Our own “at-home” research shows that the best overall glucosamine for dogs taking into consideration numerous factors is Cosequin Soft Chews Maximum Strength with MSM Plus Omega 3, 120 count. This dog glucosamine chew (looks like a Reese’s peanut butter cup!) not only has the optimal combination of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM, in the right quantities, but it also really tastes good, and it is consistently top rated by dog owners. It is totally soft-chewable and can even be used as a dog treat — with glucosamine!
If you’re going to put the glucosamine for your dog in their food and want the same thing but cheaper, get Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews Plus MSM Joint Health Supplement Chews – 132 Count.
The best choice simply in terms of price is Pet Naturals Hip & Joint Tablets. These inexpensive glucosamine pills for dogs cost less than most brands and are sort of chewable, though not as tasty as the Cosequin treats above. Our own dogs got tired of them. But I know there are a lot of fast-eating labradors that would gobble them right up with breakfast!
Our Top Picks For Best Glucosamine For Dogs
1. Cosequin Soft Chews Maximum Strength with MSM Plus Omega 3, 120 count
Cosequin Soft Chew Plus MSM Dog Supplement The Cosequin Soft Chews MSM supplement helps give your dog maximum joint strength and mobility support.
Our top choice of dog joint supplements based on convenience and usability. These are like glucosamine treats for dogs because they a chewy and taste good. Could be a great glucosamine for dogs with sensitive stomachs since they are soft and taste great.
Scientifically formulated to maintain the structure of cartilage while inhibiting enzymes that break down cartilage.
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- Cosequin for dogs is is a trademarked glucosamine product manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. It contains FCHG49(R) glucosamine, TRH122(R) chondroitin sulfate, and manganese ascorbate. Cosequin has various formulas specific for dogs, cats, and horses.
- Cosequin DS means Cosequin Double Strength, which is really not an important distinction, since you should be measuring your dosage of glucosamine for your dog from the label of the specific glucosamine product you are using.
- The patented Cosequin formula has a proper ratio and full doses (TRH12) chondroitin sulfate and (FCHG49) glucosamine hydrochloride, plus MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) in each tasty soft chew.
- These chews also taste great and will be loved by your pet.
- There are numerous options (e.g. 2-pack is cheaper) and promotions – Click picture for Amazon Info.
- A little more expensive than some, but right in there price-wise. They are almost like treats instead of medicine!
- Like popular Cosequin glucosamine chondroitin for dogs but soft and meaty, not dry tablets.
- 4.6 out of 5 Amazon rating with over 400 reviews.
- Cost factor: 34 cents/500mg gluc dose. You can easily bend these in half for smaller dogs, and only 1 is required for a dog weighing about 30 pounds.
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2. Nutramax Cosequin DS Plus with MSM Chewable Tablets
Nutramax Cosequin DS Plus with MSM Chewable Tablets – The Cosequin Tablet MSM supplement helps give your dog maximum joint strength and mobility support. This is one of our top choices for best glucosamine chondroitin for dogs because of its good taste for a chewable tablet. And, it is not too expensive. If you are looking for the best glucosamine treats for dogs, this could be your choice.
Ok, seriously, we use this one because (1) they’re a little cheaper (we get the 250-count bottle) and (2) our border collie Quigley is 13 and not too fussy about having something that resembles a Reese’s peanut butter cup. He’s been taking it for the last 3 year since we adopted him.
This product has been recently repackaged and the price lowered. It is now the #1 Best Seller in the category of Amazon dog joint supplement. If your dog is not fussy about flavor, then this is the glucosamine for dogs you should use.
Patented Cosequin formula of the proper ratio and full doses (TRH12) chondroitin sulfate and (FCHG49) glucosamine hydrochloride, plus MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) in a tasty soft tasty chew.
May be some of the best glucosamine for dogs with hip dysplasia.
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- Scientifically formulated Cosequin for Dogs maintains the structure of cartilage while inhibiting enzymes that break down cartilage.
- Cosequin DS means Cosequin Double Strength, which is really not an important distinction, since you should be measuring your dosage of glucosamine for your dog from the label of the specific glucosamine product you are using.
- The manufacturer says, “These chews are like treats and your dog will love them!” This is true. We have fed them to 4 different dogs, and they all eat them right up as a treat before breakfast!
