Last Updated: 04/06/2025
Vet Picks: Best Joint Supplements
Looking for a joint supplement for your dog? Read our Vet's top picks in each category!
Author: Dr Antonella Virina DVM
Reading Time: 53 minutes - long read
Last Updated: 04/06/2025
Looking for a joint supplement for your dog? Read our Vet's top picks in each category!
Author: Dr Antonella Virina DVM
Reading Time: 53 minutes - long read
Selecting the right joint supplement for your dog can be intimidating as there's a multitude of options available out there. Joint supplements may contain one or more ingredients popularly known for their use in joint care products, like glucosamine, marine ingredients, MSM and even omega oils, and the variety doesn't stop there! These products can also be available in different forms like chews, treats, powders, and even liquids. How do you know which is best for your dog? With our expert guide on the best joint supplements, you can make an informed decision on the best products to help support your best friend's joints and mobility.
While a complete and balanced diet already provides your dog all essential nutrients, joint supplements are a fantastic way to add in some extra support for their joint health and mobility. There can be different possible reasons why your dog may benefit from a joint supplement: perhaps your dog is getting on in years and you've noticed them having a harder time moving about, or maybe they've recently had to undergo orthopaedic surgery to correct joint issues or conditions, or been diagnosed with arthritis.
If you have a new puppy, you may just want to be proactive about their joint health before any issues develop. In any case, it's important to know how to choose the right joint care product for them.
Four reasons why it's important to choose the right joint supplements are:
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 30 vets with over 120 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
For dog parents who may prefer a product that can easily be added to their dog's food, the Petz Park Hip + Joint is a fantastic choice! It comes in a delicious beef flavour, helping to boost palatability of the product and ensuring ease and consistency of administration. The packaging of the product also has a handy dose guide that also tells you how long a pouch lasts depending on your dog's weight. This product also comes in different size pouches (45 scoops, 90 scoops or 180 scoops) so you can choose the pack size that's most appropriate for your dog.
What our customers say: "I have a 10yr old American staffy and he was walking so slowly and struggling to get up, after 1 packet he is now so happy and I can't believe that when he gets excited to eat or when we come home from work, he actually jumps off the ground. Unbelievable he is so much happier, I haven't seen him jump like this for years. Definitely recommend the hip and joint pack. Thank you so much."
As many pet parents would tell you, it's not always easy to give dogs their meds! While powder supplements can be mixed in with food, it can be a waste in the event your dog dislikes the taste and refuses their whole meal as a result. Glyde Mobility Chews for Dogs make for a convenient and fun way to give your dog a joint supplement.
These heart-shaped, bite-sized chews are perfect to use as treats and they contain optimal levels of green-lipped mussel, glucosamine, and chondroitin to help promote better mobility and joint health.
What our customers say: "I have been using it as a preventative for my large breed dog since she was 2 years old, she is now 9 and still has perfect mobility and does not suffer from any joint pains. Highly recommend!"
What our vets say: "Glyde Mobility Chews contain scientifically proven levels of green lipped mussel, glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain healthy joints and relieve the painful signs of arthritis. In my experience, I've seen so many arthritic dogs benefit from Glyde whilst enjoying their daily palatable treat. Plus, the heart-shape of the chew is such a nice touch!" - Dr. Jacqui
Glucosamine and chondroitin are building blocks of healthy cartilage and the idea behind joint supplements that utilise these ingredients, which are often in tandem, is that since they make up the cartilage, supplying these to a pet can slow cartilage deterioration in the joints, and help reduce pain. Despite a lack of strong evidence in veterinary literature specifically, some veterinarians and pet parents have found supplementation to be helpful.
In Joint Guard, the glucosamine is derived from crustaceans and chondroitin is extracted from cow cartilage. Both components have been highly purified to increase bioavailability and the processing used to extract the glucosamine specifically, destroys the proteins that would normally elicit an allergic reaction but dogs with known shellfish allergies are best trialled under vet supervision.
