Prevent Pet Arthritis With This Natural Solution
- Is your pet having trouble walking and getting up and irritable? Find what might be the cause…
- Discover how this safe and effective supplement could change your dog’s life
- Sometimes eggs just aren’t enough. Find out what other natural food you should be feeding your best friend.
Dear Reader,
“Wait… what? Is that even a thing? He has arthritis in his… what?”
Vets have been warning me that my French bulldog would end up with arthritis for years.
And it’s not that I believed it would never happen. It’s just been shocking how long he’s lived without getting it — he’s 11 years old and still shows no signs of pain or stiffness.
But since he’s a senior dog, when he went in for a yearly checkup, the vet did an X-ray just to be sure his hips were in good shape. But what the X-ray revealed was unusual.
It seems that my dog does have arthritis… but not in his hips.
He has arthritis in his tail.
And here’s what makes the news even more strange. My dog has one of the tiniest tails I’ve ever seen.
I mean… look at it.
It’s so little, he can’t even wag it. Instead, his whole backside gyrates wildly when he’s happy.
So I was a bit shocked by this news. I always figured he would get it in his hips or his front paws, since his body is such a funny shape — but his tiny tail never even crossed my mind.
As it turns out, though, arthritis of the tail is a thing. And it’s kind of common.
In fact, it’s possible that your dog could be suffering from it too.
But the threat of arthritis isn’t limited your pup’s tail (or just your pup, for that matter. Kitties can get it too). It can attack any joint in your best bud’s body.
Collagen to the Rescue!
Arthritis in animals, just as in humans, is caused by the breakdown of cartilage. This firm but flexible substance absorbs shock and pressure during movement. When the amount of cartilage in your joints is reduced, it causes this painful and debilitating condition.
If you notice your pet is experiencing trouble getting up, joint stiffness, trouble walking, lameness, depression, lethargy, irritability or aggression when being touched, they may already be suffering from arthritis.
Luckily, research shows there is a supplement that can help support the joint health of dogs suffering from this chronic and painful condition — collagen.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that is a key component in the connective tissues in animals. In fact, it’s the most abundant protein in mammals. While there are several types of collagen, collagen Type II is a vital building block of cartilage, so it’s often used for joint support.
A study in the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics shows that undenatured Type II collagen (UC-II) can reduce pain and exercised-induced lameness in dogs.
But what was more impressive — this study was done exclusively on obese, large-breed dogs, which are prone to arthritic problems.
Fifteen dogs participated in the study and were divided into three different groups. Group one received no UC-II, group two received 1 mg of UC-II daily and group 3 took 10 mg per day, for a duration of 90 days.
During the study, pain and lameness were measured on a weekly basis for 120 days. The first 90 days were over the course of the study, and the last 30 days were post-treatment. In addition, blood samples were taken to ensure the collagen didn’t cause any adverse effects such as kidney or liver damage during the course of the study.
At the end of the 90 days, dogs taking the 1 mg and 10 mg doses of UC-II showed significant declines in overall pain, pain from being touched and lameness after exercise. However, the dogs getting 10 mg showed the greatest improvements. Those getting no collagen showed little improvement.
During the 30-day period after treatment, all dogs experienced a relapse of overall pain, pain upon touching their limbs and exercise-associated lameness. This means the collagen likely reduced the dog’s arthritis-induced pain.
Not to mention, the dogs taking collagen showed no signs of adverse effects.
This study shows that daily doses of collagen may be a safe and effective way to alleviate the painful symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
Better Joints, Better Life
Joint health decline can be devastating for your pet. Without healthy joints, your little pal may suffer from debilitating pain and slowly start to shy away from the things they once loved, like long walks, playing fetch and running in the yard.
There’s no doubt I’ve been lucky with my dog. His joints have held up very well for his age, and he still enjoys walking and playing, regardless of the arthritis in his tiny tail.
One reason may be because I feed him eggs on a weekly basis. Eggs are a natural source of collagen, but may not be enough to support him into his golden years.
