Advancing canine mobility with performance minerals
Laura Amundson, Ph.D., Research & Discovery Lead, Global Pet
Smooth walks up the stairs, keeping pace on daily walks, bouncing back quickly after exercise at the park – visible health outcomes like these nourish the bond between people and their pets, and these everyday moments are increasingly used to judge their pet’s overall health status.
When these visible signals of health begin to fade, evaluating nutrition is often one of the first actions. However, the physiological changes that affect movement and recovery begin long before stiffness, hesitation or reduced activity become visible.
The gap between internal biology and outward behavior creates an important opportunity for nutrition to support pets earlier, more consistently and more predictably.
Watch this Petfood Forum Tech Talk, to see new research connecting foundational trace mineral nutrition to the visible movement outcomes pet parents recognize. Essential trace minerals such as zinc, manganese, copper and iron play key roles in immune balance, oxidative stress management, tissue integrity and muscle recovery, all of which directly influence how pets move and recover from everyday activity. The research also shows that not all trace mineral sources deliver the same biological response.
In a structured exercise challenge, dogs fed Zinpro® Performance Minerals® showed a more timely and balanced physiological response, along with stronger metabolic signals associated with efficient recovery. These internal differences matter because they help shape what pet parents eventually see.
Watch the full video to learn how pet-specific research connects mineral source to visible mobility outcomes, and why rethinking minerals can strengthen the nutritional foundation of modern pet food.
FAQ
What makes Zinpro Performance Minerals different from other trace minerals?
Zinpro Performance Minerals are organic trace minerals, which means the mineral is bound to an organic molecule rather than an inorganic salt. Zinpro utilizes a patented technology to create a unique 1:1 amino acid:mineral complex. This structure allows the mineral to use the amino acid transport pathways in the gut, which makes them less vulnerable to interference from nutritional antagonists. As a result, Zinpro Performance Minerals are absorbed predictably, retained effectively and utilized consistently throughout the body.
Why should pet food brands rely on Zinpro Performance Minerals?
Conventional trace mineral sources can vary widely in purity. Many contain unpredictable, high levels of impurities such as heavy metals or excess iron. This variability creates avoidable formulation risk. It also makes it harder for pet food brands to deliver consistent product performance. Zinpro mitigates these issues by using high‑quality starting materials with consistently low contaminant levels. Every lot is held until it passes a complete Positive Release Testing protocol to verify safety, purity and key product specifications. Zinpro ensures full traceability through complete production control in US-based plants, an integrated SAP system, barcoding and Lot ID for all products, and a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for seamless tracking and quality assurance.
Beyond ingredient quality, Zinpro provides a depth of pet‑specific research that is unmatched by other trace mineral suppliers. Controlled studies in dogs and cats show meaningful improvements in mobility, skin and coat appearance, activity levels, paw pad resilience, immune balance and gut health.
How do Zinpro Performance Minerals benefit pets?
Zinpro Performance Minerals support the biological systems that influence visible wellness and day-to-day vitality. Pet-specific studies show that Zinpro Performance Minerals help:
Support skin and coat health. Pets exhibit structurally healthy hair, fast hair regrowth, rich coat color, resilient skin and optimal hair shedding.
Maintain healthy paws. Dogs develop greater paw pad integrity and thickness within a twelve-week feeding period, which supports comfort and movement.
Support healthy mobility. Minerals such as Zinpro® Zinc, Zinpro® Manganese, Zinpro® Iron and Zinpro® Copper contribute to cartilage maintenance, bone development, protein synthesis and balanced movement.
Enhance immune readiness. Pets maintain more balanced immune responses during stress or environmental challenges.
Promote a healthy gut microbiome. Stronger epithelial barrier function creates a better environment for beneficial bacteria.
These benefits help pets feel their best, look better and remain active. They also increase pet parent confidence and satisfaction, which helps strengthen brand loyalty for the products that deliver these results.
Are the most recent peer-reviewed pet studies including Zinpro Performance Minerals available for review?
Zinpro has more than 400 peer-reviewed studies and more than half of all trace mineral research in animals is related to Zinpro. Our latest dog and cat peer-reviewed research can be found below:
Amundson et al., 2025: Effect of Supplemental Trace Mineral Source on Haircoat and Activity Levels in Senior Dogs. This study demonstrated improvements in mobility, vitality, and coat quality in senior dogs. Published in Animals, 15 (5), 686.
Amundson et al., 2025: Effect of Supplemental Trace Mineral Source on Haircoat and Hair Loss in Adult Cats. This research showed a 29% reduction in shed hair and a 37% decrease in skin dander. Published in Animals, 15 (18), 2662.
Timlin et al., 2025: Gait, Skin and Coat, and Plasma Cytokine Changes in Response to Exercise and Trace Mineral Source. This study explored the benefits of trace minerals on mobility and overall health in dogs. Published in Journal of Animal Science, 104 (2026), skaf361.Manuscript in Progress, 2025: Effect of Trace Mineral Source on Digestibility and Stress Response in Adult Labrador Retrievers. This study focuses on stress response and digestibility in dogs.