Apart from these, Joint Guard also contains manganese and vitamin C which are essential in the process of cartilage formation, and MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) which is used for the synthesis of soft connective tissues.
What our customers say: "Gypsy (10.5 year old Siberian husky) started displaying signs of joint pain through limping, and a general decline in her happy and energetic behaviour. I have not changed anything else with her diet, other than adding this product. We also changed her bedding to memory foam, added a ramp to get down the stairs, and have elevated her feeding and drinking bowls. After a few weeks, we began noticing the difference as she bounced back, literally, jumping around and enjoying her walks again. It appears this product has really helped with potential arthritis and joint deterioration. I highly recommend this product, nothing better than seeing your dog in a happy and healthy state"
Apart from fish, marine ingredients are a wealth of beneficial omega fatty acids and Sasha's Blend contains green lipped mussel, abalone and marine cartilage. It's a high quality, natural joint supplement that helps to promote the growth of healthy cartilage by supplying necessary components like the full range of GAGS (glycosaminoglycans) including keratin, dermatin, heparin sulphates, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphates.
It also helps maintain synovial fluid which cushions the joints and reduces friction, which in turn can assist with maintaining healthy mobility and reducing pain and inflammation. However, for those looking for a stronger formula as per the manufacturer, 4Cyte may be more suitable as it has the same actives as Sasha's Blend but also includes an anti-inflammatory plant-based active ingredient as well.
What our customers say: "My 7 yr old Amstaff kept pulling his shoulder muscle and was getting sore after long walks and when he first wakes up. He hasn't had an injury since starting this and his mobility seems to have improved heaps. Also loves the taste, I mix it in with his dinner."
What our vets say: "The combination of green-lipped mussel, abalone and marine cartilage in Sasha's Blend provides a rich source of chondroitin, glucosamine, glycosaminoglycans and omega-3 fatty acids. These are scientifically proven to reduce discomfort and inflammation, in addition to protecting cartilage from breakdown and lubricating joints. Sasha's Blend is highly palatable and suitable for long term use." - Dr. Maree
PAW Blackmores Osteoadvanced contains several anti-inflammatory ingredients to deliver effective support for joint pain and inflammation. Green-lipped mussel provides beneficial omega fatty acids, curcumin and boswellia both have anti-inflammatory properties and help modulate immune response, and glucosamine and chondroitin may help to support healthy cartilage.
All these ingredients go into a delicious chew that you can easily give your dog as a yummy treat every day! As it only comes in one size though, it can be expensive to maintain for larger dogs.
What our customers say: "Highly recommend this product. Just wish it came in a larger container as 3 per day for large breeds doesn't last long. Our 11 year old rottie just loves these. She has arthiritis in her hips and she's on injections monthly from the vet but these are just an extra to help her along and she loves them. She has a sensitive stomach so we need to be careful what we give her but she has had no ill effects from taking these. She snarfs her food and sits expectantly afterwards waiting for her treat"
Marine ingredients by themselves are already a rich source of beneficial omega fatty acids but 4Cyte takes things a step further by adding in Epiitalis, a plant-derived active that has potent anti-inflammatory properties as well as a capability to help repair cartilage in inflamed joints.
Epiitalis is exclusive to 4Cyte so you won't find it in other joint care products. 4Cyte is also set apart from many other joint supplements due to its unique form. Pellets are conveniently either given as treats or added to your dog's food. Each pack comes with a scoop as well for easy dosing.
What our customers say: "My dog could hardly walk with arthritis before he started in 4Cyte. It took 1 month of seemingly no results then virtually over night he walked with barely a limp. 5 years on and he is 16, bounces around like a puppy and is still going strong. While the 4Cyte has improved his legs the omega 3 and other nutrients seem to have helped him overall. I recommended it to any dog owner that has an older or arthritic dog."