- There are numerous options. We suggest you get the pack of 2 because is usually is a little better value (right now at 24 cents/500 mg). Check promotions. Click the picture for Amazon price info.
- A little more expensive than some, but right in there price-wise. They are almost like treats instead of medicine!
- 4.5 stars out of 5 Amazon rating with over 9,000 reviews.
- Cost factor: 26 cents/500mg gluc dose
- You can easily break these in half for smaller dogs, and only 1 is required for a dog weighing about 30-50 pounds.
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3. Pet Naturals Hip & Joint Tablets, Hip and Joint Extra Strength, Glucosamine for Dogs, 180-Count Bottle
Another top-rated choice for best glucosamine for dogs, includes MSM, and is chewable. Usually with free shipping.
Advanced Formula Containing Glucosamine Chondroitin for dogs and MSM. Available in a chewable, chicken-liver flavored tablet dogs love. Note it is a tablet, with duck flavoring, not an easily chewable meaty treat treat! With one dog we had to do the “pill down the throat” thing. But this pill is fine for many dogs.
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- A potent mixture of joint support ingredients including Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), and Sulfate Manganese.
- Active Ingredients Per chewy Tablet Glucosamine HCI – 750 mg, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) – 400 mg, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) – 400 mg, Chondroitin Sulfate – 100 mg, Manganese (as Proteinate Manganese ) – 5 mg
- Watch out! The new packaging of a pill similar to this has about 80% less chondroitin in it. The one listed here is full strength, as a matter of fact it has about 50% more glucosamine per pill than other products, 750 mg per pill, about 1/2 pill for 25 lbs.
- 4.5 out of 5 rating on Amazon with over 660 reviews
- Cost factor: 27 cents/500mg gluc dose.
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4. H3 Essentials Glucosamine Chondroitin for Dogs – 77 Count
This is a very popular dog glucosamine chondroitin for dogs. In fact, it is #1 in Amazon’s Dog Herbal Supplements. I think the reason here is that it is billed as “herbal”. Therefore, the cost is higher, similar to the highly rated dog food, Orijen. When you are done here, come back to see our Orijen Dog Food Reviews.
Glucosamine Chondroitin for dogs to support and repair joints and cartilage and to help retain flexibility. MSM to help with inflammation, and relieving arthritis issues. Yucca Schidigera is included, a Natural Herbal Anti-Arthritic and Anti-Inflammatory. ]
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- Delicious Chicken Flavored Treats that Your Dog will Love! Dosages for Small, Medium, and Large Dogs.
- CERTIFIED SAFE by an Independent Lab. Microbiological testing for E. Coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus Aureus, Coliforms, Aerobic Plate Count, Yeast & Mold.
- 4.5 out of 5 Amazon rating with over 680 reviews.
- Cost factor: 69 cents/500mg gluc dose – Note this is very expensive if you give the complete dose of 500 mg (mentioned above) for a 25 lb dog. That would be about 7 chews, and there are about 78 in a package. However, the recommended dosages on the back of the package are about 1/2 of this. So the labeling is confusing.
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5. Liquid Health K9 Glucosamine, Hip and Joint Formula, 32 Ounce
Not only the best liquid glucosamine for dogs but also in the top glucosamine for dogs overall.
32-ounce package has essential nutrients. They are shown in several clinical studies to dramatically improve and sometimes prevent the condition of animals suffering from joint ailments.
For younger dogs, Glucosamine Chondroitin for dogs aids in the prevention of arthritis while MSM promotes general good health.
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- Liquid supplements have been shown to absorb efficiently and quickly compared to tablets, offering faster results.
- Good for dogs who have trouble taking pills.
- 4.3 out of 5 rating on Amazon with over 950 reviews.
- Cost factor: 23 cents/500mg gluc dose. This one is tricky to calculate because the product is liquid. You have to be careful to measure your dosage as described on the label. 500 mg would be about 1/3 of an ounce, or about 2 teaspoons.
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6. NaturVet Glucosamine-DS (Double Strength) Joint Tabs, 150 Tablets
Veterinarian formulated, all-natural chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine HCl. Contains essential antioxidants that help protect against cellular damage by counteracting free radicals.
Glucosamine DS includes natural flavoring — making for a tasty treat. 150-Count bottle. Double Strength veterinarian formulated Glucosamine Chondroitin for dogs joint formula. (Note that in fact the composition has only about 1/4 the Chondroitin of other products).
