My dog not only has food allergies, but also suffers from arthritis (she is a Labrador Retriever after all). 

We have tried to use certain joint supplements before, but they all produced heavy allergic reaction in my dog. In fact - that is how we pinpointed that she was very allergic  to beef proteins.

My vet who, is an expert in allergies, found something based on a type of shellfish. It's a mussel called perna (perna canaliculus) which contains high concentration of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) - about 12%. It also contains anti-inflammatory compounds making it ideal for dogs with joint problems. 

Perna is found off the shores of New Zealand where it has been consumed by local populations for centuries. Reported incidence of arthritic and rheumatic disorders was extremely low in coastal areas of New Zealand compared to those living inland - suggesting high probability of perna mussel influence on these disorders.

There are studies that confirm the perna mussel properties. I can tell you that it does work for my dog. She has had no reaction to these pills and, even though I started her on a low dose, I can tell the difference.

Usually she develops sore shoulders after swimming or if she is jumping around in deep snow. That is still happening, but she recovers much quicker. Next step is to try a pill with higher concentration of these compounds and see if it helps even more.

My vet recommended  Glyco-Flex (I-II-II) and that is what I have been using, but I am sure there are many other products that contain the perna mussel though. My dog actually likes the taste as well. She is receiving it as a treat :)

For a bit more more information about Perna take a look at its WikipediA entry. For more information about the Glyco-Flex - click here.

Signing off ... Woof!

PS. I am in no way affiliated nor in any way connected to the company maiking the Glyco-Flex pills - I am just a happy user of one of their products. I cannot say anything about their other products.