Managing Lifelong Spinal Arthritis in Dogs: Is Medication the Only Option?

Dogs born with, or developing, spinal abnormalities often face a lifelong risk of degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis). Structural changes within the spine place abnormal mechanical stress on surrounding joints, leading to chronic inflammation, cartilage deterioration, and ongoing pain.

In many cases, management relies on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Onsior®, alongside adjunct pain relief such as gabapentin. These medications are highly effective and often essential for maintaining comfort. However, long-term use can be associated with potential side effects, particularly involving the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and liver, meaning ongoing veterinary monitoring is important.

This often leads owners to ask whether there is anything more that can be done — particularly for dogs facing lifelong conditions.

Increasingly, the answer lies in taking a broader, longer-term view of joint health

What We Can Learn from Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is another chronic, progressive skeletal disorder where joint instability, inflammation, and cartilage breakdown drive pain over time. In these cases, long-term management has evolved beyond medication alone, with nutritional joint supplementation now widely used as part of a multimodal approach.

A Broader Long-Term Management Strategy

For dogs with lifelong spinal arthritis, the most effective outcomes are often seen when management is multimodal, combining:

• Veterinary-prescribed medication
• Evidence-based nutritional supplementation
• Weight management
• Controlled exercise and supportive physical therapies, such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy (aqua therapy), core-strengthening exercises, and environmental adaptations to reduce strain on the spine

These non-pharmaceutical interventions can help maintain muscle strength, support joint stability, and reduce mechanical stress on affected areas, all of which play an important role in long-term comfort and mobility.

By addressing inflammation, immune response, and cartilage health together, it may be possible to improve long-term comfort while reducing reliance on medication over time.

When it comes to nutritional supplementation, one of the most extensively researched ingredients in this area is Green Lipped Mussel.

More about Green Lipped Mussel

Green Lipped Mussel contains a unique combination of:

• Omega-3 fatty acids, including ETA (eicosatetraenoic acid)
• Glycosaminoglycans, which support cartilage and synovial fluid
• Naturally occurring anti-inflammatory compounds

Clinical studies in dogs with osteoarthritis have shown that long-term supplementation with Green Lipped Mussel can help reduce inflammatory joint pain and improve mobility. In some cases, this has allowed a reduction in NSAID and adjunct pain medication use, which may in turn reduce the risk of medication-related side effects.

This approach — combining long-term nutritional joint support with veterinary-prescribed medication to manage inflammation while protecting joint structures — closely mirrors what is now standard in hip dysplasia management and is equally relevant for dogs with spinal arthritis.The FlexSprinkle formulation and the wider Ace Canine FlexJointCare range are designed around this evidence base, providing structured joint support intended for sustained, long-term use alongside veterinary-prescribed treatments as necessary.

Evidence Behind Green Lipped Mussel Quality

A well-cited systematic review of Green Lipped Mussel supplementation highlights that the clinical benefits seen in dogs with osteoarthritis are closely linked to the preservation of its bioactive lipid fractions, particularly ETA and other omega-3 fatty acids, alongside naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans.

The review notes that New Zealand–sourced Green Lipped Mussel, processed using methods that protect these heat-sensitive compounds, is consistently associated with more reliable anti-inflammatory and joint-support effects. This reinforces the importance of both source and processing quality, rather than simply the inclusion of Green Lipped Mussel as an ingredient.

Why Source and Composition Matter

It is important to recognise that not all Green Lipped Mussel ingredients are equivalent. FlexSprinkle from Ace Canine Healthcare uses full-strength GlycOmega® PLUS Green Lipped Mussel, a grade that retains both the lipid (fat) fraction and the overall inclusion level required for joint benefit.
Full-strength Green Lipped Mussel can be up to four times more concentrated than lower-grade alternatives.

In contrast, some Green Lipped Mussel extracts have oils partially removed during processing to produce Green Lipped Mussel oil for human consumption, while other extracts may have lower fat content due to processing methods or harvest timing. As the anti-inflammatory effects of Green Lipped Mussel are closely linked to both fat composition and dose, these factors are of paramount importance when evaluating joint supplements.

Supporting the Immune System to Protect Cartilage

Osteoarthritis is no longer viewed simply as a “wear and tear” condition. Research increasingly recognises it as a partly immune-mediated disease, where the dog’s own immune response contributes to ongoing cartilage breakdown through inflammatory signalling pathways.

This understanding has led to the development of newer joint supplements that aim not only to manage inflammation, but to help slow the progression of cartilage deterioration itself.

Targeted formulations such as our Phylax are designed to work via the dog’s immune system, helping to:

• Modulate immune-drive inflammatory pathways
• Reduce immune-mediated cartilage degradation
• Support long-term joint integrity rather than short-term symptom relief

This approach focuses on preserving cartilage health over time, which is particularly relevant in lifelong conditions such as spinal spondylosis, where cumulative joint damage plays a major role in disease progression.

Rather than replacing medication, immune-modulating joint support may form part of a proactive, long-term management strategy, aimed at protecting joint structure while maintaining comfort and mobility.

We’re Often Asked Questions

We regularly receive questions regarding supplementation for a wide range of canine conditions. If your dog has a condition that falls within the supplement remit of Ace Canine, you are welcome to get in touch.

While supplementation is never a substitute for veterinary care, we are always happy to review the available science and help inform constructive discussions.

This particular topic began as a question about a dog affected by spinal spondylosis alongside a chronic skin condition, highlighting how frequently joint health overlaps with wider systemic issues.

Please email your question to:

support@ace-canine.com