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- Recommended to support healthy joint and hip function. Maintains flexibility of joints, and alleviates pains and aches associated with moderate exercise or hip dysplasia.
- 4.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon with over 280 reviews.
- Cost factor: 18 cents/500mg gluc dose
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Background of the Best Dog Glucosamine
Many descriptions of the best glucosamine for dogs refer to the descriptive information provided by Google. It says that chondroprotectives are joint supplement nutrients popular because of their amazing ability to resolve joint pain. In general, the best glucosamine chondroitin for dogs, usually with MSM, works to help the body become healthier rather than just masking pain or other symptoms. If you want to give your dog the best dog vitamins and supplements, include glucosamine, and check out our article on dog vitamins and dog supplements.
In addition, as described in the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, chondroprotectives, such as muscle products, avocado and soybean derivatives and some milk products, promote the synthesis of cartilage. This helps the shock absorption of the joint.
Where Do You Get Supplements That Help?
Though there are lots of sources of these agents, the most easily available is glucosamine and chondroitin for dogs. In addition, MSM ((methylsulfonylmethane), which helps to reduce inflammation, is commonly added to the mix. This combination has been shown to significantly reduce the symptoms of arthritis in dogs.
Though the ingredients are more or less the same in liquids and capsules, liquid glucosamine for dogs reviews generally say that one of the great advantages of liquid glucosamine is that it is really easy to use. Generally, it is a little more expensive. Examples are Liquid Heal K-9 Glucosamine and Welactin Canine liquid.
Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs
When the signs of arthritis first start to appear you would notice a change in your dog’s habits. He would probably spend more time resting and will be reluctant to move.
- He may whine when you try to get him moving. You may notice he is not as playful as he used to be.
- Arthritis causes permanent damage to your dog’s joints. It is very important to spot the signs of arthritis in dogs and start treating the disease early on.
- The first symptom you will probably notice is that your dog is slow jumping into the car, or walking up steps. Next, it goes to falling down when unnecessary, or general slowness. I have had 3 dogs over the years who all showed these symptoms.
More Symptoms of Arthritis in Dogs
- In my 30-plus years’ experience working with veterinarians, I have seen people very frequently have little knowledge of why their pooch is suddenly or gradually lazy or lethargic. Arthritis starts slowly but then progresses quickly as the owner does nothing about it. It can cause permanent damage!.
- If you spot the symptoms of arthritis in dogs early in the process, it is possible that you could stop the disease from progressing. With proper diet, supplements, and exercise you can help your dog avoid this painful condition.
Personal Stories about Glucosamine for Dogs
Recently my wife and I switched to Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews Plus MSM Joint Health Supplement Chews – 60 Count. One of our Corgis is fussy about eating. Now we recommend these Chews as our top choice for Best Glucosamine for Dogs. They have a softer texture and obviously great taste –the dogs eat them right up. They are a good value at about $15 per month for both dogs.
Another search favorite on our website for Best Glucosamine for Dogs is H3 Essentials Glucosamine Chondroitin for Dogs — though it is a little expensive. They are chews similar to the Nutramax above.
What Do Doctors Say?
I once interviewed a couple of doctors at a meeting. I asked if they thought glucosamine or chondroitin were useful FOR HUMANS. They both said that they were not allowed in their profession to prescribe them for joint pain or other orthopedic use. These supplements had not been proven in a trial to be effective. At the end of both discussions, I asked if they would take these supplements themselves. They both replied, Well, of course, I take them!
According to S. Terry Canale, MD, Most articles quoted the GAIT (Glucosamine / chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial) report funded by the National Institutes of Health in 2006. Basically, the trial reported that in humans, there was no difference in joint pain after taking glucosamine chloride or chondroitin compared to a placebo.
However, I know from experience that any veterinarian in most countries will quickly prescribe and sell glucosamine for dogs along with the best dog vitamins. Many breeds of dogs are prone to joint pain. This is often caused by dysplasia or arthritis.
What Causes Dog Joint Pain?
Dog joint pain is also caused by just general wearing out with age, just like human beings. As a result for dogs, joint supplements and vitamins seem to be very common. Glucosamine is one of the best dog supplements. Another very popular supplement is probiotics for dogs.
