Joint Support Is a Team Effort: What Else Your Dog Needs

Joint supplements can be incredibly helpful—especially when they’re started early. But they’re not a fix-all. For any supplement to truly do its job, it needs the support of other healthy habits.

Here are three areas that matter just as much (if not more) than what’s in your dog’s supplement jar:

1. Keep Your Dog at a Lean, Healthy Weight

This is number one for a reason. Excess weight puts constant strain on your dog’s joints, increasing the risk of arthritis and injury. Even a few extra pounds can make a big difference over time—especially for giant breeds who already carry a lot.

Dogs kept at a lean weight have been shown to live up to 2.5 years longer than their overweight counterparts.

If your dog is already carrying extra weight, take action now—a healthy weight loss plan can ease joint strain and improve long-term comfort.  Not sure where to start? Our recent blog on weight loss tips for big dogs breaks it down with simple, sustainable steps.

2. Focus on Low-Impact, Consistent Movement

Big dogs need regular movement to keep their muscles strong and joints lubricated. But that doesn’t mean throwing a ball for an hour on pavement. In fact, too much high-impact activity can do more harm than good.

Try:

• Long walks on soft surfaces
• Swimming (a fantastic no-impact workout!)
• Free running in a safely enclosed area

Avoid:

• Repetitive jumping (especially in and out of cars or on hard floors)
• Hard landings from high places (like beds or couches)
• Overdoing it after long periods of rest

Think: strong, steady, and sustainable. Not fast, hard, and frantic.

3. Prevent Injuries Whenever You Can

Many joint issues in dogs can be traced back to injuries that didn’t heal quite right. A torn ligament, a slipped disc, a bad fall—these things leave a lasting mark.

While you can’t protect your dog from everything, you can:

• Use ramps or stairs to help your dog avoid big jumps
• Keep nails trimmed to prevent slipping
• Add rugs or non-slip mats on slippery floors
• Maintain a strong core through regular exercise

The less your dog gets hurt, the less damage those joints have to recover from.

At The Big Damn Dog Co., we believe in a whole-dog approach to joint health. Supplements are a powerful piece of the puzzle—but not the only one.

Pairing the right supplement with these simple lifestyle changes can make a real difference in your dog’s long-term comfort and mobility. Especially for big dogs, these are the habits that add up to more, better years.