It’s a popular supplement for arthritic dogs, but do these huge, grassy-smelling pills actually do anything?
Arthrisoothe Gold works surprisingly well! This blend of several herbs truly does soothe painful joints, providing old dogs with added mobility and more restful sleep.
This is what I found with my own dog, Shannon. Arthrisoothe Gold (view here) gave us another year with him. Read on to learn the pros and cons of this product, and decide if it might be a good fit for your dog.
Disclaimer: I do not have any kind of product deal with the company that makes Arthrisoothe, aside from the pennies I might get from my Amazon Associates link. If you and a thousand of your closest friends buy from my link, I might hit the minimum threshold for them to actually pay me.
Table of Contents
- Our Success Story with Arthrisoothe Gold
- Other Products by the Same Company
- The Beneficial Ingredients in Dog Joint Care, and How They Work
- Resources for Further Exploration
Our Success Story with Arthrisoothe Gold
My 12-year-old greyhound, Shannon, had become terribly arthritic. We tried Rimadyl, but it made him so dizzy, he had an even harder time walking! He also seemed nauseated and disoriented from it.
When my husband mentioned Shanny’s problem to a fellow dog owner, the man suggested we try Arthrisoothe Gold, saying it had done wonders for his arthritic Doberman.
I found myself scanning the shelves at a little nutrition shop near the airport. Judging from the shelf space devoted to this product, I deduced that people were pretty enthusiastic about it. We left with a huge jar, which seemed kind of expensive; but we were not to be disappointed.
Yes, I had my doubts when I opened the jar and was hit with the odd, herbal smell. Shannon was not too crazy about them, either. The pills were huge, and dry, and looked like compressed lawn clippings. The troubles ended there, however. Shannon was feeling better by the end of the week. Later in life, he was to develop back problems, too, so he was never really spry again; but the important thing was he was comfortable, not merely doped-up. Shanny again could luxuriate in his naps and snuggles and meals. He was able to live out the rest of his life enjoying these things, and I credit Arthrisoothe Gold with a lot of that.
Other Products by the Same Company
My experience with Arthrisoothe was several years ago. In researching for this article, I notice that the manufacturer, Naturvet, has several new products and has reformulated old ones, including Arthrisoothe itself. One of their new ingredients is green-lipped mussel, a medical powerhouse which I will detail in Part II of this series. They also have added glucosamine, MSM, and other joint-loving ingredients to all of their products.
Many of their products have ingredients in common, so I would suggest you try small bottles of their different formulas, and see which one works best for your dog.
One particular review caught my eye – I was shocked to see a review saying that AG had made her dog sick. This surprised me, because it seemed like a very mild formula, as far as digestibility goes. It turns out that she was giving her dog “huge doses,” something that should never be done with any supplement for any creature!
The Beneficial Ingredients in Dog Joint Care, and How They Work
Let’s have a quick look at each of the active ingredients in AG:
“Glucosamine HCl (Shellfish Source) 500 mg, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) 500 mg, Chondroitin Sulfate (Porcine Source) 200 mg, Green Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) 200 mg, Proprietary Enzyme Blend (alpha-Amylase, Lipase, Cellulase, Protease, Bacillus coagulans, & Fructooligosaccharides) 130 mg, Boswellia serrata 90 mg, Yucca schidigera 90 mg, Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C)”
Label, Arthrisoothe Gold
Glucosamine HCl, MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate
I wrote this article, which explains each of these, and how they work. It’s very easy to understand, and even includes an infographic.
Green Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus)
Complete article on this super-supplement here (published by November, 2022).
Proprietary Enzyme Blend
This combination of about a half-dozen enzymes helps your dog’s digestive system break down the supplement, making it more bioavailable to the senior dog.
Boswellia serrata
According to the textbook, Rheumatology (6th ed.),
“Boswellia serrata, also known as Indian frankincense, is a plant extract that has been featured as an important component of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. As with many herbs used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, Western medicine has corroborated traditional usage because Boswellia serrata elicits potent antiinflammatory activity.”
Yucca schidigera
Another powerful joint supplement, yucca has been used for centuries. Like boswellia, it soothes humans ans well as pups.
Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C)
I’m cautious about giving Vitamin C to dogs. Since they make their own naturally, they should not get too much extra.
Arthrisoothe Gold worked great for my dog, and maybe it will help yours, too. Be sure to run it by his vet, first though!
