Are you looking for the best dog food for arthritis? Older dogs often have specific dietary needs when it comes to managing chronic health conditions such as canine arthritis and maintaining joint and cartilage health.
Page Contents
- What makes these dog foods so good for arthritis?
- Tips for best results – transitioning your dog to a new arthritis diet
- Our Top 4 Best Dog Foods for Arthritis
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Large Breed Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Small Bites Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine Metabolic and Mobility
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Joint Care with Lamb Canned Food
What makes these dog foods so good for arthritis?
The main reason why these diets are so good is that they include specially formulated ingredients such as omega fish oils, chondroitin and glucosamine that offer support for dogs affected by arthritis.
Tips for best results – transitioning your dog to a new arthritis diet
When starting your dog out on a new diet it is best to mix the new food in with the old over a 7 day period by gradually increasing the proportion of the new food as your four legged friend gets used to the new arthritis diet. Keeping fresh water available for your dog at all times is also a must.
For older dogs and dogs with medical conditions transitioning to a new arthritis friendly diet may take a bit longer, so expect to do this over 10 days or more to help them adjust to the new food.
For your dogs food safety, make sure any unused canned food is covered and kept in the refrigerator between meals.
Our Top 4 Best Dog Foods for Arthritis
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Nutritious and healthy, this Hill’s Science diet product helps large breed dogs who suffer from arthritis. It’s a perfect combination of glucosamine, Omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil, and chondroitin that results in an arthritis friendly diet. Contains the right amount of vitamins, amino acids, vitamins, and other ingredients that will improve your dog’s mobility in just 30 days.
Pros
- Contains vitamins C & E to support a healthy immune system
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints and cartilage
- Optimum levels of Omega 3 for quick results after 30 days
- Good for large dogs weighing 25 – 50 kilograms (older than 1 year) and giant breed dogs weighing over 50 kilograms and aged over 1 year of age
- High quality chicken protein with natural ingredients and no chicken by-products
- Contains L-caritine and calcium to support healthy muscles and strong bones
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Dry kibble reduces mess at meal times
- Made in the USA to strict standards
Cons
- Not as suitable for smaller dogs
- Not recommended for puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs
How much will I need to feed my dog?
Check out the feeding guide below to know how much to give your larger dog with arthritis.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Small Bites Dry Dog Food
Another product in the Hill’s Science Diet range – this product is similar to the mobility formula above but is ideal for smaller dogs. It’s one of the better arthritis diets for smaller dogs as the chews are specifically crunched to suit smaller mouths and teeth.
Pros
- Crunched bits and chews – easier ingestion for smaller dogs with health problems
- Contains all the required nutrients and ingredients for a healthy arthritis diet
- Perfect for small adult dogs over 1 year of age
- Dry food formula reduces clean up after meals
Cons
- Not for larger dogs – smaller chews may get stuck in their teeth or swallowed without chewing properly (chewing is important for your dogs dental hygiene)
- Not suitable for pregnant dogs, puppies or dogs that are nursing
How much do I feed my dog?
Check out our feeding guide below to know how much to give a smaller dog with arthritis.
Adult Dog maintenance
Hill’s Prescription Diet Canine Metabolic and Mobility
Sometimes as our much loved pets age and develop arthritis they slow down and this often causes older dogs to become overweight. Being overweight can aggravate the joint pain associated with arthritis even further, so it’s a double whammy for a pet that is already uncomfortable. This product aims to support both these health issues by providing a nutritious diet that supports joint health while maintaining your dog’s weight. In fact, Metabolic + Mobility Canine is clinically proven form of nutrition that is able to support your dogs mobility in as little as 21 days AND reduce body weight by 13% in 60 days.
Pros
- High levels of omega 3 fatty acids for joint support
- Contains fiber to keep your dog feeling full between meals
- Fast results – improved mobility can be seen in 21 days
- Dry food makes meals less messy
- Works with your pets metabolism to reduce body weight after 60 days
Cons
- Use within 60 days of opening
Feeding guide for weight control
The table below shows the recommended portion to support weight management in dogs with arthritis.
Hill’s Prescription Diet Joint Care with Lamb Canned Food
Along with the usual therapeutic benefits that the Hills products are known for, this Prescription Diet product comes as a canned wet food and it’s inclusion in your dog’s arthritis diet can help to provide some much needed variety. Like us, our dogs appreciate some diversity in their arthritis friendly diet and the lamb flavor can help with this. Also canned products are a good option if you are travelling with your pets and don’t want to deal with carrying large opened bags of dry food.
Pros
- Helps preserve joint health with therapeutic levels of Omega 3;
- Supports dogs immune system
- Enriched with chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine
- Contains added L-carnite
- Helps control calorie intake
- Contains antioxidants
- Dogs with teeth or gum problems may prefer the wet food formula
Cons
- Wet food can be more messy at meal times
- Some people don’t like storing opened dog food in their refrigerator (Note: not everyone will have food left over, it depends on the recommended portion size for your dog. See the Adult Dog Maintenance Diet table below
Adult Dog Maintenance Diet
The table below shows the amount per day needed to support you dog’s arthritis diet using a 13 oz (370 g) can.
So when you are looking to buy the best dog food for arthritis, it’s important to remember that older dogs have specific dietary needs. This is especially true when it comes to maintaining joint and cartilage health and managing your dog’s weight. Specially formulated arthritis diets can play an important role in supporting your four legged family members to live well into their old age despite having chronic conditions such as canine arthritis.