| If your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis you | | | | market, we would recommend you read the label |
| might find Green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is | | | | carefully to choose the stabilized form. |
| included in some glucosamine based treatments. | | | | Other products you might have been recommended |
| Green lipped mussel has been found to inhibit | | | | for your pets arthritis inflammation are the non |
| inflammation in the joints and is useful in the | | | | steroidal anti inflammatory drugs which include |
| treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis | | | | ibruprofen. The downside of using these drugs are |
| How does it work? | | | | the side effects which can cause stomach problems |
| Any animal or human will experience a certain amount | | | | including ulcers if administered too frequently. Using a |
| of inflammation in the joints and increasingly so with | | | | green lipped mussel extract also reduces the need |
| age. Your pet makes several types of chemical | | | | for anti inflammatory drugs. |
| mediators for inflammation levels of these are higher | | | | How much does your pet need? |
| in an animal experiencing symptoms of arthritis. The | | | | These will depend on the individual pets weight and |
| green lipped mussel extract helps control the | | | | also the potency of the extract. Feed this to your |
| inflammatory mediators in your pets body, it | | | | pet in the doses recommended by the manufacturer. |
| improves conditions which involve inflammation such | | | | Will my pet experience any side effects? |
| as arthritis, psoriasis and asthma among others. | | | | Studies in humans have produced varying data, with |
| Where is it found? | | | | some mussel extracts producing nausea as a side |
| Green-lipped mussels are found in the oceans off | | | | effect while other studies show no side effects. In |
| New Zealand. In supplement form, green-lipped | | | | this case be observant of your pets eating habits |
| mussel is available as a lipid extract or a freeze-dried | | | | and report it to your vet if you have been giving |
| powder. Green lipped mussel extract is also combined | | | | your pet green mussel extract. |
| with other arthritis treatments. When you buy a | | | | Allergy Information |
| product containing green lipped mussel, it comes in | | | | It is possible for your pet to have an allergic reaction |
| two forms one which is stabilized with a preservative | | | | to shellfish. Again be observant of any changes in |
| and the other is not. Recent animal studies have | | | | your pet, itching , sneezing etc. and report it to your |
| compared the two forms and found a stabilized lipid | | | | vet if you suspect an allergic reaction. However |
| extract to be significantly more effective than a | | | | compared to lipid preparations, freeze-dried |
| non-stabilized extract at decreasing inflammation. | | | | preparations contain substantially more of the protein |
| Because both forms are currently available on the | | | | fraction responsible for allergic reactions. |