Joint health maintenance in aging dogs through evidence-based supplements and management helps preserve mobility and quality of life.
Joint supplement use in aging dogs is a welfare-motivated practice where owner intentions are good but evidence is mixed. The most evidence-supported interventions, weight management, appropriate exercise, and omega-3 fatty acids, are often undervalued relative to commercially promoted glucosamine products with more marketing than science. A welfare-centred approach to joint health prioritises the highest-evidence interventions first, adds lower-evidence supplements as complements rather than substitutes for pharmaceutical management when indicated, and uses validated quality of life tools to objectively assess whether interventions are producing welfare improvement. Combining appropriate supplementation with veterinary-guided pharmaceutical management when needed provides the most comprehensive welfare support.