A pet food product and process for producing the pet food product for use in maintenance of healthy joints and alleviation of arthritic symptoms in companion animals, the pet food comprising an effective amount of an active extract of Perna canaliculus. The extract can be either a powder or lipid extract. Preferably in an amount that provides for a dosage range of generally 0.18 to 114 mg of a powder extract/kg of body weight/day in a companion animal or an amount of generally 1.5 to 1000 mg of a powder extract of Perna canaliculus per 400 kcal of pet food product.