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Unfortunately, age creeps up on all of us, even our dogs. The signs can be very subtle and easily missed while we go about our daily lives.
Thanks to modern veterinary science and an increased understanding of their needs, our dogs are living longer. The average life expectancy of dogs increased from 10.5 years to 11.8 years between 2002 and 2016.
The deep connection we have with our dogs has led to improved care and this care has ultimately improved health and life extension.
One of the most common problems for dogs is arthritis and joint pain. It can be a flare up from an old injury or arthritis and gradually continues to worsen. To help with preventative care, you could consider adding joint supplements to your dog's diet.
We take a look at the best joint supplements on the UK market. We'll give you the lowdown on -
⭐️ How easy they are to administer
⭐️ Ingredients
⭐️ Brand background
⭐️ Value for money
Then you can decide which dog joint supplements suits you and your four-legged friend best.
APRIL 2024 : UPDATE - After the latest round of testing, we've added Pooch & Mutt's new and improved Joint Care tablets, Pooch & Mutt's Joint Care dog food and Buddy & Lola's Bouncy Bones and Super Shrooms supplement to our Top 10. |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Buying Advice for Dog Joint Supplements
FAQ's
Buying Advice for Dog Joint Supplements
A quick word about supplements for dogs. We've found that supplements can be a very confusing area to investigate. Many of the supplements and their ingredients have real theoretical benefits.
However, we've found that whilst independent research is still limited, there is an abundance of anecdotal evidence to help dog lovers select a product.
Here are some general guidelines to bear in mind when you are choosing a supplement or in fact any additional vitamins or minerals for your dog :-
✅ Select an experienced brand
✅ Choose a delivery method that you think will be most palatable for your dog whether that’s tablets, liquid, powder or a joint care tailored food.
✅ We recommend that you should talk to your vet about what supplements your dog may need. It’s worth noting that ingredients in some herbal supplements can interact with any existing medication
Our review of dog joint supplements includes a range of tablets, powders, sprinkles, chews, liquids and foods as well as some 100% natural alternatives, so you can decide which is most palatable for your dog - because you know them best!
AT A GLANCE |
Best overall supplement: Pooch & Mutt Joint Care | View Pooch & Mutt |
Best powder supplement: Buddy & Lola - Bouncy Bones | View Buddy & Lola |
Our Picks of the Best Dog Joint Supplements
1. Best Overall Joint Tablet
Pooch & Mutt
If you're looking for dog joint support from a UK company with experience then take a closer look at the new and improved Joint Care tablets from Pooch & Mutt.
Pooch & Mutt's credentials need no introduction – the brand behind the Meaty Dog Treats, and makers of the best-in-class Peanut Butter Dental Sticks, it's little wonder that their new and improved Joint Care Tablets also ranks as a best buy for us, here at Smart Bark.
Renowned for their range of natural dog foods, treats and supplements, these Joint Care tablets offer protection for joints as well as fighting inflammation and stiffness too. They contain several of the most renowned joint supporting ingredients at higher concentrations than many other brands
It's worth mentioning that these little tablets use 33% more glucosamine and have 6 times higher concentration of hyaluronic acid than some other market leading canine joint pills.
Plus they have MSM which is used for arthritis treatments in humans and can slow the gradual degeneration of your dog's joints and collagen which helps to reduce joint pain.
Pooch & Mutt offer two sizes of tablet so you can buy the size suited best to your dog's breed.
Let's talk palatability.
Got a picky pup ? Well so have we and these tablets were woofed down like treats !
That's always a concern with tablets that you'll end up desperately trying to hide them in cheese or wet dog food. We were totally amazed at how our usually super picky Cockapoo came back for more and had his nose in the tub! Game–changer !
Pooch & Mutt offer a totally stress-free solution.
Our Verdict: Overall our favourite dog joint supplement because each tablet is packed full of a combination of the best, higher concentration natural joint-care ingredients and they scored high on the palatability test.
Price: Pooch & Mutt offer a subscribe and save option with a 25% off, greatly reducing your monthly costs.
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog
Under £10.00
Supplement Form:
Small Tablets - 1 tablet a day per 5kg bodyweight ( young/adult dogs) or 2 tablets a day per 5kg bodyweight (senior/ injured dogs)
Large Tablets - 1 tablet a day per 10kg bodyweight ( young/adult dogs) or 2 tablets a day per 10kg bodyweight (senior/ injured dogs)
Ingredients:
Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, MSM, Vitamin C
Buying Options
Save 20% OFF Pooch & Mutt
Enter SMARTBARK20 at checkout
2. Best Selling Joint Supplement
YuMOVE
The UK’s best selling and probably the best known dog joint supplement brand leads this Top Ten. They feature in the top spot as their product is clinically proven to work within 6 weeks.
