Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs vs Glucosamine & MSM

If you like seafood, you’ve probably eaten a mussel or two in your day.

But did you know you can use the green lipped mussel for dogs, too?

They provide your furry friend with many of the same benefits they do for you, including reducing joint inflammation and providing a healthy dose of omega-3s.

That doesn’t mean they’re the end-all, be-all when it comes to promoting joint health, though. Many ingredients can reduce pain and inflammation in your dog’s joints, from MSM to NSAIDs to fish oil for dogs.

So, which one is best for your pooch, then?

Let’s find out!

Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of a variety of ingredients, including green lipped mussel powder dogs supplements which are commonly used to promote dog joint health. Then, we’ll give you the final verdict on the best ingredient.

Ready to brave the unknown? Then let’s dive in!

What is Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs?

Though the name green lipped mussel may make you think of a mussel putting on lipstick (at least, it does for us), this mussel doesn’t have actual lips.

Rather, its name comes from the green edges that outline its deep brown shell. And it’s more than just good-looking.

Evidence supports the fact that green lipped mussels can reduce pain and swelling/inflammation in dogs suffering from arthritis. That’s because green lipped mussels contain a particular type of omega-3 fatty acid known as ETA.

ETA binds to the enzymes that cause inflammation in your dog’s body, thereby acting as an anti-inflammatory.

As a result of these benefits, green lipped mussel powder is often used as an ingredient in joint supplements.

Benefits of Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs

Green lipped mussels are a natural seawater filter animal, and they retain the potent vitamins and minerals they absorb.

Green-lipped mussel contains nutrients such as:

1. Omega-3 fatty acids
2. Zinc, copper, and iodine
3. Antioxidants
4. Glucosamine
5. Chondroitin
6. Amino acids
7. Enzymes

These nutrients all have various health benefits, which, when combined, deliver amazing advantages for your pup.

Natural Anti-Inflammatory

Green mussels for dogs provide the same anti-inflammatory effects as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs and Omega-3 fatty acids found in green lipped mussels, are COX inhibitors, which prevent cyclooxygenase (an enzyme that helps form substances in the body that can cause pain) from making chemicals called prostaglandins that ramp up inflammation in the body.

Boost Immunity

Green mussel for dogs is packed with vitamins and minerals to boost your pup’s overall health. The amino acids in green lipped mussel for dogs make the necessary proteins and provide energy to keep the immune system strong.

Reduce Joint Pain and Protect Cartilage

Green lipped mussel dogs supplements are rich in glycosaminoglycans (or GAGs), Including glucosamine chondroitin for dogs:

• Glucosamine: repairs damaged cartilage.
• Chondroitin: prevents cartilage breakdown.

These are the two key ingredients in reducing joint pain and protecting cartilage. Supplementing your dog's diet with glucosamine and chondroitin will aid with mobility and pain management.

However, it’s important to mention that while green lipped mussel for dogs is a source of glucosamine and chondroitin, therapeutic levels of these ingredients in green lipped mussel is often limited. It’s better to give your dog these ingredients in a pure form.

TRI-ACTA is an example of a joint supplement that contains the aforementioned ingredients, as well as Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is a natural anti-inflammatory. Giving your pup TRI-ACTA is a great way to support their joint health as they age.

TRI-ACTA for Pets

A proactive approach for developing and younger adult pets to maintain optimal joint health mobility, minimize inflammation and fend off age-related ailments.

Learn More

Types of Green Lipped Mussel Supplements for Dogs

Green lipped mussel supplements for dogs come in various formats. Depending on how your dog handles medication, one format may be more suitable for them than the other.

When choosing types of green lipped mussel supplements for dogs, you will want to consider:

1. Price
2. Dosage
3. Active ingredients
4. Possible side effects

Powder

Powdered green lipped mussel for dogs is a great option because it can easily be mixed into wet and dry food. Choose a powder supplement with active ingredients and no fillers to maximize the benefits of each dose.

Liquid

Liquid green lipped mussel for dogs can be mixed into food or administered with a syringe. Green lip mussel oil supplements or liquids typically provide a higher concentration of active ingredients than pills or capsules.

Chews

Tasty chews can be a lifesaver when it comes to giving dog supplements to a picky pup. However, chews are usually lower in concentration of active ingredients than other forms.

