The Truth About Muscle Building Powders for Dogs

The Truth About Muscle Building Powders for Dogs (Why They’re Not the Full Answer!)

If your dog has lost muscle due to age, arthritis, surgery, or injury, you’ve probably noticed that many people advise for you to purchase a muscle-building powder or supplement for your dog.

Although they are advertised as a way to improve strength and mobility, the truth is: 

Muscle doesn't come from powders.
Muscle comes from exercise.

This truth could be leading dog parents away from the strength they so desperately want for their dog!

What Do Muscle Powders Actually Do?

These products usually contain protein and/or amino acids (like leucine or L-carnitine).

They’re designed to give your dog the ingredients needed to build muscle.
But...Supplying the ingredients isn’t enough.
There has to be a reason for the body to use them.

How Muscle Growth Actually Works

Muscle only grows when it's put under stress - like during strengthening exercises. That stress creates microscopic damage in the muscle, which triggers the body to rebuild the tissue stronger than before.

Without that challenge, the body has no reason to add more muscle - even if protein and nutrients are available.

When Might a Powder Help?

Muscle-building supplements can help to provide the protein for dogs who aren’t getting enough protein from food. For example, for dogs that are eating less and losing weight or for rescue dogs who are found malnourished.  

Generally speaking though, our dogs should get enough protein from their diet, so adding more doesn't make sense!

So What Should You Do?

If your dog is losing strength, stiffness is increasing, or their movement is changing, the most effective treatment is not in a powder. It’s in movement.

There are easy, safe, effective and affordable strengthening exercises in The Dog Rehab App!

Kylie's final word

My POV is that dogs should get enough protein from their diet if we're feeding them correctly so any additional protein powders or supplements shouldn't be necessary (or helpful!).

If dog parents put all their hope in a powder to rebuild muscle, they will be very disappointed with the results. 

Dogs losing muscle need strength training!

And it's easy, just 5-10 minutes of strengthening exercises a day could change your dog's life!

Kylie 💙🐾

Physiotherapist | Exercise advocate for dogs | Dog momma to 13 year old Freja