Pet Health Benefits of Green-Lipped Mussels

As you know, Homescape Pets has made it our mission to research healthy diets and seek natural options to treat numerous conditions in pets, as well as to provide you with only the highest quality products to improve the lives of your pets. We became especially passionate about this after learning of the harmful effects of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Research shows that NSAIDs can prove harmful for pets, the more severe side effects involving ulcers and liver and kidney damage. 

In order to educate ourselves, we spent a lot of time consulting holistic veterinarians, reading up on recent studies, and testing out all the best ingredients nature has to offer. When we found out about green-lipped mussels, we were so excited to share this information with you! 

Shellfish supplements had already been popular among holistic healers as a means of supporting arthritis treatments in humans, but green-lipped mussels, in particular, have popped up more recently as being useful for dogs and cats as well. 

Here is what we know about the pet health benefits of green-lipped mussels:

The History of Green-Lipped Mussels

Perna Canaliculus, also known as the green-lipped mussel, originates off the coasts of New Zealand where they live exclusively and receive a constant influx of nutrients from ocean currents. As you might have guessed, green-lipped mussels are so named for the green edges on their shells. New Zealanders have known of the benefits of these mollusks for centuries, and this knowledge has finally made its way to the West. Scientists discovered that the coastal population of indigenous New Zealanders (Maori) showed a significant decrease in rates of arthritis and other degenerative disease compared to those living inland. The difference in diet was the of Green Lipped Mussels on the coast.

The Benefits of Green-Lipped Mussels

One of the most amazing things about green-lipped mussels is that they act as a natural filter in seawater. Because of this, they can retain a multitude of strong nutrients. These mussels have had a long history in the equine community for combating signs of osteoarthritis in horses, but recent studies have found that cats and dogs can benefit from them for the same reason, and more. 

A lot of pet parents already understand how important omega-3 fatty acids are to their pup’s and kitty's joint health, which is how fish oil supplements became so popular. However, fish oil only contains two types of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, while green-lipped mussels have the third: ETA. This third fatty acid makes for a unique combination that studies have shown is a powerful agent in fighting inflammation. 

In addition to omega-3 fatty acids, green-lipped mussels contain:

• Amino acids to make necessary proteins and provide energy and keep the immune system strong
• Enzymes for gastrointestinal health
• Antioxidants for heart health
• Glucosamine and chondroitin as anti-inflammatories
• Hyaluronic acid for joint health
• Crucial vitamins and minerals like vitamins C and E, selenium, manganese, iodine, zinc, copper, and more

In other words, green-lipped mussels are one of the only single ingredient, all-natural products that have a potent combination of benefits to support your pet's overall health!

What Research Says About Green-Lipped Mussels

There isn’t a ton of research-based evidence around nutraceuticals, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find any! Thankfully, there have been many studies on the benefits of green-lipped mussels for dogs and cats. 

One of these studies examined the response in dogs that suffered from arthritis. After eight weeks, dogs who took the green-lipped mussel supplement demonstrated less pain and mobility issues than those who only took a placebo. Another study found that green-lipped mussels appeared to block inflammatory responses without causing the gastrointestinal issues that many NSAIDs cause in dogs. And yet another study found that adding green-lipped mussel to their diet improved arthritis and degenerative joint disease in cats and chronic orthopedic pain in dogs.

Natural anti-inflammatory products are not only good for pets suffering from poor joint health or arthritis, but anti-inflammatory responses are important for many chronic skin issues and other inflammatory diseases, like asthma. You can see why Homescape Pets was so excited to read about green-lipped mussels!

After discovering these amazing benefits, we just knew we had to incorporate green-lipped mussels into our own supplements. But we didn’t want to just offer a simple green-lipped mussel supplement. We knew that much like the mussel itself, we could design a powerful combo to boost its benefits by adding another beneficial, all-natural ingredient: turmeric. 

That’s what makes our Mussel Mobility supplement so unique—the combination of green-lipped mussels with turmeric provides both strong anti-inflammatory properties as well as the rich antioxidants your pet can thrive on! Get yours today.