If your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis you might find Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is included in some glucosamine based treatments. Green lipped mussel has been found to inhibit inflammation in the joints and is useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

How does it work ?

Any animal or human will experience a certain amount of inflammation in the joints and increasingly so with age. Your pet makes several types of chemical mediators for inflammation levels of these are higher in an animal experiencing symptoms of arthritis. The green lipped mussel extract helps control the inflammatory mediators in your pets body, it improves conditions which involve inflammation such as arthritis, psoriasis and asthma among others.

Where is it found ?

Green-lipped mussels are found in the oceans off New Zealand. In supplement form, green-lipped mussel is available as a lipid extract or a freeze-dried powder. Green lipped mussel extract is also combined with other arthritis treatments. When you buy a product containing green lipped mussel, it comes in two forms one which is stabilized with a preservative and the other is not. Recent animal studies have compared the two forms and found a stabilized lipid extract to be significantly more effective than a non-stabilized extract at decreasing inflammation. Because both forms are currently available on the market, we would recommend you read the label carefully to choose the stabilized form.

Other products you might have been recommended for your pets arthritis inflammation are the non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs which include ibruprofen. The downside of using these drugs are the side effects which can cause stomach problems including ulcers if administered too frequently. Using a green lipped mussel extract also reduces the need for anti inflammatory drugs.

How much does your pet need?

These will depend on the individual pets weight and also the potency of the extract. Feed this to your pet in the doses recommended by the manufacturer.

Will my pet experience any side effects ?

Studies in humans have produced varying data, with some mussel extracts producing nausea as a side effect while other studies show no side effects. In this case be observant of your pets eating habits and report it to your vet if you have been giving your pet green mussel extract.

Allergy Information

It is possible for your pet to have an allergic reaction to shellfish. Again be observant of any changes in your pet, itching , sneezing etc. and report it to your vet if you suspect an allergic reaction. However compared to lipid preparations, freeze-dried preparations contain substantially more of the protein fraction responsible for allergic reactions.

Copyright 2006 Paul Nelson