Is your lab suffering from joint pain or arthritis? You’re not alone. Members of our I Love My Lab Facebook community recently shared their insights on the following question: What food would you recommend for a Lab with arthritis? We received hundreds of helpful replies, and below we have compiled some of the best responses.

Best Dog Foods for a Lab with Arthritis or Joint Pain

It’s always best to talk to your vet about these or any issues. They will provide you with what’s best for your pet’s unique needs. A change in diet may not be the answer for this situation. My black lab started limping (she’s 10), active and healthy. Turned out she had anaplasmosis caused by a deer tick. Being black, I never saw the tick. Yes, she is on a proven tick preventative, but the collar may have slipped, causing a gap between the collar and her skin, which would not offer proper protection. Plus, she was found to have arthritis. She is now on a great course of treatment to keep her going for hopefully a long time. And of course, what happened to my pup may not happen to yours, but it’s best to speak to a professional.

Author: Margaret Kingsley B.

Likes: 13

My dog had physical therapy. They recommended a few things to help: muscle & joint cartilage powder, put a scoop of it in the dog food. It’s expensive but appears to have worked; also, GlycoFlex joint support treats. The powder I got was veterinary-approved echos. I believe it’s cheaper on the internet. Good luck

Author: Joanne B.

Likes: 3

My labrador about four years old, started limping; she has a bit of arthritis. We started her on Hempworx 250 CBD oil. Within two weeks, she was not limping at all. We give her CBD twice a day. We did add bone broth to her food. If you do try cbd just remember that cbd as to be pure with no fillers. If you can see through the oil, it’s pure; if not, it won’t work.

Author: Rose Mary L.

Likes: 8

Farmer’s Dog, either already prepared for you or DIY recipes and nutrient packs. Hands down the best!

Author: Katherine R.

Likes: 3

I used Origen……….and Blue Buffalo……..if you can’t eat it it should not be listed as an ingredient

Author: Susan J.

Likes: 1

I used to feed mine Wellness Core Senior, as it was the best joint care and grain-free

Author: Sam P.

Likes: 1

I feed Costco Nature’s Domain salmon and sweet potato, which is grain-free, and my old lab loves it, along with milk bones for treats. He is arthritic, and we walk about 6 miles per day. Got meds from our vet for tough days.

Author: John Y.

Likes: 1

I always cooked my dog food because of allergies, too many fillers in processed foods. I did ground turkey, rice, and frozen mixed veggies. It’s something I heard on tv that they fed to greyhounds. I would cook a big pot full and fill individual servings and freeze, then pull one out every day. Good luck!

Author: Brenda T.

Likes: 1

Our boys are on Purina Joint Mobility RX dog food, Dasuquin Advanced daily, and also Super Snout Lipped Mussel

Author: Carmen Sabine D.

Likes: 0

I used Lintbells. You move in with my labs’ dinner. This, I believe, gave me at least another year, as she started moving better after the first month of tablets. She also had Burgess sensitive dog food

Author: Kevin S.

Likes: 1

We buy the Hills Science Senior food. They have a big range, but we buy the one for older dogs, and it helps with arthritis. It is expensive but worth it. Our lab also has an injection once a month, as well, and she is doing well

Author: Lyn T.

Likes: 0

I give my lab a daily Glucosamine chew, Dasuquin that I get from the vets, and they also recommended adding a salmon oil supplement, and I use Grizzly Salmon Plus. My lab is 61 lb, so she gets two squirts in her morning food and two squirts in her evening food. She eats Fromm Gold senior

Author: Erin G.

Likes: 0

Royal Canin mobility pellets, just 2 cups a day and raw meat, sardines, lactose-free yoghurt etc etc ie never just pellets. My labs also have omega oil, 4cyte, lyprinol, and the older one, gabapentin, twice daily – it has the fewest side effects of the painkillers available.

Author: Sandra E.

Likes: 2

Blue Buffalo senior brand, we use it for our black lab, and it has helped her a lot. I also give her low-dose aspirin a few times a week

Author: Tina B.

Likes: 0

Our 9-year-old male Lab was diagnosed with OCD at the age of 6 months. We put him on Hills Prescription Metabolic Mobility food, recommended by our vet. It has helped keep his weight down as well as promote healthy joints. Highly recommend this product.

Author: Gary B.

Likes: 0

Diamond Naturals’ senior formula is great. My lab had really bad hips, and this food helped her.

Author: Melanie H.

Likes: 0

Our 10 year old Lab has bad arthritis in his front elbows. He has a monthly Librella injection & 3 Umove vet strength tablets daily. He’s doing well but has had septic arthritis flare-ups that require a stay at the vets & he’s put on a drip. We add fresh blueberries, broccoli, ginger & turmeric to his food.

Author: Gill A.

Likes: 0

I give my 8 yr old purina pro plan for seniors (7+), he actually does really well with it. I also give him glucosamine-chondroitin with msm. It has worked exceptionally well for him. Last fall, he could barely get up and walk. Now he’s back to jumping on the couch and running. I get it from Chewy.

Author: Diane C.

Likes: 0

We feed our 11-year-old (this month) female Lab mix Royal Canin 8+ yrs kibble (with glucosamine/chondroitin + MSM + omega 3 We started weekly shots of cartrophen in Mar., then in Apr. 1 mthly cartrophen & 1 mthly Librela shots at our vets.

Author: Cathy S.

Likes: 0

James Wellbeloved Fish Kibble.

Author: Brian R.

Likes: 0

I was curious myself. Maybe this will work. Blue Buffalo Jolly Joints

Author: Joey H.

Likes: 0

Switch to the raw diet. Fillers and additives only make it worse. Get a good joint supplement and fish oils, even better, CBD oil for dogs. Start soon, takes a while to start to help. Poor pup.

Author: Colleen D.

Likes: 0

Science Diet Senior, plus fish oil tablets, and Glucosamine w/Chondroitin & MSM, once a day.

Author: Ernie A.

Likes: 1

Helping Your Lab Stay Active With the Right Diet