What is Collagen and How Can It Help My Dog?
Posted by Mary Ida Young on
I’ve been hearing and seeing a lot about collagen in pet foods lately, and as a pet food nutritionist, I decided to look into collagen a little more to see if it is something support wellness and vitality in our 4-legged family members.
It seems like collagen is the cure all for many different conditions in our beloved pets, but do we know why and how it works?
Collagen is a protein, one of the most abundant proteins found in the body. As our pets get older, their ability to produce collagen is decreased. Collagen is all over, in muscles, bones, skin, tendons, blood vessels and even the digestive system, but, most importantly, collagen is a main component of cartilage.
There are 3 types of collagen found in the different areas of the body. All three are important, but work for different parts of the body. Type I & III are excellent for maintenance in skin, muscles and bones. Type II is found in joint & cartilage function.
In tendons and joints, collagen acts as a “glue” that holds the body together. Increasing collagen intake helps provide more “glue” to joints and tendons therefore can support mobility, bone strength and joint flexibility.
In skin and coat, collagen works to “renew” dead cells, creating constant new growth of skin cells and hair follicles to support a healthy, shiny, lustrous and full coat and healthy skin. Collagen also helps to lock in moisture in the skin to keep skin soft and moist.
A dog’s digestive system can also benefit from collagen supplementation, as this complex protein helps to repair cells in the digestive tract. Digestion is key to wellbeing, as that is where almost all the body’s nutrients are absorbed.
Adding an excellent source of collagen to your dog’s daily food intake will not only help increase their vitality and movement but will also help support healthy skin and a shiny coat and may just be that extra protein your pet needs to thrive for many years to come!
Warmly,
Carolyn
To learn about The Missing Link’s Collagen soft chew, see our blog post: https://missinglinkproducts.com/blogs/blog/collagen-care-learn-about/
Carolyn Kennedy is the Director of CK Nutrition, a pet food consultancy dedicated to helping pet food companies around the world. With a passion for pet food and health, Carolyn is always looking at new ingredients and ways to enhance wellbeing; not only for Eddie (3) but for all pets everywhere.
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