A Detailed Guide to Green-Lipped Mussels for Dogs

I’ve been giving my dogs green-lipped mussels for years because everyone said they were great, and they show up in a lot of joint supplements. But as my senior dog started slowing down, I wanted more than “because people say so.” I took a deep dive into the research to see if green-lipped mussels actually live up to the hype—or if they’re just an expensive add-on.

Spoiler: I reordered the GLM powder.

GLM contains a mix of nutrients that support joints, including:

A well-known dog study used a GLM dosing plan in the range of 20-49 mg per kg of body weight per day (a “loading dose” for 10 days, then reduced to half).

GLM contains eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), which is a rarer omega-3 associated with anti-inflammatory activity, and helps support the body’s natural inflammatory response, and is especially helpful for joint comfort and mobility.

In my research, I was blown away to learn that ETA is superior to the DHA/EPA found in fish and fish oil. And ETA helps prevent the buildup of Omega-6 (pro-inflammatory) fatty acids in the body.

GLM isn’t only “omega-3.” Whole GLM powders contain protein, fat, minerals (ash), and moisture, plus many natural compounds working together. For example, one whole-meat GLM powder analysis reported about 41.4% protein, 10.1% fat, 10.7% ash, and 7% moisture (with the remainder mostly carbohydrates).

Ash? The ash in green-lipped mussels represents their natural mineral content, including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and trace minerals. These minerals help support bone strength, cartilage health, muscle function, and normal joint movement.

Think of GLM as:

Whole-food nutrition varies by harvest, season, and processing. That’s normal with real food.

I have two sources of green-lipped mussels - both raw/whole mussels and powder - but, locally, I can only find blue-lipped mussels. So, what’s the difference?

What are GAGs? GAGs (glycosaminoglycans) in green-lipped mussels help support healthy joints. They include compounds like chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, which are natural parts of cartilage and joint fluid. These nutrients help cushion and lubricate joints and support normal movement and flexibility.

Bottom line: Blue mussels can be a great food. GLM is the one most often used as a targeted joint supplement, mainly because of its unique lipid profile (including ETA) and how commonly it’s studied/marketed for mobility support.

There are two common forms:

Because whole mussels vary a lot in size, most research-based dosing is easiest with powder. Because of this, I stopped buying whole mussels and now only give my dogs the powder. The powder is less expensive and easier to feed with intention.

A clinical dog study used a loading dose for 10 days, then half that amount as a maintenance dose. The dose range worked out to 20–49 mg/kg/day during loading.

Loading (first 10 days): 20–49 mg per kg body weight, once daily
Maintenance (after day 10): half of the loading dose

Here’s a practical “by dog size” guide using the same research range:

How to use this: pick a spot in the lower-to-middle part of the range unless your vet tells you otherwise. Of course, if your product label gives a dose, follow the label first—because powders aren’t all the same strength.

Measurement conversions: the dosage varies online, using teaspoons. For this article, I’m using the following conversion:

Whole mussels are harder to “dose perfectly,” but you can use them as a steady topper.

One human nutrition study noted 3 g/day of whole-meat GLM powder was “achievable through diet,” roughly equivalent to 1–2 mussels per day (showing that a “few mussels” can be a meaningful amount).

Use this as a common-sense starting point:

If your dog is sensitive, start smaller and increase slowly.

Yes - mostly because of stomach upset and extra fat/calories, not because GLM is “poison.”

Too much can cause:

Rule of thumb: If poop gets loose, back down.

Look for:

GLM’s beneficial marine lipids are sensitive to heat and oxidation. Lower-heat methods like freeze-drying are often used to help preserve bioactive compounds. Cooked mussels, which I’ve seen in many stores, aren’t the best option for dogs.

Especially if your dog has allergies:

I purchase GLM powder through a local raw food co-op. Two excellent brands are Super Snouts Joint Powder and Four Leaf Rover Hip & Joint.

Practical take: If you’re feeding mussels as a topper, plain cooked is often the safer choice. If you want consistent joint support, a reputable GLM powder is usually the easiest to dose and store.

Food-safety risk: I’ve been feeding raw green lipped mussels for several years. As a raw feeder, the “food-safety risk” warnings don’t scare me, because my dogs haven’t had an issue with eating raw meat or fish. But it’s worth mentioning, because pet parents who are concerned about raw fish might choose cooked mussels, when they should reach for the powder instead.

No. Although garlic is safe for dogs, that doesn’t mean dogs should consume garlic sauce, which is salty and buttery - extra risky for sensitive stomachs.

Storage depends on whether they’re live in shell, shucked, or cooked.

At home: I’ve never fed live mussels in the shell, but if I did, I’d follow the safer end of the guidelines and use them within 1–3 days of purchase if possible.

At home: aim for 1–3 days.

Rare, but possible. Dogs with shellfish allergy should avoid GLM.
First time tip: try a tiny amount and watch for itching, facial swelling, hives, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Mild stomach upset can happen, especially if you start high. Start low, go slow.

Raw/undercooked shellfish can carry germs (including Vibrio). Public health agencies warn that eating raw shellfish can make people very sick and emphasize that thorough cooking kills germs. Dogs can get foodborne illness too - especially seniors, puppies, or immune-compromised dogs.

With any marine product, quality control matters. Choose reputable brands that test and use safe handling. This is another reason I prefer established GLM supplement companies.

Talk to your vet before using GLM if your dog:

GLM powder and functional mushrooms are the only supplements I give to my dogs daily. The functional mushrooms only have a 12-hour life in the system (so I give a blend twice daily), and GLM powder has been magical in addressing Zoey’s arthritis. And the benefits of GLM powder are so impressive, I give it to all of my dogs - even one-year-old Buffy.