Can Collagen Benefit Pets?

Can giving my dog collagen really help?

The benefits of collagen are not limited to the human body. In fact, just like humans, collagen accounts for 30% of a dog's total protein, making it the most abundant protein in your dog’s body! The same is true of cats, horses, and whatever other mammalian pets you might have. Collagen is crucial to maintaining the structure and elasticity of your pets' skin, ligaments, joints, muscles, and connective tissues. In short, mammals are no strangers to the importance of collagen for their overall health.

Just like their owners, dogs tend to produce less and less collagen as they age which can bring about skin irritations and conditions, as well as problems with bones and joint health. Unflavored collagen supplements are a completely safe way to boost your dog's overall health and wellness from puppy through until old age.

The Benefits of Collagen for Canines

Our pets may share many of the same benefits as humans when it comes to collagen supplementation. It can help them to look and feel as healthy as they did when they were pups!

• Healthy Joints: We all know that pets age much quicker than humans do and   joint pain can sneak in early in their lives. As dogs age, they become more and more susceptible to ligament tears, hip dysplasia, and overall joint pain. A 2014 study conducted on Labrador retrievers found that administering hydrolyzed collagen along with hyaluronic acid, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and gamma oryzanol help to alleviate the symptoms and lessen the occurrence of elbow dysplasia, a common deformity of the elbow joint. A 2017 study also found that collagen can also help to manage osteoarthritis in adult dogs. Joint supplements for dogs are recommended as early as three months old to support enhanced joint mobility well into their adult years.
• Strong Teeth and Nails: Collagen helps to fortify bones, skin and teeth in both humans and dogs. This is especially helpful for older pets who have dental issues or brittle nails.

• Shiny Coat and Healthy Skin: Collagen comprises the majority of a dog's skin. Collagen supplements can boost collagen production in the dermis to promote hair growth and coat health. I swear my dog knows when he is looking handsome and it makes him more active and playful! If your dog is like mine, a healthy coat might even help boost their mood as well!
• Healthy Digestion: As with humans, gut health can be compromised by your dog's diet, stress levels, and antibiotics. It can even cause leaky gut syndrome in which the gut lining becomes permeated and allows bacteria to leak into the bloodstream. For dogs and humans alike, when we take collagen supplements it gets broken down into its amino acids glycine and proline. These amino acids have been found to help seal the digestive system and soothe digestion even for sensitive stomachs. This can also help with weight management!
• Manage Anxiety: The gut-brain connection exists in our canine friend as well! Having a healthy gut can help to produce more serotonin and manage anxiety!

Collagen has very minimal side effects with little to no risk of toxicity. For the below recipes, we'll help you find the right dosage for your pet of any size.

What type of collagen should I choose?

If you're already taking an unflavored non-GMO collagen supplement, you can share a couple of scoops with your pet! There's no need to buy a special supplement just for them, human-grade collagen is also safe for animals.

There are many different types of collagen on the market and they come from various sources, which include: marine, chicken, eggs, and bovine collagen peptides from cows. We recommend our unflavored marine collagen over other sources because it is the most bioavailable source on the market. Additionally, it is also a sustainable choice as it is made from wild-caught cod in the pristine waters of the North Atlantic. Beef gelatin powder is another versatile source of collagen protein that you can add to your dog’s nutrition and it can act as a thickener in high protein and homemade dog treats and snacks!

Puppy-Friendly Collagen Recipes

You can kill two birds with one stone by cooking a bone broth that humans and dogs alike will love! Sound a little weird? Don’t worry. Bone broth naturally contains bovine collagen because it is cooked using the bones and cartilage of cows. We like this recipe! Bone broth can be served on its own or incorporated into the below recipes.

Gummy Beef Gelatin Treats:

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This recipe uses bone broth, beef gelatin, and turmeric to boost your dog's internal collagen production. It's easy to make and your pet will love it! You can pour the gel into silicone molds or into a shallow pan. Once it sets, either pop them out of the mold or use a butter knife to slice them up into bite-sized treats. These are likely to become your dog's new favorite treat.

​Ingredients:​​​

3/4 cup bone broth (recipe above)
2 tbspAmandean Beef Gelatin Powder
1/8 tsp turmeric

Instructions:

• Add beef gelatin powder to an empty cup
• Mix 1/4 cup of bone broth into the powder and let sit.
• In a separate small saucepan, pour in the remaining bone broth
• Stir in turmeric
• Bring to a boil, then remove from heat
• Combine the gelatin-infused bone broth with the hot bone broth and whisk together
• Pour into a silicone mold or shallow pan
• Refrigerate for at least 3 hours or until set
• Share with your pet within a week or freeze to use later!

Peanut Butter Collagen Treats
I've never met a dog who didn't love peanut butter! Amandean's marine collagen powder is tasteless so you can entice your pet with healthy, peanut butter flavored treats! These are also gluten-free!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1/4 cup Amandean Marine Collagen Powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (We recommend the all-natural kind with no added sugars)
• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 375 F
• Line a baking sheet with lightly greased parchment paper
• Mix the oat flour, collagen, and baking soda in a bowl
• Add in the pumpkin, PB, and eggs and combine until it forms a batter
• Form the batter into bite-sized "cookies"
• Bake for 15-18 minutes
• Store in an airtight container

As a dog owner, I'm learning that prioritizing your dog's health should start as a puppy - they grow up so fast! Collagen is crucial to their bone, dental, joint, and skin health at any age. Sharing a little collagen can promote a long healthy life for the owner and pet.

Summary Points:

Just like their owners, dogs tend to produce less and less collagen as they age.

A lack of collagen in dogs can result in skin irritations and a dull coat, as well as problems with bones and joint health.

Collagen supplements can boost collagen production in the dermis to promote hair growth and coat health.

There are many different types of collagen on the market that come from a variety of animal sources such as fish, chicken, eggs, and bovine collagen peptides from cows.

Two delicious collagen recipes for home-made dog treats.

Article References:

1. https://draxe.com/pet-health/collagen-for-dogs/
2. https://iheartdogs.com/5-reasons-dogs-need-collagen-in-their-diet/
3. https://joypetproducts.com/how-much-collagen-for-dogs/
4. https://blog.homesalive.ca/collagen-for-dogs
5. https://unboundwellness.com/homemade-dog-treats/
6. https://www.dalmatiandiy.com/homemade-gelatin-gummy-dog-treats/