Capsules

​​Giving your dog green lipped mussel capsules can be tricky. Open your dog’s mouth and lean it back, drop the capsule into the back of its throat, close its mouth, and blow on its nose to encourage them to swallow it.

Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs vs Glucosamine

With all the pet supplements available on the market, it can be hard to determine which is right for your pet. One choice many dog owners face is green lipped mussel for dogs vs Glucosamine for dogs.

Comparison Table

The chart below compares the benefits of green lipped mussel for dogs vs glucosamine.

Which one is Right for You?

Green lipped mussels for dogs provide a minimal amount of active glucosamine compared to glucosamine supplements or joint supplements for dogs that contain glucosamine and 100% active ingredients. Glucosamine supplements are more suitable for joint and mobility issues.

Can Dogs Have Both Glucosamine And Green Lipped Mussel?

​​Green lipped mussel for dogs supplements often contain non-therapeutic amounts of glucosamine compared to supplements like TRI-ACTA for Pets that contain therapeutic levels of key ingredients like: glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM. It is safe to supplement with both if you follow the advice of your veterinarian.

Green Lipped Mussel for Dogs vs. MSM

Another great active ingredient commonly found in joint supplements is methylsulfonylmethane.

But we like to shorten it to MSM. Because who the heck wants to say methylsulfonylmethane every time?

MSM is a type of sulphur that maintains the health of your dog’s cells. This antioxidant is often found in foods like fruits and vegetables and helps your dog rid their body of free radicals that can cause inflammation.

Comparison Table

MSM is a great active ingredient if you’re trying to reduce pain and inflammation in your dog’s body, such as those symptoms caused by conditions like dog arthritis.

Another huge bonus of MSM? It is an effective, shelf-stable, sustainable alternative to green lipped mussel powder.

Green lipped mussels need to be farmed to be used in joint supplements for dogs. These creatures are found in New Zealand and grow in shallow coastal waters and the intertidal zone. Farming these mollusks from the open ocean isn’t a great idea, as that can lead to significant population loss and isn’t sustainable.

On the other hand, MSM for dogs is usually made from by-products that would be created anyway, which is much more sustainable than farming mussels.

The chart below compared the pros and cons of green lipped mussel for dogs vs MSM.

Which one is Right for You?

The only minor downside to MSM is that there are rare instances where some dogs may occasionally experience side effects, including shortness of breath and fatigue. As such, it’s always a good idea to check with your vet before feeding your dog a new supplement.

Overall, MSM is a solid option for dog owners trying to find an environmentally sustainable and effective way to reduce any pain and inflammation their dog may experience.

A raw food diet for dogs rich in anti-inflammatory foods is a great approach for dogs suffering from joint problems, in addition to MSM supplements.

Can Dogs have both Green Lipped Mussel and Methylsulfonylmethane?

Technically, dogs can have both green lipped mussel and methylsulfonylmenthane. However, many pet supplements contain a combination of ingredients such as glucosamine for dogs, chondroitin, fish oil, and Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s best to check with your vet before giving your dog both supplements to ensure they aren’t getting too much of one nutrient.

Risks & Side Effects of Green Lipped Mussels in Dogs

Green lipped mussel for dogs have many wonderful health benefits, however, there are still various risks and side effects of green lipped mussels in dogs to consider. Whether it be medical complications, cost, or environmental impact, there are several reasons why some dog owners choose not to purchase green lipped mussel for dogs.

Overconsumption

Like other pet supplements, a green lipped mussel supplement for dogs contains a combination of nutrients and ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, fish oil, and Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s important to be aware of the ingredients in each supplement that you give your dog (as well as any supplements in their regular food) so that you can prevent the possibility of overconsumption.

Most supplements don’t cause serious side effects if your dog gets too much. For example, MSM has a similar toxicity level to water, so if your dog gets too much MSM, the worst that will happen is bloating or diarrhea. Similarly, if your dog consumes too much green lipped mussel supplement all at once, they will likely experience no symptoms, or at worst, some stomach upset.

Green Lipped Mussel Side Effects

The last thing anyone wants is for their dog to experience discomfort, especially when you’re feeding him something to reduce inflammation in their body. Talk about counterproductive.