They guarantee visible results in a study conducted by The Royal Veterinary College in the UK.
YuMOVE are the only company we feature, offering a personalised plan using their online questionnaire to fully tailor a plan for your dog. This also comes with free delivery
Our Verdict : We love that YuMOVE offer a wide range of joint supplements with different formulas for adult, young and working dogs. |
Price: Subscribe and save option can reduce your monthly costs and means it's one less thing to remember to buy!
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Under £5 with subscription
Supplement Form:
Tablets (60, 120 or 300)
Be aware that larger dogs over 15kg will need more than 1 a day.
Ingredients:
Glucosamine, green lipped mussel (omega 3), vitamin C & E, hyaluronic acid
Other Joint Products An extensive range of tablets and chews
PRO TIP YuMOVE suggest doubling the supplements for the first 4 weeks so your dog enjoys the benefits quickly. |
Buying Options
FLASH Sale - 30% OFF
or
YuMOVE offer a subscribe & save option
with 50% OFF your first 2 months
using discount code SAVENOW
3. Best Value Joint Supplement
JOINTSURE
Alternatively, you could go opt for Jointsure. Vetwell Scientific have been manufacturing premium quality animal supplements for over 30 years and their flagship joint care product for dogs is Jointsure.
Effective for treating dog joint stiffness it supports joint structure and maintains joint mobility using 7 high strength active ingredients at a great price. Manufactured right here in the UK it uses human-grade ingredients.
It's available in different amounts so you could test it before buying a large quantity.
Jointsure offer 60, 120 or 300 tablets (note that dogs over 15kg will need to take more than 1 a day).
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Under £5.00
Supplement Form:
Tablets are designed to be crumbled over your dog's food which is perfect if you have a picky eater.
Ingredients:
Green lipped mussel, glucosamine, natural chondroitin, vitamins C and E, manganese and hyaluronic acid.
Other Joint Products: Young & Active formula, Glucosamine + Chondroitin Powder.
Buying Options
4. Best Powder Supplement
Buddy & Lola
You may have heard of the brand Buddy & Lola who are behind a range of high quality, natural supplements aimed at a wide range of common dog health issues.
Knowing how difficult it can be for us to persuade our dogs to consume nutritional supplements, they've created a range of powders and chews that even Goldilocks-level picky pups will eat.
The first thing to say about their advanced joint support supplement - Bouncy Bones (as well as the great name) is that it's incredibly easy to add to your daily routine. In testing, we found the powder simple to sprinkle over raw and wet dog food.
We'd recommend that if you feed your dog a dry diet, maybe add the powder to a little water first to help it stick to the kibble.
Bouncy Bones are available in a 120g pouch and according to their recommended feeding instructions, should last 1 month for a 10-25kg dog. The pouch includes a mini measuring spoon and it's worth mentioning that the powder doesn't smell too strong.
Honestly, Buddy & Lola aren't the cheapest, but you are buying a top quality product using industry leading suppliers, 100% traceable ingredients and rigorous third party testing.
Buddy & Lola also offer a massive 30% subscribe and save which is definitely worth considering or take a look at their money-saving Joint Bundle with Jammin' Salmon.
Our Verdict: Incredibly easy to add to your dog's diet, Buddy & Lola's Bouncy Bones is yet another amazing supplement from their ever growing range. |
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Over £20. Admittedly this is higher than some of the other options featured, but you can reduce the cost by using their subscribe & save option.
Supplement Form:
Powder
Ingredients:
Flaxseed, Glucosamine, Green Lipped Mussel, Chondroitin, Yeast product, Hyaluronic acid, Starch
Other Products: Wide range of supplements
Buying Options
For 15% OFF the entire Buddy & Lola range (first time purchases only)
enter SMARTBARK15 at checkout
5. Best Mushroom Supplement
Buddy & Lola
If you’re new to functional mushrooms, Buddy & Lola's Super Shrooms is a great place to start.
The use of mushrooms for medical or health reasons is currently booming in the UK, with people seeking a nutrient-dense food to supercharge their lives. As it turns out, your dog can benefit from that supercharge just as much as you can.
Expertly formulated to deliver the highest quality, pure mushroom, Super Shrooms is made from the fruity body of the mushroom only. The extraction process, ensures the beneficial beta-glucans and triterpenoids are concentrated and more bioavailable than edible mushrooms.
Whilst Super Shrooms have several holistic benefits for dogs including boosting immunity (ideal if your dog suffers from allergies) and promoting long term health, it's their amazing anti-inflammatory properties that mean they are a great long-term joint supplement for dogs.
It's the potential of the beta-glucans in mushrooms to fight inflammation in dogs that can alleviate joint pain and discomfort letting your dog move more easily.
