The Top 5 Benefits of Curcumin for Dogs

Phytosomal curcumin in particular has been shown to have almost 200% the bioavailability of curcumin alone.

TL;DR: Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric and has been used therapeutically in humans for thousands of years. Recent research has pointed to curcumin’s benefits in dogs, especially in supporting joint health and mobility, oral health, vision, heart function, and healthier inflammatory responses.

If your dog has been less active and agile as he’s grown older, you may wonder if there’s anything you can do to help or if it’s just a natural part of aging. Fortunately, research shows that there is one way — curcumin is a supplement that pets and humans alike are using to support a healthier aging process. 

Curcumin is the primary active compound in turmeric that provides the spice with its characteristically bright golden hue. In the traditional Ayurvedic healing practices originating in India, turmeric is considered a remedy for just about everything, from skin issues to stomach aches and even snake bites (1).  Although curcumin has been used both for cooking and in healing modalities for millennia in humans, its use in dogs is relatively new to the scene. 

With benefits including potent antioxidant activity, antibacterial action, and the ability to harness a healthier inflammatory response, many pet owners have been looking to curcumin as a natural way for their dogs to feel healthier, more mobile, and less inflamed at any age. Let’s take a closer look at what curcumin is, the top benefits of curcumin for dogs, and the best form to take it in to ensure your pup has enough energy and agility to chase after the mailman again like in his younger years.

What Is Curcumin? 

Curcumin is a plant compound known as a phytochemical. Most of curcumin’s benefits stem from its action as an antioxidant that promotes a healthier inflammatory response. Curcumin has been widely researched for its link to supporting cognition, cardiovascular health, joint health and mobility, metabolism, and healthier aging (2). 

However, curcumin on its own has limited bioavailability — meaning our dogs can’t readily absorb and utilize all of it just as it is. Although you could certainly add a few dashes of turmeric powder to Fido’s food bowl, the amount of curcumin found in turmeric is not very high. As turmeric contains only about 3% curcumin, the compound is commonly taken as a supplement (2). 

But, not all supplements are created equal. A novel way to package and deliver curcumin is with phytosomes — complexes of lipid-based compounds called phospholipids and phytochemicals like curcumin. Phytosomes are bilayer carriers that protect curcumin from its issues with low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Curcumin will attach to the hydrophilic (water-loving) head of the phytosome while simultaneously becoming part of the phospholipid portion. As phospholipids are an integral part of cell membranes, this packaging system allows cells to recognize and absorb the curcumin (3). 

In a study published in the journal Molecules, researchers tested how well beagle dogs absorbed different formulations of curcumin. They found that a curcumin-phospholipid complex — AKA a phytosome — increased curcumin’s bioavailability by almost 200% compared to regular ol’ curcumin (4). 

Top 5 Benefits of Curcumin For Dogs

Now that we know what curcumin is and how we can better absorb it, let’s take a look at the top five benefits of curcumin for dogs.

1. Healthier Inflammatory Response

One of curcumin’s most well-known benefits is its ability to support a healthier inflammatory response. Although all dogs need some “good” inflammation — like when their immune systems gather the troops to heal a cut or infection — when they are chronically inflamed, diseases can develop.   

Curcumin supports healthier inflammatory responses through several mechanisms. First, curcumin’s antioxidant properties scavenge for free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which are pro-inflammatory compounds that create oxidative stress that damages cells and DNA (5). 

 In addition, curcumin downregulates or blocks pro-inflammatory signaling molecules called cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukins 1 and 12 (IL-1 and IL-12), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB). Increased NF-kB expression is a leading cause of inflammation, as it activates several other damaging compounds (5). 

Dogs are known to have elevated levels of these cytokines and interleukins when they experience poor heart and joint health, so curcumin may be able to help fight this off (6).

2. Increased Mobility and Joint Health

A healthier inflammatory response is essential for our dogs to maintain strong and mobile joints with age. If your pooch is less likely to play fetch and now more inclined to stay reclined, curcumin may be able to help them get back on their feet (er, paws.) 

As mentioned, curcumin has been found to reduce the activity of several pro-inflammatory compounds, including NFkB, TNF-alpha, IL-8, and cyclooxygenase (COX) — all of which are implicated in joint deterioration (5). 

In a study of dogs with poor joint health, those that were supplemented with a mixture of curcumin, green tea extract, and collagen had reductions in subjective joint pain (as observed by their owners) and improvements in pain at manipulation sites (7). 

Similarly, research with dogs found that a supplement complex of curcumin and other phytochemicals significantly reduced markers on an assessment scale of canine osteoarthritic markers compared to their baseline measures (8). 

3. Improved Oral Health 

Aging dogs tend to have issues with their oral health, including tartar buildup, tooth decay, and inflamed or infected gums. Not only do these issues cause bad breath (if you know, you know!), but they can also lead to poor appetite and reluctance to chew or eat due to pain. 

Because of curcumin’s powerful properties in supporting healthier inflammatory responses, this compound may also be able to promote better canine oral health. 

In a small study of eight beagles with infected gums, supplementing with curcumin every day for three months after intense doggy dentist appointments ​​significantly decreased clinical measures of severe gum infections. Curcumin also reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and other damaging signaling molecules involved with oral health (9). 

