Off the coast of New Zealand, there is a native tribe known as the Maori who have eaten Green Lipped Mussels for centuries. The Maoris are unique for a number of reasons, but one of the most remarkable is that they almost never get arthritis.
It turns out, this comes from the diet they eat, one high in Green Lipped Mussels. These mussels, named for their characteristic bright green “lips” contain a variety of compounds that help stop osteoarthritis in its tracks. Here’s a breakdown.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Green Lipped Mussels are a rich source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Green Lipped Mussels get their omega-3s from filtering algae out of the water in their native beds. Omega-3 Fatty Acids have been linked with reduced inflammation in arthritis sufferers.
Omega-3 fatty acids work by inhibiting an enzyme called cyclooxygenase. Cyclooxygenase is responsible for the prostaglandin hormones that cause inflammation. When this enzyme is inhibited, the body is able to produce less inflammation, which means less joint pain for your dog.
Glucosamine
Green Lipped Mussels contain every major class of glycosaminoglycans. You’ll be most familiar with two of these, glucosamine and chondroitin. These are popular joint supplements for good reason—they work great to support healthy joint tissue and ease arthritis.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin function similarly to aspirin in dogs, helping to turn off those pain receptors, reduce the degradation of joints, and also potentially help in their repair.
Other Benefits
Outside of joint health, green lipped mussel may also help with eye health and heart health—two important topics in the chihuahua world. After all, chihuahuas are prone to both eye and heart problems.
These benefits go back to Omega-3 Fatty acids, which improve the function of the tear ducts and help improve eye moisture. They also help keep skin moist, so if your dog has dry skin omega-3s can benefit your pet there as well.
EPA and DHA once again from Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and are essential for your dog’s cardiovascular system. It’s also great for brain health and many other body functions.
These benefits aren’t unique to green lipped mussels. You can likely get the same benefits by combining a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement with an omega-3 supplement. Still, it’s pretty cool that these benefits are rolled together in one unique animal.
Our Product Test
As with anything else we recommend on this website, we used it on our own dogs first to see how the dogs responded. I purchased this because our eldest dog, Rocco, suffers from arthritis. We use cold laser therapy to help keep him comfortable, but while it works great for his hips, it doesn’t seem to help his elbow very much.
We wanted a simple supplement that didn’t have 100 strange ingredients that need to be researched. We liked that this was just one ingredient to track. It’s fairly easy to tell how Rocco is feeling because if he feels bad, he hobbles on 3 legs and refuses to let his bad leg come down. If he’s having a good day, he beats up my shoes and races around the house.
There was no to little change in his behavior for about 2-3 weeks after starting the supplement, but after using it consistently for that long he started having more good days than bad days. We have a prescription medication for the bad days, but he’s not supposed to take it daily because it’s not the greatest for his organs.
A couple weeks after that, he stopped limping almost entirely. He beats the ol’ shoes up every day, and hasn’t needed his pain medication for about a month.
He has a check up with the vet pending in about a week, where I’ll ask the vets opinion on it and another supplement I’m hoping to use with them.
Two Thumbs Up
We may update our thoughts on green lipped mussels as time goes on. Right now however, we are loving this supplement.
If you decide to purchase this product, please consider using our affiliate link. We receive a small commission if you purchase it through Amazon here, or Chewy.com here. It costs nothing to you.
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[…] starting to walk like a 90-year-old man. We’ve tried a number of things to help, ranging from supplements to chiropractic to various […]
Green Lipped Mussel (GLM) is a type of seafood that is native to New Zealand and is commonly used as a dietary supplement for joint health. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce pain and improve mobility in people with conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. GLM supplements are available in various forms, such as capsules and powder, and can be found in health food stores and online. It’s important to note that GLM supplements should only be consumed after consulting a doctor, as they may interact with other medications or have side effects for certain people.