Buddy & Lola's all-in-one blend contains 5 of the most prevalent mushrooms available - Reishi, Chaga, Shiitake, Turkey Tail and Maitake. This vegan friendly mushroom complex is also free from artificial fillers or bulking agents.
Perfect for fussy dogs who refuse tablets, simply spoon a little Super Shroom over your dog's food. Suitable for all dogs over 12 weeks, dogs up to 10kg need just 1 scoop added to their food a day.
It's worth pointing out that a pouch will last for 60 days for dogs up to 10kg and 30 days for dogs between 10–25kg.
Buddy & Lola say that you should begin so see some mobility and flexibility results in under 2 weeks. In fact, Buddy & Lola are so confident in their products that they offer a 30 day money back guarantee if you aren't happy.
Our Verdict - Offering a with a wide range of health benefits, Super Shrooms are well worth a look if you want to keep your dog mobile, flexible and healthy. |
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Over £37.99
Buy 3 to reduce the price per pack or subscribe and save for 20% off
Supplement Form:
Powder
Ingredients:
Maitake, Reishi, Turkey Tail, Shiitake and Chaga mushroom
Buying Options
For 15% OFF the entire Buddy & Lola range (first time purchases only)
enter SMARTBARK15 at checkout
If you have a senior dog, you may be interested in an article written by Vet - Dr Lauren Davis outlining changes you can make to help your dog as they age - Cherishing Your Golden Years : Essential Tips for Senior Dog Care |
6. Best Salmon Oil for Dogs
Pets Purest
Salmon oil is renowned for helping to keep your dog's joints limber and lubricated so they can move around easily which is a key aspect to a dogs' continued mobility as they grow and age.
A totally natural way to augment your dog's diet, salmon oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
They support a healthy immune system, heart health and have anti-inflammatory properties to aid joint health and arthritis symptoms.
Pets Purest offer three sizes of bottle - 500ml, 1000ml & 2500ml.
Clearly the 2500ml offers the best value for money, but you could dip your toe in the water with the 500ml bottle first to make sure your dog likes the taste.
It's worth noting that a smaller 300ml bottle is available on Amazon. Pets Purest have recently updated their packaging but the product is the same.
Price: Pets Purest offer a subscribe and save plan to reduce your monthly costs.
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog
Under £5.00 - Great value option.
Supplement Form:
Simply pump the appropriate amount on your dog's meal, and the hard work is done. In testing, we found that the salmon oil had a natural taste and our super fussy cockapoo ate his food as normal.
Ingredients:
99.5% salmon oil + antioxidants (natural tocopherols) 0.5%
Buying Options
Pets Purest are offering 10% OFF their entire range.
Enter discount code WELCOME10 at checkout
7. Best Dog Joint Bundle
Pets Purest
Pets Purest also offer a wide selection of 100% natural pet healthcare products all made right here in the UK.
With such an extensive range of products including sprays, liquids, powders and treats we love that Pets Purest put together some great money-saving bundles for dog lovers.
These bundles often target the immediate issue whilst also helping improve the problem in the long term.
Their natural Joint Support formula is a joint and hip liquid created by trained herbalists, ideal if you have a fussy dog as there's no tablets to worry about.
The Turmeric Curcumin comes in the form of 60 capsules. Simply pop the capsule open and sprinkle on your dog's food.
We love just how easy it is to add to your dog's diet, no trying to disguise tablets in pieces of meat or cheese!
Price: Pets Purest offer a subscribe and save plan to reduce your monthly costs.
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
The Bundle and Save option offers significant savings over buying the products seperately.
Supplement Form:
Liquid & Capsule
Ingredients:
Turmeric,curcumin, scutellaria, biacalensis, uncaria, boswellia, salmon oil
Buying Options
Pets Purest are offering 10% OFF their entire range.
Enter discount code WELCOME10 at checkout
8. Best Joint Care Dog Food
Pooch & Mutt
Another product from the Pooch & Mutt stable. This time we feature their Joint Care complete dry dog food.
Feeding Pooch & Mutt's Joint Care dry food is a hassle-free way of ensuring your dog gets the additional nutrients it needs without having to remember to offer supplements. A complete diet and perfectly tailored for dogs with mobility issues or those that are highly active, it's a great option for busy households.
So how is this dog food different from standard dry food ?
Well firstly it's blended with 45% salmon which is a natural source of omega 3 which is essential for joint well-being.
To increase local blood supply and reduce inflammation and stiffness it also includes green lipped mussel and linseed ( also a source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help prevent cartilage breakdown)
On top of this, alfalfa, yucca and rose hip are all added to support joint health and mobility.
Finally, Pooch & Mutt ‘Joint Care’ complete dry food also contains NUTRA-BIONIC, a unique supplement that includes ingredients which provide a healthy skin and coat, aid digestion, reduce stool odour and support urinal tract health.