So it makes sense that you’re trying to find an ingredient with as few side effects as possible. There are a few reasons that you might want to avoid green lipped mussel for dogs as a supplement:

• Green lipped mussels are a bivalve animal, which means that they have an external covering that is a two-part hinged shell, with that shell containing a soft-bodied invertebrate. Bivalves are often used to monitor heavy metal pollution in marine environments because they accumulate heavy metal ions quickly. These heavy metals can therefore make it into the final supplement, and potentially have negative effects on your dog.
• If your dog has a sensitive stomach or a history of ulcers, green lipped mussel for dogs may aggravate your pup’s gastrointestinal system, especially if they’re taken for a long period of time.
• You must also be aware that green lipped mussel for dogs is a shellfish byproduct. Therefore as a precaution, dogs with shellfish allergies should avoid it.

Cost

Anyone who’s searched for anti-inflammatories for dogs knows they can get pricey.

But fortunately, the ingredients and diets on our list are largely affordable. Joint supplements that include ingredients like MSM or green lipped mussel powder for dogs often come at various price points. This means you can choose a supplement that works for your specific budget.

Sustainability

Environmental protection probably isn’t something you thought you needed to consider when trying to reduce inflammation in your dog’s body. As mentioned earlier in this article, green lipped mussels are indigenous to New Zealand and are only found on the island's coastal and intertidal regions.

Because of the benefits these creatures provide in terms of fatty acids and proteins while being low in fat, they are lucrative to farm. However, farming green lipped mussels properly and ensuring that waste products are not released into the surrounding environment requires extensive monitoring and regulation by the New Zealand government.

While it is being done successfully, those concerned with consuming a product that could potentially negatively affect marine ecosystems should consider using something else, like synthetically-produced MSM.

Final Thoughts

Each option discussed above has its pros and cons when it comes to helping reduce pain and inflammation for your pup.

And some of these pros and cons will matter more than others to you, so it’s up to you to figure out what makes the most sense for your pup.

That said, MSM is a clear winner in our eyes:

1. It’s affordable.
2. It has minimal side effects.
3. It’s sustainable.

Plus, there’s an abundance of joint supplements that contain this key active ingredient. This means you can pick from many options to cater to your dog’s unique needs.

Top 5 Anti-Inflammatory Joint Supplements for Dogs

We get that it can be stressful trying to find the right joint supplement for your dog, especially when you’re trying to figure out which ingredients the product contains. Different supplement products will have different fonts and formats to list their ingredients. Learning how to read a supplement label is essential so that you can be confident that you understand what you are giving your dog.

So we want to make things a bit easier for you. Read on to find out what our top five anti-inflammatory joint supplement recommendations are.

1. Integricare’s TRI-ACTA for Pets

First on our list is our favourite supplement, TRI-ACTA for pets.

And yes, you caught us: we’re being totally self-promotional here. But that’s because our product is one-of-a-kind.

TRI-ACTA for pets contains active sources of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to promote joint health and reduce the pain and inflammation your dog experiences from normal wear and tear.

Yup, that’s right: you won’t find green lipped mussel for dogs here. We use MSM rather than green lipped mussels to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits for your dogs, plus therapeutic levels of glucosamine and chondroitin.

If your pup suffers from arthritis or another joint condition, you may also want to try our maximum strength supplement, TRI-ACTA H.A. for pets. This supplement contains a higher dosage of MSM for pain management plus hyaluronic acid to lubricate joints.

Our supplements are all filler-free, contain pharmaceutical-grade components and are Health Canada-approved.

So hopefully, you can forgive us for tooting our own horn here. It’s just because our products really are #1 when it comes to providing anti-inflammatory benefits for your pup.

TRI-ACTA H.A. for Pets

Our maximum strength formula is optimally designed to accelerate the formation of cartilage, minimize inflammation, expedite the healing process, and improve joint conditions.

Learn More

* TRI-ACTA for Pets priced $23.99 to $64.99 CAD as of June 2023
* TRI-ACTA H.A. for Pets priced $27.99 to $79.99 CAD as of June 2023

2. G-Max with MSM Joint Support

Source

A close second to our own supplements is G-Max with MSM Joint Support.

And it’s easy to see why. In addition to the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, this product contains the same four key active ingredients we use in our products:

1. Glucosamine
2. Chondroitin
3. Hyaluronic acid
4. MSM

It’s also made in the USA and comes with a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied.

The downside? This product has lower levels of glucosamine and MSM per serving compared to TRI-ACTA supplements and is more expensive than some other supplements on our list.

