What do you do when your best buddy suffers the aches and pains of old age, but the side effects from Rimadyl and other NSAIDs make hime feel even worse?
Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a crustacean native to the bays of New Zealand, known for its pain-relieving properties.
This month, we’ve already discussed other alternatives to NSAIDs, including acupuncture, acupressure, cold laser therapy, and Adequan, in one comprehensive article. Then, last week, I went over the ins and outs of Arthrisoothe Gold, a longtime favorite for arthritic dogs. Now, read what a dozen experts have to say about GLM (green-lipped mussel).
Table of Contents
- What does green-lipped mussel do for dogs?
- Can Green Lipped Mussel Replace NSAIDs for Dogs?
- Will Green-Lipped Mussel Help Dog’s Joints?
- Green-Lipped Mussel for Dogs Side Effects
- Can a dog have too much green-lipped mussel (Green-Lipped Mussel for Dog Overdose)?
- How many green-lipped mussels can I give my dog?
- New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs?
- What is the Best Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs?
- Can I feed my dog raw green-lipped mussel?
- Green Lipped Mussel Oil for Dogs
- Green-Lipped Mussel Powder for Dogs
- Where to Buy Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs
What does green-lipped mussel do for dogs?
The beauty of using green-lipped mussel for your dog is that it is strong, natural medicine for your dog’s joint issues, without being tough on the rest of him, healthwise. Manmade prescription drugs can have many side effects, some of which can make him feel worse than his illness. For many dogs, the risk-to-benefit ratio of the current pharma products simply does not add up.
One unique feature, demonstrated in a study of green-lipped mussel from the Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research, is that the provided relief continues around the clock, rather than wearing off, all at once, after a few hours.
Can Green Lipped Mussel Replace NSAIDs for Dogs?
The American Kennel Club discusses studies which prove that GLM makes a fine replacement for NSAIDs, which can be hazardous to your dog’s health. A natural source of ETA, a fatty acid, green-lipped mussel can “can improve joint lubrication, reduce inflammation, stiffness and joint pain, and improve mobility and range of motion.”
Green-lipped mussel can aslo prevent further damage to your dog’s joints. In some cases, there may even be some repair of cartilage and joint-lubricating fluids.
Will Green-Lipped Mussel Help Dog’s Joints?
Many more studies have demonstrated that green-lipped mussel will, indeed, help your dog’s joints to feel better; improving his gait, sleep, and emotional well-bring, to name just a few of one study’s revelations. This 2019 study out of Massey University in New Zealand was run on working farm dogs, and demonstrated great promise. The form of green-lipped mussel used in this study was GLME (green-lipped mussel extract).
Green-Lipped Mussel for Dogs Side Effects
Given as directed, it is not common for a dog to suffer negative effects from green-lipped mussel. Greyhounds, however, are notorious for having gastric isuues from any change in the diet. If you have a grey, or any breed that is sensitive in this way, you can still use green-lipped mussel, just start with a very small amount, and increase it incrimentally, over the course of a week or more.
Interestingly, if your doggy has been on NSAIDS and is experiencing tummy troubles, GLM has been shown to reduce the resulting digestive inflammation (Journal of Nutrition, June, 2002). Now, there’s a “side-effect” that’s a good thing!
Can a dog have too much green-lipped mussel (Green-Lipped Mussel for Dog Overdose)?
Always be wary of any source that tells you that you don’t have to worry about giving your dog too much of something. All things in moderation, right? Since GLM contains a lot of the same factors as fish oil, let’s see what they say about too much fish oil.
Although my source, admittedly, is a list of human side effects, I had no trouble finding an article on Vitamin A poisoning in dogs (9)! Other (OK, human) side effects included high blood sugar, overly-low blood pressure, bleeding, diarrhea, acid reflux, stroke, and insomnia.
I have been there with my own dog, when a supplement is helping, but only partially; contemplating that more might be better. The best option, in this case, is to explore additional therapies; the more diverse, the better.
For my greyhound, Shannon, we added gentle spinal massage, muscle massage, heat, and ice. All helped, and he loved the attention. Even though it took more time out of my day, I wouldn’t trade that time we had together.
How many green-lipped mussels can I give my dog?
It’s not so much a question of how many mussels, but of how many milligrams, since green-lipped mussels are freeze-dried and sold as a powder, or as a supplement which contains said powder….but how much is needed is debated among scientists and veterinarians.
