Often we assume that mobility impairment is due to old age. However, in reality, joint disease cause a decrease in your dog's activity levels and mobility, not age. In addition, there are multiple causes of joint disease. But they all have in common to lead to inflammation: torn ligaments, fractures ( broken bone), hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and osteoarthritis.

More than 18 studies have shown that oral administration of type II collagen reduces osteoarthritis's clinical signs, including seven done on dogs. One particular study reviewed all 18 studies and concluded, "in the current literature, UC-II® has been suggested as a safe and effective supplement for joint health both for humans and animals."

When your dog takes UC-II in a chew, the undenatured type II collagen is released in the intestines and recognized by a specific structure within. This structure is called Peyer's patches, and they allow UC-II to enter the body and bind to specific cells of the immune system. This interaction between UC-II and the cells deactivates the immune reactions that cause inflammation and pain: this is the phenomenon of oral tolerance.

So not only does UC-II provide cartilage components to the body, its natural, undenatured 3D structure prevents the immune system from attacking the articular cartilage of your dog's body.

UC-II mode of action in dogs: a four-step process. 

1. Undenatured type II collagen arrives in the small intestine and crosses the intestinal wall through Peyer's patches.
2. Regulatory cells of the immune system (antigenic-presenting cells) recognize undenatured type II collagen and activate a particular subclass of regulatory cells called T-cells.
3. Then a cascade of deactivation occurs: Regulatory T-cells deactivate B-cells and Cytotoxic T-cells (other subclasses of regulatory cells).
4. The result of this cascade is an interruption in the production of pro-inflammatory mediators ( micro molecules responsible for the inflammation). 

It is important to choose supplements specifically designed for dogs when caring for your furry friends, as supplements not tailored to their specific needs and physiology can be harmful and ineffective.

UC-II is a relatively new molecule in veterinary medicine, and there are currently only a few options on the market. The most popular brands are Jope Hip & Joint Dog Chews from Jope and Flexadin Advanced from Vetoquinol.

1. Active ingredients and efficacy

When considering which supplement to choose, assessing the active ingredients and their efficacy is essential. Both Jope and Flexadin contain the patented undenatured type II collagen UC-II.

In addition to UC-II, Jope's hip and joint supplement also contain a high dose of Omega-3 from fish oil, with a high amount of EPA and DHA (98 mg per chew). EPA and DHA are two types of essential fatty acids found in certain types of oils, including fish oil.

These fatty acids are necessary for the health of the brain, heart, and immune system. They have been shown to be particularly effective at reducing inflammation and relieving the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Therefore, veterinarians often recommend them as a supplement for dogs with joint issues. However, Flexadin contains only 11 mg of EPA and DHA per serving.

Finally, Jope's formula includes curcumin, a natural ingredient with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, in a dose of 50 mg per chew. In comparison, Flexadin does not contain curcumin.

It's important to consider the specific ingredients and their dosages when choosing a supplement for your furry friend. This difference in ingredients and dosage may affect the overall effectiveness of the supplements in relieving joint pain and improving mobility in dogs.

 2. Formula and healthiness

Another factor to consider is the overall healthiness of the formula. When selecting a supplement for your beloved pet, consider not just the ingredients and dosage that may be most effective in relieving joint pain and improving mobility but also the overall healthiness of the formula.

Look for formulas that use:

• high-quality ingredients,
• natural ingredients,
• and consider the sourcing and production methods' environmental impact.

While Flexadin contains 21 non-organic inactive ingredients and fillers, Jope's formula contains only nine inactive ingredients, most of which are organic.

Jope's Omega-3 is also sustainably sourced from anchovy fish oil, and the chews are made with a cold-press process that preserves the benefits of the raw ingredients.

3. Ease of use

Regarding ease of use, both brands offer yummy chicken-flavored chews, which are known to be easier for dogs to take.

Flexadin is also very simple, as it's one chew per dog for every weight. But as a result, it doesn't tailor the dosage of supplements to the specific needs of each dog.

Tailored dosing is crucial when it comes to joint supplements, as the needs of a small breed dog like a Chihuahua (around 4 lbs) can be very different from those of a large breed dog like a Great Dane (around 150 lbs). By taking into account the weight and specific needs of each dog, it's possible to ensure that they receive the optimal dosage of the most effective ingredients for relieving joint pain and improving mobility.

As a caring pet parent to your dog, who wants to make sure you give them the most effective supplements, you might be interested in learning more about the popular glucosamine and chondroitin association.

Indeed there are many debates in the veterinary world about the benefits of chondroitin and glucosamine supplements for dogs. More alarming are the many articles that underline the lack of efficacy of these two molecules. The veterinary community is also contesting other pet supplements like MSM(Methylsulfonylmethane).

In an interesting overview study (Litterature Review), a team of biochemists with expertise in supplements analyzed over 15 studies. These studies focus on the benefits of chondroitin and glucosamine in dogs with osteoarthritis.

We complied here the five key findings of these expert biochemists:

• Unlike the UC-II studies, only a few used the ground force plates to measure results (reminder: this gives objective results). When used they did not show any improvements in dogs with osteoarthritis.
• A study concluded: "Although glucosamine and chondroitin have benign adverse effect profiles, the clinical benefit of using these agents remains questionable."
• Some studies concluded that there were positive results on criteria judged to be of no clinical importance. It means they show no benefits to dogs' well-being, which wouldn't help dogs improve.
• All studies lacked standardized protocols, and "trials generally lacked peer review and were at risk of funding bias due to company sponsorship."
• Nearly 50% of the studies concluded: no improvement using chondroitin and glucosamine.

Yes. 40 mg for average-sized dogs. The dose can be lowered for smaller dogs and increased for larger dogs who have different needs. A study showed a different impact according to the dose. 

Yes. Answer: Jope is formulated to be effective on its own, without the need for additional supplements. However, if you'd like to continue your current glucosamine supplement, you can integrate Jope into your pet's routine alongside it. We recommend giving Jope 8 to 12 hours apart from other supplements to ensure optimal absorption and effectiveness.

Yes, and yes, we recommend not starting before 6 months.