How Undenatured Type II Collagen Stops Dog Arthritis Naturally

By Dr. Andrew Jones November 26, 2025 0 Comment

This Collagen Stopped Dog Arthritis

Today I want to talk about something many of you have been asking about. What exactly is undenatured type 2 collagen, also known as UC-II, and how can it help dogs and cats with arthritis?

Dr. Jones’ Undenatured Type 2 Collagen Joint Care Chews for Dogs

Dr. Jones’ Joint Care Chews—an expertly formulated blend of proven joint-support nutrients, anti-inflammatory botanicals, and a breakthrough new ingredient: Natural Undenatured Type II Collagen. This unique combination targets the root causes of joint discomfort, supports cartilage repair, enhances flexibility, and helps protect your dog’s joints from age-related wear.

Tula’s Arthritis and Why I Looked Into UC-II

I have an older dog, Tula. She is fifteen and a half now. She has obvious signs of osteoarthritis.
On the exam table you can see her rear legs sliding inward. She has trouble putting weight on them. There is muscle loss and secondary joint degeneration.

So I am always searching for natural ways to help her manage pain and inflammation.
Today I want to highlight a remedy that has been showing real promise: UC-II collagen.

What Is Undenatured Type 2 Collagen?

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your pet’s body. There are different types, and type 2 collagen is part of the smooth cartilage that covers the ends of your dog’s or cat’s joints.

In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones glide smoothly because of this cartilage.
In arthritis, that smooth layer is damaged or lost. The result is bone rubbing on bone, swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.

UC-II collagen is special because it is not heated or processed. It stays in its natural form, which is important for how it works inside the body.

And yes, it comes from something very familiar: chicken.

Where Does UC-II Actually Come From?

It comes from the sternal cartilage of chickens.
This is the shiny white cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone.

Most people throw this part away. The butcher sometimes gives it out for almost nothing. In fact, I picked up two large organic chicken carcasses for under eight dollars.

This is where the UC-II collagen comes from.
It is ground, concentrated, and kept undenatured. No high heat, no high pressure, no processing.

This is the supplement.

What the Research Says

UC-II collagen has been studied thoroughly.
There are nearly 20 published studies showing clear benefits for decreasing pain and inflammation and improving mobility in osteoarthritis.

When researchers compared UC-II to common joint supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, UC-II often performed better.

One of the best studies used a measurement called vertical peak force, which shows how much weight a dog can put on a painful leg. More force means less pain.

Dogs given UC-II collagen for just 15 days showed a noticeable improvement. They were able to put more weight on their affected limbs, meaning they felt better.

How UC-II Works Inside the Body

When your dog or cat eats UC-II collagen, it reaches the small intestine.
There is an area called Peyer’s patches where immune cells live.

These immune cells recognize the undenatured collagen.
This triggers an important reaction.
Regulatory T-cells become activated and help shut down part of the inflammatory process.

This helps reduce the action of:

Pro-inflammatory B-cells
Cytotoxic T-cells

The end result is less inflammation and less pain.

This same type of collagen has been well studied in people too, and the results are very promising.

An Affordable Way to Try It

If you cannot afford a supplement, you can still get UC-II collagen directly from your butcher. Ask for chicken sternum. It is inexpensive and often overlooked.

I chopped some up for Tula in this video.
And yes, she ate it.

Joint pain relief for about thirty cents.

Just be sure to wash your hands after handling raw meat. I certainly did.

Should You Consider UC-II for Your Pet?

If you have:

an older dog
a dog with arthritis
a stiff senior cat

then UC-II collagen is worth considering. It is safe, effective, and supported by real studies.

There are many great natural joint support options. UC-II is one of the newer ones that has shown strong results.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for joining me in this edition of Veterinary Secrets.
I hope this gives you a clearer picture of how UC-II collagen works and why it may help your dog or cat feel better.

And now my cat Cassian is about to enjoy some chicken sternum too.