This grain free, hypoallergenic food is available in 2kg & 10kg bags.
Crucially, you can combine Pooch & Mutt's Joint Care dry food with other products from their range such as Joints tablets ( which can be crumbled over food) or Mobile Bones powder.
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Approx £1.20 a day for a 11- 30kg dog
Supplement Form:
Complete Dry Dog Food
Ingredients:
Salmon, sweet potato, potato, peas, linseed, alfalfa, brewers yeast, cranberries, rosehip ( full nutritional ingredients list available here)
Other Joint Products : Joint Care Tablets and Mobile Bones
Buying Options
To save 20% off Pooch & Mutt's entire range, simply enter SMARTBARK20 at checkout
9. Best Once-a-day Tablets
Vetzyme
These popular tablets from Vetzyme are specifically formulated to help maintain joint mobility and suppleness in dogs.
Vetzyme High Strength Flexible Joint tablets should be taken once a day regardless of your dog's breed or size. This means that they are incredibly easy to administer and a really great value joint care option.
They can be used as a treatment or for preventative reasons, particularly, dogs prone to bad joint problems.
Tablets are available in 30's and 90's so you could try for one month before investing in a money-saving larger amount of tablets.
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog
Under £5.00
Supplement Form:
Once-a-day chicken flavoured bites. So easy to add to a busy schedule.
Ingredients:
Glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamin E, MSM, omega 3
Other Joint Products:
It's worth noting that Vetzyme offer a normal strength product alongside the high strength version.
Buying Options
10. Best Joint & Muscle Formula
Joint Aid
Joint Aid for Dogs is manufactured by GWF Nutrition and is a high specification joint supplement including glucosamine for dogs.
Not only have GWF Nutrition achieved a 99.9% customer satisfaction rate, they guarantee results or your money back with the 500g pack.
The come in small 2mm pellets which you can mix in with your dog's food. they're highly digestible and it's worth mentioning that theyr'e wheat free so ideal for pups with sensitive tummies.
Available in 250g, 500g and 2kg Pouches
Monthly Price for a 12kg Dog:
Under £10
Supplement Form:
2mm Pellets
Ingredients:
Chondroitin, collagen, curcumin, MSM, glucosamine, glutamic acid, hemp oil, derived omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C
Other Joint Products: Joint Aid for Working Dogs and cats.
Buying Options
Our Verdict
We recommend a good starting point if you are new to supplements is Pooch & Mutt's Joint care tablets as they definitely ticks all the boxes in terms of ingredients, quality, price and palatability from a very experienced brand.
If you're looking for an alternative to tablets then we would suggest taking a look at Buddy & Lola's Bouncy Bones or Pets Purest Salmon Oil by simply adding these to your dog's food they take the hassle out of giving your dog a nutritional supplement.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a multi-functional supplement which can benefit your dog in a variety of ways including reducing inflammation and boosting immunity ,we'd suggest exploring the health benefits of Buddy & Lola's Super Shrooms.
Lastly, alongside dog joint supplements, swapping to a food tailored to help your dog's joints is a great option. So you could take a closer look at Pooch & Mutt Joint Care dog food.
There appears to be an enormous range of supplements prices from less than £5.00 to over £10.00 a month for a 12kg dog. When considering pricing, bear in mind the quantity of product purchased (obviously the larger amounts work out cheaper per dose) and the size of your dog (larger dogs will need higher daily doses).
It's definitely worth doing the maths specifically for your dog, before making a decision.
A whole selection of supplements types are available including liquids, chews, tablets and powders. You know your dog best, if they aren't fussy then you can probably take advantage of some of the cheaper, tablet solutions. If they can sniff out a supplement hiding at a 1000 yards, then we'd suggest a chew or a liquid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Dog Joint Supplements ?
Dog joint supplements can help stave off any joint problems for as long as possible and alleviate the pain once they’ve started.
The truth is that there will be times in your dog's life when additional vitamins and minerals are needed. In these cases, the sooner you start supporting you dog’s joint health, the better the long term results will be.
Joint supplements are often prescribed for older dogs and dogs with arthritis, or for those with a risk of developing it. Though arthritis is degenerative, it can be managed, depending on the cause and other health factors.
How do supplements work ?
Ultimately joint supplements can be extremely effective at managing joint issues. They generally work in three ways –
✅ They have an anti-inflammatory action which can help to soothe stiff joints.
✅ They ease limb movement by keeping joint fluid strong
✅ They nourish cartilage helping to keep it healthy
What ingredients should they contain ?
There are some common ingredients which you'll find in most supplements including - omega 3 (such as fish oil) and green-lipped mussels (GLMs) which are a super rich source of glucosamine and chondroitin.
Thank you for stopping by and reading our review of the Best Dog Joint Supplements for 2024.