4. Vision Support

Even though they can’t tell us they’re no longer seeing 20-20, dogs begin to lose aspects of their vision as they age. Curcumin may be able to help protect our pup’s eyes, as seen in a study published in Science Advances (10). 

In this research with beagle dogs, those who supplemented with curcumin had protection against eye inflammation, irritation, and miosis — excessive pupil constriction that impairs vision (10).

5. Heart and Metabolic Health   

Curcumin may also be able to support cardiovascular and metabolic health in dogs — especially when combined with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). 

Although we don’t have research looking directly at the benefits of curcumin on dogs’ hearts, we do have plenty of studies with humans that can be a good representation. In a meta-analysis combining the results from nine randomized controlled trials, supplemental curcumin improved ten markers of cardiometabolic health, including cholesterol and lipid levels, blood sugar management, inflammatory cytokine activity, and blood pressure (11).

Adding CoQ10 to the supplemental mix may further support heart health. CoQ10 is an essential compound made in the mitochondrial membrane that plays a crucial role in producing energy in the form of ATP — especially for the heart, which has great energetic needs. CoQ10 also acts as an antioxidant and promotes healthier inflammatory responses in the cardiovascular system (12). 

Is Curcumin Safe For Dogs? 

While all of these benefits are great, you may wonder if curcumin is safe for dogs to take. The short and simple answer is: Yes! As we’ve seen in this article, several studies have already looked at the effects of curcumin in dogs, with no significant adverse effects or evidence of toxicity. 

In appropriate doses, curcumin is very safe for dogs. However, keep in mind that excessive amounts can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs. So, in this case, more is not better and stick to the recommended dosage. 

Lastly, as any pet owner can attest, getting dogs to take pills is no easy feat — which is why soft chews are the way to go. For a highly bioavailable method for getting the benefits of curcumin to your pup, we’ve got you covered: try our Mobility chew — a tasty curcumin-loaded soft chew designed with your pet in mind. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric that may support our dogs’ health in several ways, primarily through its antioxidant properties and ability to support healthier inflammatory responses. 

• The most-studied benefits of curcumin in dogs are its ability to support joint health and mobility, oral and eye health, and cardiovascular function. 

• Curcumin is safe for dogs to take in appropriate doses, and a phytosome formulation can help to increase curcumin’s otherwise-poor bioavailability. 

References: 

1. Dey A, De JN. Traditional use of plants against snakebite in the Indian subcontinent: a review of the recent literature. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;9(1):153-174. Published 2011 Oct 2. doi:10.4314/ajtcam.v9i1.20

2. Hewlings SJ, Kalman DS. Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health. Foods. 2017;6(10):92. Published 2017 Oct 22. doi:10.3390/foods6100092

3. Barani M, Sangiovanni E, Angarano M, et al. Phytosomes as Innovative Delivery Systems for Phytochemicals: A Comprehensive Review of Literature. Int J Nanomedicine. 2021;16:6983-7022. Published 2021 Oct 15. doi:10.2147/IJN.S318416

4. Song W, Chen X, Dai C, et al. Comparative Study of Preparation, Evaluation, and Pharmacokinetics in Beagle Dogs of Curcumin β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex, Curcumin Solid Dispersion, and Curcumin Phospholipid Complex. Molecules. 2022;27(9):2998. Published 2022 May 7. doi:10.3390/molecules27092998

5. He Y, Yue Y, Zheng X, Zhang K, Chen S, Du Z. Curcumin, inflammation, and chronic diseases: how are they linked?. Molecules. 2015;20(5):9183-9213. Published 2015 May 20. doi:10.3390/molecules20059183

6. Rubio CP, Saril A, Kocaturk M, et al. Changes of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in dogs. BMC Vet Res. 2020;16(1):433. Published 2020 Nov 10. doi:10.1186/s12917-020-02650-7

7. Comblain F, Barthélémy N, Lefèbvre M, et al. A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract in owner's dogs. BMC Vet Res. 2017;13(1):395. Published 2017 Dec 20. doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1317-8

8. Corbee RJ. The efficacy of a nutritional supplement containing green-lipped mussel, curcumin, and blackcurrant leaf extract in dogs and cats with osteoarthritis. Vet Med Sci. 2022;8(3):1025-1035. doi:10.1002/vms3.779

9. Deng J, Golub LM, Lee HM, et al. Chemically-Modified Curcumin 2.24: A Novel Systemic Therapy for Natural Periodontitis in Dogs. J Exp Pharmacol. 2020;12:47-60. Published 2020 Feb 10. doi:10.2147/JEP.S236792

10. Ganugula R, Arora M, Lepiz MA, et al. Systemic anti-inflammatory therapy aided by double-headed nanoparticles in a canine model of acute intraocular inflammation. Sci Adv. 2020;6(35):eabb7878. Published 2020 Aug 26. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abb7878

11. Ashtary-Larky D, Rezaei Kelishadi M, Bagheri R, et al. The Effects of Nano-Curcumin Supplementation on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(7):1015. Published 2021 Jun 24. doi:10.3390/antiox10071015

Zozina VI, Covantev S, Goroshko OA, Krasnykh LM, Kukes VG. Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Current State of the Problem. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2018;14(3):164-174. doi:10.2174/1573403X14666180416115428