What our vets say: "I recommend 4cyte as a reliable and effective joint supplement that I personally use for my own dog. It contains a unique ingredient called epitalis (which is a plant oil extract) combined with green lipped mussel and other marine ingredients. The supplement helps to reduce joint inflammation and stimulate cartilage production. I like how it comes as small palatable pellets which are easily given on their own as a treat, or added to your dog's food. It can be used for dog's who have arthritis, those or have had joint surgery or even at-risk large breeds dogs." - Dr. Angie
For those on the lookout for a natural canine joint supplement or if your dog has any animal protein allergies or intolerances, Rose Hip Vital is a fantastic choice! This is a single-ingredient product containing only rosehip berries ground into a fine powder that you can conveniently add to your dog's food.
Rosehips are a rich source of vitamin C, a well-known powerful antioxidant. Rosehip Vital's formula however makes use of patented extraction and drying processes to isolate and activate GOPO®, a compound that helps prevent large numbers of white blood cells from accumulating in the joint, thereby reducing pain and swelling as well as tissue damage caused by free radicals.
As it is essentially a supercharged antioxidant product, Rosehip Vital is not just specific for joint health. It also helps to promote healthy skin and coat, immunity, and overall well-being. Talk about versatile!
What our customers say: "My Shar pei has had two knee operations and any form of exercise caused her pain. I have been giving her this product for the past 2 months now andI have noticed a big difference. She is now running around and jumping again with no inflammation and pain on the following day. Wish I had found this product earlier."
What our vets say: "Rose hip vital is a natural, plant based supplement providing a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C protects against free radicals and is clinically proven to decrease joint inflammation. Compared to other joint supplements on the market, Rose Hip Vital is a great option for pooches with sensitive tummies as it's a non-oil based, palatable powder that contains no animal proteins." - Dr. Josepha
When you're deciding on a joint supplement for your dog, there are different factors to consider that can help you make a well-informed decision.
Mobility is an important part of any pet's life. However, with several joint supplements available in the market, the options can be overwhelming. It makes sense therefore to want to go for a product that works and can really help support your dog's mobility, enabling them to be able to move, play, and make the most of life.
Effective joint supplements use specific ingredients at optimal concentrations that have been proven to help reduce joint pain and inflammation. These ingredients should be formulated for digestibility and optimal nutrient absorption to ensure that the active ingredients are easily processed and utilised by the body.
When assessing joint supplements, consider which ones have scientific evidence and research supporting their claims. Your treating veterinarian can also help you go over these options and help you decide on a product that can produce positive results on your dog's joint health.
As joint supplements can come in a variety of forms, flavours, and can be made up of different ingredients, it's important to consider whether a specific joint supplement is suitable for your dog in the first place.
If your dog is sensitive/intolerant to seafood/shellfish, supplements with marine ingredients may best be avoided. For dogs with sensitive tummies, it can be difficult to determine which products are unlikely to cause any tummy issues and so may need to work up towards the recommended dose over a few days to start.
Whether a joint supplement is given short-term or long-term, cost is still an important consideration. This is especially true for large breed dogs as they are predisposed to developing joint issues as they grow older. In determining costs, we have to look at a joint supplement's recommended dose, which will differ across products. This gives you an idea how long a joint supplement will last your dog.
Some products do come in different sizes, which can make shopping for different size dogs easier and more convenient, while some may only be available in one size, which can turn out to be more expensive in the long run.
No matter how good a product is, if it's not palatable or acceptable to your dog, no go. Joint supplements come in a variety of forms and flavours and it can boil down to figuring out which one appeals to your dog's individual tastes and needs. Palatability makes it more likely that your dog is happy to take a joint supplement which makes it easier to ensure they get that extra boost of joint support constantly.
It's also important to keep in mind that while supplements can assist in the management of arthritis and various other joint issues and conditions, these work best when employed as part of a multimodal approach, often consisting of a weight management program, controlled exercise, pain medication (if necessary) and environmental modifications (ramps, stairs, orthopaedic beds.)
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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Veterinarian (DVM)
Dr. Antonella graduated from university in 2019 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with a specialization in research and diagnostics. Enjoying the dynamic and continuous learning process that comes with being a vet, Dr. Antonella helps provide sound advice to pet owners to ensure the health and wellbeing of their pets.
