Buyer’s Guide For Dog Supplements (updated November 2024)

Dog Hip & Joint Info

Mobility issues, stiffness, soreness and painful joints are par for the course with aging, for both humans as well as dogs. Just like us, our dogs experience various health challenges as they age with one of the most common degenerative concerns in aging animals being joint disease and associated issues.

There are many strong clinical advancements in treatment options, physical exercises and nutritional dog supplements available to help strengthen, support and maintain strong bones, and lubricated joints in order to relieve occasional joint stiffness and discomfort, and to help assist with mobility. Prevention is better than the cure so catching it early could significantly reduce the chances that this issue stops your pup in its tracks.

Obvious Signs of Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD)

There are often tell-tale signs that will show your dog may be suffering and you need to address their joint health. These include some of the following:

Challenging to jump onto the sofa, bed, or into the car
They lose interest in ‘play’ time
More lethargic and slower to get up from a lying position
Stiffness or lameness in their mobility
Pain and joint swelling
General low mood or a not interested attitude

Typically, dog parents start to become aware of such changes after their dog has had a busy day of exercise or when the weather turns cold. Subtle changes in mobility can be tough to catch if you’re not keeping an eye out for them, so stay alert. Any changes or just general slowing down in activity should be a red flag to understand that your dog needs some additional nutritional support and it may be time to introduce a daily dietary supplement.

Causes of DJD and Joint Issues

Joint issues are very common in dogs and the underlying cause may not always be understood. There are some breeds of dogs (particularly large breeds such as German Shepherd dogs) that are predisposed to joint conditions because their heavy bones put a lot of stress on the joints. Exercise is important for dogs’ physical and mental health, but abnormally high amounts of wear and tear can lead to injuries or deterioration of the cartilage – finding the balance is essential for your dog’s health. Some diseases, such as diabetes or long-term use of medications like steroids, can increase likelihood of DJD or joint issues.

Unfortunately, a lot of the prescription medication for dogs that is currently available on the market presents side effects, so many dog owners are opting more and more for natural health supplements to overcome the challenging symptoms of joint issues in their dogs. However, there are many supplements out there that don’t actually work. That is until now!

Given the right formula, from a quality manufacturer that has based their product upon scientific research and clinical data, there are dog hip & joint supplements out there that will do exactly what they say they will with many dogs experiencing incredible results. Our research has shown that given the correct dosage and potency of specific key ingredients – you can help your dog live a long, healthy life free from joint pain and reduced mobility.

There are several key ingredients which make a highly effective hip & joint supplement for dogs. These include key ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamins C and E plus several natural herbs such as Yucca schidigera which have been endorsed by many scientists, medical researchers and veterinarians. Clinical studies further support the benefits of such key ingredients with many participants experiencing positive results. These natural ingredients are shining a light and leading the way, where so many others have fallen when it comes to dealing with helping our dogs into their aging years.

There are many exciting advancements in dog food options, veterinary care, and physical activities are helping them live long healthy lives.

Key points to consider when choosing a hip & joint supplement for your dog

Of course, you will be dubious, so were we. Many manufacturers of dog supplements make grand promises of renewed health, only to find out a month later, that there is no real change and you are left with an empty bottle, empty purse, empty promises and an unhappy dog! Don’t dismay – there are some that really do work – you just need to find a genuine product.

As soon as a new product hits the market, dozens of manufacturers appear, almost overnight, to try to jump on board. As a result, consumers need to be on the lookout for many products that are watered down and quite frankly ineffective, promising results that are totally unrealistic and undeliverable.

When choosing a hip & joint supplement for your dog, you should look for a company with a strong reputation that sells a wide range of nutritional natural dietary health supplements. An effective supplement will be formulated using high-quality ingredients that have been proven effective in clinical trials such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Omega-3 and 6 Fatty Acids and Vitamins C and E plus several natural herbs such as Yucca schidigera to name but a few, which will provide the most powerful results.

If you come across a company selling dog hip & joint supplements using strong marketing terms or slogans, or are endorsed by famous celebrities, you should stay clear. If the company and product formula don’t speak for themselves, then nothing else should.

Should you decide that a hip & joint supplement is for your dog, and you would like to try a top-quality product, check out our reviews for a number of joint and hip products that are currently available on the market. We examined numerous products for their ingredients, consumer feedback, business reputation and much more to help you discover which supplements are the real deal! You no longer need to search Google for your answers, no more guesswork, we have done all the hard work for you.

What makes a hip & joint supplement for dogs effective?

The secret is simply in the formula! Using the correct dosage and potency of clinically-proven key ingredients will help achieve results like nothing else. Key ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Omega-3 and 6 Fatty Acids and Vitamins C and E plus several natural herbs such as Yucca schidigera have been shown to promote healthy joints in dogs.

Our recommended choice stands above and beyond the competition, we think you will agree. The company’s excellent reputation, high-quality product, external independent monitoring, and testing, coupled with an incredible money-back guarantee policy, makes this a formula that you are going to want to take a closer look at.

Pet Report

APPROVED

Rating: Excellent

✓ Effectiveness

✓ Potency

✓ Money Back Guarantee

✓ Value

✓ Consumer Feedback

✓ Company Reputation

Approved Science Pets Hip & Joint Chews For Dogs

If you are lucky enough to be a dog owner, then you are going to want to do everything you can to keep them mobile and agile for many years to come. Approved Science Pet Hip & Joint Chews For Dogs is something that deserves your undivided attention. Of all the pet supplements currently available on the market, this is the one that deserves a closer look and very likely, the one that will change your dog’s life!