* Priced $79.47 CAD as of June 2023

3. Zesty Paws Mobility Bites

Source

Another great anti-inflammatory supplement option is Zesty Paws Mobility Bites. It has the active ingredients of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, plus the addition of yucca, which can also promote joint health.

Coming in at an affordable price and containing a high dosage of MSM (400 mg), this supplement packs a punch; however, with the high dose of MSM also comes high amounts of fillers like palm fruit oil and powdered cellulose.

* Priced $39.97 CAD as of June 2023

4. YuMOVE Chewable Tablets for Dogs

Source

YuMOVE Chewable Tablets for Dogs is a great option if you’re looking for one of the best green lipped mussel supplements for dogs.

This supplement has great reviews and comes at a very affordable price, making it a solid choice for anyone dipping their toes in the water of joint supplements for the first time.

And it contains the key active ingredients of glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid for promoting joint health.

Unfortunately, it does source its chondroitin from the green lipped mussel. For those trying to make a more sustainable choice, another supplement on this list may better meet your needs.

* Price starts at $18.54 CAD as of June 2023

5. Turmeric Joint Health Chews

Source

If you’re looking for something more natural, Turmeric Joint Health Chews are right up your alley.

In particular, this supplement would make a great addition to a raw food diet. It contains anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric, fish oil, spirulina, and pumpkin, for additional antioxidant support.

The main downsides to this product are its use of fish oil (not sustainable) and the heavy use of fillers like coconut flour and palm fruit oil.

* Price starts at $31.78 CAD June 2023

Q&A

Why Do Other Brands Continue to Use Green Lipped Mussels?

Other supplement brands continue to use the green lipped mussel for dogs because this mollusk is easy to source and provides anti-inflammatory benefits for dogs.

Unfortunately, not all companies are concerned with the negative environmental impacts of the fishing industry. Thus, it’s up to you to do your own research and support companies that are going the extra mile when it comes to sustainability.

Can Dogs Overdose On Green Lipped Mussels?

Too much of one thing is never a good thing. Always be sure to follow dosing directions very carefully and check with your vet before trying a new supplement. And of course, if your dog has a shellfish allergy, definitely be sure to avoid feeding him a green lipped mussel supplement for dogs.

How Much Do Green Mussels For Dogs Cost?

Green lipped mussels for dogs are relatively inexpensive to buy. Depending on what type of green lipped mussels for dogs you purchase and the dosage your dog requires, the average cost ranges from $35-$60 CAD.

We’ve gathered the prices of the best green lipped mussel supplement for dogs per type:

• Chews: Petpal Green Lipped Mussels for Dogs, $45 CAD
• Powder: Thrive Green Lipped Mussels, $40 CAD
• Capsules: AOR Advanced Orthomolecular Research Green Lipped FFA, $60 CAD
• Liquid: four Leaf Rover Sage Sea, $35 CAD

* Prices are as of June 2023

How Much Green Mussel to Feed My Dog Per Day?

Green lipped mussel dog supplements contain various dosages. Chews and foods, for example, tend to contain fewer milligrams of green mussel for dogs than liquid. Take note of how much green mussel the product contains.

The recommended dosage of green lipped mussel for dogs per day depends on their weight:

• 0-10 pounds: 200mg
• 11-25 pounds: 400mg
• 26-50 pounds: 800mg
• 51-75 pounds: 1,200mg
• 76+ pounds: 2,400mg

How Do You Feed a Dog Green Lipped Mussel?

Green lipped mussels for dogs are very easy to feed to your pets. Many pet owners like green lip mussel oil supplements in liquid form, as they can be mixed in with food, or administered using a syringe. Green lipped mussel powder is another popular choice that blends well with both wet food and dry kibble.

Summary 

We hope you had a whale of a good time reading about the green lipped mussel for dogs. We certainly had a great time sharing what we know about them!

Now you know all about the anti-inflammatory benefits of these mollusks.

And you also have information about more sustainable anti-inflammatory ingredient options, such as MSM.

We know you’ll do your due diligence to find something that works for your dog. Taking a look at TRI-ACTA and TRI-ACTA H.A. for pets can be a great place to start.

If you’re interested in choosing a sustainable, anti-inflammatory supplement option, find out where to buy our supplements online.

TRI-ACTA for Pets

A proactive approach for developing and younger adult pets to maintain optimal joint health mobility, minimize inflammation and fend off age-related ailments.

Learn More