# Beyond Building Blocks: How to Calm the Immune System's Attack on Your Dog's Joints > Table of Contents Why Building Blocks Aren't Enough What is Oral Tolerance? How Does the Immune System Attack Joints? What is UC-II Collagen? What Do th... --- **Published:** January 15, 2026 | **Author:** Sensopet Team **Tags:** canine arthritis treatment, immune system joints, joint inflammation dogs, Joint Supreme, oral tolerance dogs, osteoarthritis dogs, UC-II dogs UK, undenatured collagen --- --- ## Table of Contents - Why Building Blocks Aren't Enough - What is Oral Tolerance? - How Does the Immune System Attack Joints? - What is UC-II Collagen? - What Do the Clinical Studies Show? - Why Joint Supreme Uses Both Approaches --- When we think about joint supplements, we often focus on "building block" ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin, which help to repair cartilage. But what if a significant part of your dog's joint discomfort isn't just from wear and tear, but from their **own immune system mistakenly attacking the cartilage**? This is a common factor in joint degradation, and addressing it requires a far more sophisticated approach. --- ## Why Building Blocks Aren't Enough Traditional joint supplements focus on providing raw materials for cartilage repair: - **Glucosamine** - a building block for cartilage matrix - **Chondroitin** - helps retain water in cartilage - **Hydrolysed collagen** - structural protein for cartilage These ingredients are valuable, but they only address **half the problem**. If your dog's immune system is actively breaking down cartilage faster than it can be rebuilt, you're fighting a losing battle. The key question is: **why is the immune system attacking the joints in the first place?** --- ## What is Oral Tolerance? Deep within your dog's small intestine lies a specialised part of the immune system. Its job is to learn what is food and what is a threat. It develops a "tolerance" to harmless proteins that pass through the gut, telling the body's defences not to attack them. This remarkable process is called **oral tolerance**. ### How Oral Tolerance Works - **Detection:** Immune cells in the gut encounter dietary proteins - **Recognition:** The immune system identifies them as harmless - **Training:** T-cells are "educated" to tolerate these proteins - **Signalling:** Messages are sent throughout the body to stand down This process is essential for preventing the body from attacking itself - a principle we can harness for joint health. --- ## How Does the Immune System Attack Joints? Cartilage is made primarily of **Type II collagen**. In some dogs, as cartilage breaks down naturally with age or injury, the immune system can mistakenly identify exposed fragments of this collagen as an "enemy". The result? An **inflammatory attack on the dog's own joint tissue**, further degrading the cartilage in a destructive cycle: - **Step 1:** Cartilage begins to wear or becomes damaged - **Step 2:** Collagen fragments are exposed to the immune system - **Step 3:** Immune cells mistake these fragments as foreign invaders - **Step 4:** Inflammation attacks the joint, causing more damage - **Step 5:** More collagen is exposed, perpetuating the cycle This is where a groundbreaking ingredient comes into play: **Undenatured Type II Collagen (UC-II)**. --- ## What is UC-II Collagen? UC-II is a patented, unique form of collagen derived from chicken sternum. Crucially, it is **undenatured**, meaning it is preserved in its original, biologically active triple-helix form. ### How UC-II Works (Differently from Hydrolysed Collagen) When a tiny, precise dose of this undenatured collagen is ingested: - **Journey:** UC-II travels to the specialised immune region in the gut - **Recognition:** Immune cells recognise it as the same protein found in cartilage - **Education:** They learn that this collagen is "friendly" tissue - **Signalling:** Messages travel throughout the body - **Result:** The immune system down-regulates its attack on joint cartilage **This is not about rebuilding cartilage; it's about stopping the destructive cycle of inflammation at its source.** --- ## What Do the Clinical Studies Show? The results of UC-II's unique mechanism are remarkable. In a landmark clinical study on dogs with osteoarthritis, UC-II was shown to be **significantly more effective** than a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. ### Study Results Measurement UC-II Glucosamine + Chondroitin Pain reduction (limb manipulation) 91% 25% Decrease in lameness after exercise 78% 32% Overall pain improvement 62% 29% UC-II works differently, and for many dogs, **it works better**. --- ## Why Joint Supreme Uses Both Approaches At Sensopet, we believe in creating formulas that address the **complete picture** of joint health. That's why **Joint Supreme** is one of the few supplements in the UK market that combines the best of both worlds: ### The Dual-Action Approach Approach Ingredient Function **Repair & Rebuild** 2000 Dalton Hydrolysed Collagen Provides building blocks and signals cartilage repair **Calm & Protect** UC-II (Undenatured Type II Collagen) Stops immune-mediated cartilage destruction This dual-action approach provides the building blocks for repair while simultaneously helping to halt the immune-mediated destruction of cartilage. **It's the most comprehensive, science-led approach to joint care available.** --- ## Give Your Dog Complete Joint Protection If your dog's joint supplement is only focusing on rebuilding, it's only doing half the job. Give them the complete protection they need. **Joint Supreme** delivers: - Precision hydrolysed collagen for cartilage repair - Clinically validated UC-II for immune modulation - Additional support ingredients for comprehensive care - UK-formulated and veterinary-informed Experience Joint Supreme --- ## Sources - PMC - UC-II Clinical Study in Dogs with Osteoarthritis - PMC - Oral Tolerance and Autoimmune Disease - ScienceDirect - Undenatured Type II Collagen Review - PMC - Collagen-Induced Oral Tolerance in Arthritis - VCA Hospitals - Osteoarthritis in Dogs --- *This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace veterinary advice. If your dog is experiencing joint problems, arthritis, or mobility issues, please consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.* --- --- **Related:** [Joint Supreme](/products/joint-supreme) [Biome Vitality](/products/the-biome-vitality) *[Sensopet](https://sensopet.co.uk) - Premium dog supplements*