It contains the highest quality, clinically-proven ingredients for supporting healthy joints and prevents deterioration as they age. If your dog is already suffering this can also help address symptoms by reducing inflammation and strengthening cartilage and bones. Each ingredient was handpicked and this was the only product we found that contains at least 500 mg Glucosamine which is clinically proven to promote mobility. Moreover, it contains other key ingredients such as MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Omega-3 and 6, vitamins, and antioxidants for targeting joint health at its source. It does not contain any additives or preservatives and is totally 100% safe to use with no long-term side effects.

Quality: Approved Science Pets Hip & Joint Chews For Dogs contains high-grade, natural, clinically-verified ingredients that are GMP certified.

Reputation: Their reputation is top quality. This manufacturer has several third-party monitoring services, including buySAFE, Norton, and Trustee, as well as an A+ rating from the quality monitoring company QualityTrusted.

Money Back Guarantee: Every item sold, is supported by a 60-Day 100% Money Back Guarantee. Such guarantees from manufacturers show strong confidence in their products’ ability to deliver results. Great news for consumers.

What’s more, they are well known in the industry and an established company that provides great customer support service, secure and easy checkout as well as prompt, efficient delivery.

Their commitment to the health industry and consumer is excellent, providing further qualification of efficacy by producing their products in an FDA registered laboratory.

If you are looking for a product that ticks all the boxes for an effective dog hip and joint product, from an established reputable company with an excellent money-back guarantee, this is the supplement for you.

It would be good to note that, due to high demand, Approved Science Pets Hip & Joint Chews For Dogs is often sold out. To avoid having to back order, don’t hesitate to make that purchase when you see it in stock.

See The Full Review

Rating: Good

Pet Naturals Hip + Joint Chews

Pet Naturals Hip + Joint chews are a relatively close contender for the top slot because they contain 4 of the top ingredients that we look for in a top quality supplement. These include Glucosamine HCI (sourced from shrimp and crab), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Chondroitin Sulfate (Porcine sourced), and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C). This was a great start but the small amount of Glucosamine was definitely disappointing. Additionally, while we were pleased to see that they added other ingredients – Manganese and Perna Canaliculus (Green lipped mussels) – we were left wondering why? There is not real evidence to back up the benefits for optimizing joint health in animals. Overall though, we like this manufacturer and feel that they formulated a decent option.

When reviewing this product’s ingredients, we were dismayed that they had chosen to include a huge laundry list of ‘inactive’ ingredients. This always fills us with dread because you never quite know how your dog will react to the product with untested ingredients plus, what kind of results you will get by the watering done of the active ingredients. The price tag is definitely on the low end which would suggest a cheaper quality; that said, it is definitely affordable. Unfortunately, we felt that they were simply lacking some key ingredients such as Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which are known to provide anti-inflammatory benefits, and their formula did not have many positive reviews that we were able to find. They could also have definitely improved the kind of guarantee they provide but we realize that a good guarantee usually comes with a manufacturer’s confidence in the results you will experience so that could explain why.

We appreciated the fact that this supplement offers a full month’s supply (60 chews) and that the price is relatively affordable. It isn’t the cheapest we found but cheap doesn’t always mean quality so when it comes to good quality supplements, most of the time, you get what you pay for. Unlike our top choice, these chews were not engineered specifically for dogs, but rather are more generic. Further, we were shocked to see that there is no clear return policy or exact details of where their product is manufactured. We appreciate total transparency on such matters and would have appreciated this information being clearly displayed on their website.

Click here to read the full review

Rating: OK

VetriScience GlycoFlex Everyday Chews

GlycoFlex by VetriScience sounds like it could well be a fabulous product – the name is great! Well, at least we thought so! It claims to be beneficial for providing joint supporting nutrients in a delicious chicken liver flavored chew for dogs of all ages and size. We were happy to see that this product does contain 500 mg Glucosamine which is key to supporting optimal joint health. However, the amount of active ingredients totals 3 which for sure was surprising, or more to the point, disappointing.

We liked the fact that this product contains large servings of active ingredients plus that they used a trademarked, patented version of them which is indicative of quality however, only 3? We really wondered why. Perhaps there is a cost issue associated with this decision? We were very glad to see they had flavored their chews but remain unsure that chicken liver was the right way to go given that many reviews said that their dogs didn’t like the product. Our biggest red flag was the amount of inactive ingredients they added. A similar laundry list as our #2 choice which makes for startling reading. Such a list has the potential to be dangerous for your pet’s health and is not something to be taken lightly given that these are not clinically tested.

The price is pretty much reflective of what we would expect from a top quality product but we felt that they should and could have added some other key ingredients known to help joints such as Omega-3 or Vitamin E for example. Such ingredients can be the difference between a good product versus an incredibly effective product. While a great many reviews were positive, the negative reviews suggest some dogs just didn’t take to these – we wonder why? Overall, this is a good company and it looks like they have invested in patented blends so we think that their heart is in the right place. Just a few tweaks and it could have reached a higher spot.

Click here to read the full review

What You’ll Discover:

✓Which Hip + Joint supplement for dogs is the BEST BUY and comes with a great GUARANTEE!

✓Which formula and ingredients are the most EFFECTIVE and work the fastest?

✓How NOT to get ripped off! BE AWARE of poor quality and cheap products.

Top 6 Items to Consider:

Ingredients
Cost Per Serving
Product’s Testing Results
Company’s Reputation
Consumer Reviews
Return Policy & Satisfaction Guarantee

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