For example, Dr. Matthew Brunke did research which concluded that my greyhound, Lily, (60 lbs.) would need “at least” 2,100 mg a day of pure, green-lipped mussel powder. A Canadian study (5), however, saw remarkable results using a mere fraction of that amount (750 mg).
Using those numbers, here’s how you can see if a supplement contains enough green-lipped mussel to help your dog (which I’ve also included on the infographic, below):
- Find the mg number on the Supplement Facts part of the label.
- Multiply it by the number of pills needed daily (that’s where they get you – A supplement’s price will seem like a bargain, until you realize your dog needs to eat, like, 10 of them a day to get the dose!).
- Then, divide that answer by your dog’s weight (in pounds).
- This answer is the milligrams per pound that supplement provides to a dog, per day. If it falls between 12 – 35, that will be a good supplement to try. Example: 450 mg x 2 pills in a dose = 900 mg per dose; 900 mg/60 lbs. (Lily’s weight) = 15 mg/lb., so that one would be worth a try.
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs?
It may sound new and exotic to us, but not to the Māori people! They have been harvesting green-lipped mussels from their native, New Zealand shores for centuries (2018, Veterinary Sciences ). It’s been at least fifty years since modern medicine has caught on that the Māori have a lot fewer of the aches and pains of old age than other people.
It is only more recently, however, that veterinary science has widely applied this to our animal friends. With improved, modern veterinary care, our pets are living longer, so treating their arthritis and other joint conditions has become a more everyday concern.
Other mussels do not confer the same, remarkable medicinal benefits as this particular species.
What is the Best Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs?
You do not want to give your pup just any ol’ green-lipped mussel supplement, because they are not all created equal. For example, there was one particular blend on which scientists conducted a study, only to find that it was no more effective in the group of hounds who took it, as it was on those in the placebo group! This particular blend consisted of green-lipped mussel, curcumin (Curcuma longa), and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) leaf extract (Veterinary Medicine and Science, May, 2022 [6]).
One of my sources made a point about freeze-dried GLM versus vacuum-dried. They consider the vacuum-dried much preferred, claiming that higher temperatures are required for the freeze-dried. To be honest, I had to look up how anything involving freezing could require high temperatures. Although both processes do, indeed, require some heat, a large refrigeration company out of China corroborated my opinion (source: Nixtar):
Product temperatures in freeze drying are generally below 0C in primary drying and 30C during [the] secondary drying stage. Vacuum drying [temperatures are] typically higher than 40C.”
Nixtar
Very reputable sources use the freeze-dried GLMs, so you don’t need to fret over this point. If anything, it appears that the freeze-drying actually produces a better supplement.
Can I feed my dog raw green-lipped mussel?
Unless you live in New Zealand, it is unlikely that you will be able to find any fresh green-lipped mussels to mix in with his food (source). Besides, raw shellfish is particularly hazardous to dogs; as it often contains parasites, bacteria, and other toxic things that can make your best friend very sick, or even cause his death.
Green Lipped Mussel Oil for Dogs
While green-lipped mussel oil may be of some benefit to your dog, you can do far better with the powder. The main reason for this is that the oil supplements contain significantly less mussel per dose.
While the label may claim that you’re getting “green-lipped mussel oil,” you’re actually getting an oil blend, including olive oil and other seafood oils. This isn’t the same as using essential oils, where use of a carrier oil is the most efficient way to use the product. Green-lipped mussel can and should be used in its pure form. Lets save that olive oil, throw in some garlic, white wine, and parsley with for a delightful Mussels Bianco…but I’ll save that discussion for my food blog!
All kidding aside, another problem with the oil is that, assuming you get it in its pure form, you’re only getting a fraction of the creature, and missing out on most of the benefits. The next section, about powdered GLM, explains why.
Green-Lipped Mussel Powder for Dogs
Green-lipped mussel powder, on the other hand, provides 100% of the creature, including the shells. This may surprise you, since when we eat crustaceans, the shell is considered a waste product (although they do make a stunning presentation in Mussels Bianco…sorry…but they do!).
Just the opposite is true, however, of green-lipped mussel supplements. It is the shell that is considered of the highest benefit, and is, in fact, what makes the green-lipped mussel a stand-out among joint supplements AND painkillers. The algae consumed by the mussels give them their trademark color, and their medicinal qualities.
Where to Buy Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs
The AKC recommends Super Snouts’ powdered green-lipped mussel supplements (view here).
n.b.: purchasing from affiliate links in this article help Greyhound Homecare, but at no extra cost to you. Thank you.