So recently, I’ve been supplementing his diet with collagen powder.
While it’s not the undenatured variety used in the study, it seems to be very effective. He’s still not showing any signs of stiffness and actually seems a bit more spry than before he started on the collagen.
And it’s super easy for me, too. All I have to do is sprinkle a tablespoon over his food and voilà! He gobbles it right down.
This study focused solely on dogs, but it would make sense that collagen is also good for cats.
If you’re looking for a collagen supplement for your pet, be sure to use products that contain Type II collagen and are made from either beef or pork products. I recommend Great Lakes. Click here to check it out.
Check with your vet before starting a pet on any supplement.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Sources
[1] What is collagen? What does collagen do?
[2] Symptoms and Signs of Arthritis in Dogs

Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Men, If You’re Feeling Tired—Don’t Ignore THIS Warning
You know that feeling when you wake up tired… and stay tired all day? You chalk it up to age—but lately, it’s worse. You’re dragging… You need more coffee… Your energy just isn’t what it used to be! But what if it’s not just age? A new study shows that fatigue in older men could...
Mailbag: Science-Backed Strategies Target Belly Fat
“What is an effective strategy for gradually eliminating (white) belly fat?” —Slimming Down Hi Slimming, White fat is the most common fat in the body, and its primary purpose is to store energy. But belly fat isn’t just about appearances. Having too much of it is associated with health issues like diabetes, heart disease, and...
Just 35 Minutes Could SAVE Your Brain
For years, I’ve told you exercise is non-negotiable for healthy aging. As you age you must move more to protect your body and brain. Now, groundbreaking new research confirms what I’ve been saying all along. Exercise can slash your dementia risk—but with a surprising twist that eliminates your last excuse for not moving more. Dementia...
The One Supplement I'll Never Stop Taking
Omega-3s are one of the few supplements I’ve continued to take ever since I graduated from medical school. And now, exciting new research confirms what I’ve suspected all along… This remarkable fatty acid doesn’t only support heart and brain health—it could, quite literally, slow down the aging process itself. Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fats your body...
Your Morning Tea Pulls DOUBLE DUTY as a Heavy Metal Detox
You don’t need another reason to drink tea, do you? You already know tea helps with everything from boosting heart health and metabolism to reducing stress. It’s packed with antioxidants, calms inflammation, and gives you a gentler caffeine boost than coffee. But now researchers have discovered yet another benefit of your daily drink—and this one...
Fiery Spice Cools Painful IBD Inflammation
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) involves chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatigue. The two most common forms of IBD are Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s can cause inflammation anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and ulceration in the large intestine...
Ditch the Coffee Dehydration Myth and Enjoy Java Again
I can’t imagine starting my day without a delicious steaming cup of hot coffee. If you’re also a coffee fan, I bet you’ve been treated to well-meaning warnings by the non-Java drinkers… “Coffee is so dehydrating!” “It’s basically stealing water from your body!” “You need to drink extra water to make up for it!” Even...
Research Reveals Loneliness is “Poisoning” Your Blood
We humans are social creatures. We thrive on connection, communication, and shared experiences—which help shape our identities and foster a sense of belonging. Yet, loneliness and social isolation are alarmingly common in an increasingly digital and fast-paced world. The World Health Organization (WHO) says about 25 percent of older people experience social isolation. But new...
Mailbag: Ease Invisible Pain and Fatigue NATURALLY
“Why isn’t there more research on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? It’s mainly a woman’s condition and too many health professionals tell us “It’s all in your head,” or words to that effect.” —Fatigued and Fuming Hi Fuming, Your frustration over the lack of research and dismissive attitudes when it comes to fibromyalgia and...
Junk Food DOUBLES Risk of Embarrassing Leaks
Ladies, if you need another reason to think twice before hitting the drive-thru, I have one for you. A new study found that a fast-food habit can contribute to a problem most women would rather not talk about—urinary incontinence. That’s right, those embarrassing “oops” moments when you laugh, cough, or exercise could be directly linked...