As many of you know, I’m studying to be a Doctor of Acupuncture, and I wanted to share something I’ve been learning about that might help our aging dogs stay mobile and comfortable.

We’ve all seen the endless array of joint supplements on the market – glucosamine, chondroitin, all promising to support our dogs’ joints. And while these can be helpful, Chinese medicine offers us a different way of thinking about mobility issues in our dogs.

First, lets touch bases on our joint supplement options:

• Glucosamine and chondroitin (the most popular joint supplements) have some evidence of modest benefit in dogs, but studies are inconsistent. Some show mild improvement in mobility and pain, others show little to no effect beyond placebo.
• The theory is that they provide building blocks for cartilage repair, but once cartilage is significantly damaged (like in advanced arthritis), there’s limited cartilage left to “repair.”
• They’re generally safe with few side effects, which is why many vets still recommend them as a “can’t hurt, might help” approach.

The challenges:

• Supplement quality varies wildly – not all products contain what they claim or in bioavailable forms
• By the time most dogs show symptoms, joint damage is already significant
• Individual response varies a lot

What tends to work better:

• Weight management (huge impact)
• Appropriate exercise and physical therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications (when needed)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (some good evidence for inflammation)
• Multimodal approaches (combining several strategies)

Here’s what I’m learning: there’s actually not much we can do for the joints themselves. But there’s a lot we can do around them – specifically, for the muscles.

Think about what happens as our dogs age. Those muscles that support the bones, joints, and spine? They start to get lax. They lose their tone and strength. When that happens, the spine and joints don’t get the support they need, and that’s when we see stiffness, weakness, and discomfort.

So how does Chinese medicine help?

With acupuncture, we place needles at specific points that need support. This activates the muscle, helping it “fire up” and do its job of stabilizing the spine and joints.

In soft tissue issues, some muscles become elongated and weak, while others compress and overcompensate, resulting in disharmony between the muscles. They stop firing and activating like they should. 

What our TCM herbs and needles do is work on the muscles around the spine, targeting a specific area and reminding the muscle to activate and contract. 

My 10-year-old had some mobility issues two summers ago. I put her on a formula by Kan to target the erector muscles, and she was on it for 3 months. I also dropped her weight by 2 lb, and she hasn’t had to be on the formula since. 

With Chinese herbs, we can use formulas that specifically target and strengthen the muscles around the spine and legs, giving our dogs that support from the inside out.

Instead of focusing solely on the joints, we’re supporting the whole system that keeps our dogs moving comfortably.

Amazon carries Spine Lithe which helps strengthen muscles around the spine and limbs. Another option is through Dr. Marsden who has his formulas Voltrex and Lumbrex.  Lumbrex is the same formula that is in Spine Lithe and great for the spine and limbs. Voltrex focus on targeting the ligaments.

As always, be sure you’re working closely with your vet. The information I have provided is for educational purposes only and not meant to be a substitue for medical care.

I’m happy to answer any questions you might have!