell membrane, as well as a canine study showing similar results.
A recent six-week study with 51 dogs at eight different veterinary clinics was set up to evaluate changes in joint function after weeks one and six. Researchers looked at comfort, quality of life, mobility, lameness and a serum biomarker for cartilage degradation.
The results proved supplementing with eggshell membrane created positive changes in joint function and joint comfort within one week of use.
Pet owners and veterinarians reported profound cartilage support and improved quality of life following the six weeks of supplementation with eggshell membrane.
From the Coastal Waters of New Zealand, This Colorful Little Mollusk May Have a Big Impact on Joint Health
A traditional food of the Maori people, green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) thrive in the clean, nutrient-rich waters of New Zealand’s rocky coastline.
Researchers became interested in its joint-supporting properties after a NASA study found that people who consumed green-lipped mussel reported positive effects on their joint mobility.
Subsequent research has shown that it can help support normal, healthy joint function. These little shellfish contain a rich supply of joint-supporting compunds, including:
- Glucoaminoglycans
- Zinc
- Magnesium
- Selenium
- B-vitamins
- Antioxidants
- Chondroitin sulfate
But where the green-lipped mussel really shines is in its rich fatty acid content.
Studies have found that green-lipped mussels contain dozens of different fatty acids, including the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are well known for their ability to support a normal healthy inflammatory response.
Collagen From Beef Bone Broth – Why We Insist on Certified Organic
Next is collagen, an important part of your pet’s joints and connective tissue. It makes up as much as 90% of muscle, tendons, ligaments and other joint supporting tissues.
By creating a fibrous network of collagen, your pet’s cartilage captures circulating joint building blocks, providing strength to the surrounding tissue.
As your pet ages, her capacity to produce collagen fades, making her more susceptible to joint discomfort. Age-related joint discomfort is largely due to the breakdown and loss of her body’s collagen.
This is why I included collagen from organic beef bone broth in Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support. Offering collagen types I, II and III, this rich source provides support for both cartilage tissue and bone health.
Recent testing reveals popular non-organic collagen products contain potentially hazardous contaminants, including antibiotics, steroids, prescription drug metabolites, parabens and even insecticides.
This suggests that much of the non-organic collagen is coming from factory-farmed animals or animals raised in CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations).
If collagen is an ingredient in any supplement you give your pet, make sure it’s Certified USDA Organic, for your pet’s well-being.
Smooth and Easy Movement – How Hyaluronic Acid Helps Protect Your Pet’s Joints
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is present in every tissue of your pet’s body. One of the most important functions it performs is to retain water, second only to providing nutrients and removing waste from cells that lack a direct blood supply, such as cartilage cells.
As we discovered earlier, cartilage is a specialized form of connective tissue, lending strength and flexibility to your pet’s body. And HA is a key component of cartilage.
Your pet’s joints are surrounded by a synovial membrane, which forms a capsule around the ends of the bones. This membrane secretes a liquid called synovial fluid into the joint cavities, which serves as a lubricant and shock absorber.
Synovial fluid protects your pet’s joints and bones during normal movement. His cartilage is immersed in and nourished by this fluid. Without HA, nutrients can’t move into these cells, and waste can’t be moved out.
Unfortunately, the process of normal aging in your pet reduces the amount of HA produced. That’s where supplemental HA may help.
The HA in Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support is a special, patented low-density form which is more easily absorbed into your pet’s joint tissues than traditional HA.
4 More Supportive Ingredients to Promote Your Pet’s Comfort and Flexibility
The four powerful ingredients we’ve just discussed provide outstanding joint support all on their own. But I wanted to strengthen this formula with four more.
In addition to NEM Eggshell Membrane, Green-Lipped Mussel Extract, Collagen from organic beef bone broth and HA, Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support supports your pet’s joints with:
-
Bromelain – A proteolytic enzyme from fresh pineapple that helps promote a healthy normal immune response in humans and animals.
-
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – A powerful antioxidant that helps reduce free radical production; pH balanced, it's gentle on your pet's stomach.
-
BioPerine® Black Pepper – A patented extract obtained from black pepper fruits (Piper nigrum) standardized to a minimum of 95% piperine to help your pet absorb the beneficial compounds in the formula.
-
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) – A naturally occurring compound shown in published studies to be safe and effective in promoting joint comfort and supporting a normal range of motion in animals.
Your pet receives multiple potential benefits from MSM, which provides two essential compounds for supporting joint health:
- Sulfur, a vital building block of your pet's joints, cartilage, nerve tissue, skin, hair and nails and more.
- Methyl groups, which support many vital biochemical processes in your pet's body, including energy production.
The sulfur in MSM helps promote flexibility and elasticity of body tissue and maintain cell membrane permeability.
MSM also acts as a powerful antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and aiding in muscle function and production of joint fluid.
Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support – 8 Active Ingredients for Comfortable Movement and Healthy Joint Function
![Bark & Whiskers<sup>®</sup> Joint Support]()
With eight fast-acting ingredients, Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support goes far beyond traditional, slow-acting glucosamine-chondroitin pet supplements for ultimate joint flexibility, stability and comfort.
Flavored with beef liver our new powder formula is loved by cats and dogs.
Plus, you’ll be pleased to know there are no artificial flavors, colors, or steroids in my formula – just pure, natural ingredients for supporting your pet’s joint health.
With Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support, you're providing your favorite canine or feline with support for a comfortable and functional life, so you can enjoy years of fun together.
Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support helps:
-
Support comfortable healthy joints and flexibility.
-
Support healthy cartilage.
-
Stimulate joint lubrication fluid production.
-
Maintain joint mobility.
Provide your pet with the support she needs for comfortable movement and a healthy, active life. Order Bark & Whiskers® Joint Support today.