Many veterinarians recommend a best glucosamine chondroitin for dogs dosage of approximately 500 mg of glucosamine and 400 mg of chondroitin per 25 pounds. In addition, some formulations of glucosamine and chondroitin for dogs also contain MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) or ASU (avocado/soybean unsaponifiables) as optional enhancers. They are both anti-inflammatories for pain and swelling. The ASU, containing natural oils, is also good a dogs skin and coat.
Veterinary Video on Glucosamine Chondroitin for Dogs
How Much Glucosamine and Chondroitin is there in Dog Food?
It is very important to pay close attention below to how much MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin you give, because there is a proper glucosamine dosage for dogs, and several of the products do not have much glucosamine or chondroitin in them. Thus, to supply the best dog supplements for your dog, you need to have the right balance.
The best glucosamine for dogs with chondroitin and MSM are similar to ones for human, but we have not been able to find a combination of ingredients that comes close to the composition balance and price of the items above.
Glucosamine for Dogs Dosage
How much glucosamine should you give your dog? Let’s look at an analysis of the required dosage of glucosamine for dogs and the other ingredients that go into these products. The recommended glucosamine for dogs dosage is 500 mg per 25 pounds.
But there is a lot more to the story.
The Rest of the Glucosamine Story
Usually, the best glucosamine for dogs is provided in chewy or solid tablets, in amounts that are described later in this article. There are some brands that are liquid glucosamine for dogs that won’t take pills. You have to do some simple math to figure out the right number of tablets, or maybe a part of a tablet to give your dog to get the right glucosamine chondroitin for dogs dosage.
There are additional supplements that are usually combined with glucosamine for dogs or for humans! Pills usually have also MSM and chondroitin included. So, it is necessary to insure you are giving the correct glucosamine chondroitin dosage for dogs, too. If you choose good supplements, as we recommend here, then these components will be proportioned correctly.
The recommended glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM dosages for dogs are as follows:
- Glucosamine: 500 mg per 25 pounds.
- Chondroitin sulfate: 400 mg per 25 pounds.
- MSM: 200 mg per 25 pounds.
For sources:
- We have our own complete discussion in this Pet Supplies Station article on glucosamine dosage.
- The recommended glucosamine for dogs dosage and chondroitin for dogs dosage are available in this article.
- The recommended MSM for dogs dosage is available in this article.
To summarize, most veterinarians recommend dog glucosamine dosage of approximately 500 mg of glucosamine and 400 mg of chondroitin per 25 pounds.
Dog Foods That Say They Have Glucosamine
You will probably see dog food that says includes glucosamine or something similar. One example is Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula. Actually, there is not much glucosamine or other supplements in them, and you cannot trust simply seeing the words dog food includes glucosamine to have enough actual supplements if you are want to give your dog a good dosage.
We can quickly calculate how much glucosamine for dogs there is in Blue Buffalo as follows:
Blue Buffalo says there are 3,567 Kcals/kg or 365Kcals/cup. (Kcals is the same as what we humans call calories). The package says that there are 10 cups of dog food in a kilogram (2.2 pounds). We got this by dividing: 3567/365 = 10 cups per kilogram. Remember there are 2.2 pounds in a kilogram!
What Is the Suggested Serving Portion?
The suggested portion on the package is 4 cups for a 70-pound dog, which works out to about 1,400 calories. That’s about right according to most sources for a dog of that size. A 140-pound woman on average consumes about 2,200 calories a day (see http://www.livestrong.com). So we are in the ballpark.
Now, in a kilogram of Blue Buffalo, there is 400 mg of glucosamine for your dog. TI would say they put this number on the label because it sounds like the 500 mg of glucosamine you would normally give your 25-pound dog in a day. But if Fluffy, your 25-pound dog, ate a kilogram or 2 pounds of dog food a day, Fluffy would soon be the size of a Rottweiler and weigh 70 pounds or more!!
A 25-pound dog should only get about 1-2 cups of dry dog food per day. Let’s be generous and say 2 cups, which even so might quickly produce a fat dog! 1 cup has 400/10 = 40 mg glucosamine, so 2 cups has 80 mg.
A 25-pound dog should get 500 mg of glucosamine. As a result. the dry dog food supplies about 1/6 the recommended glucosamine for dogs dosage. I don’t think we could say that this really includes glucosamine because it is only a small fraction of the amount needed to give the correct glucosamine for dogs dosage.
How about Chondroitin?
We can do the same calculation for the chondroitin, which is stated to be 300mg/kg. Therefore, this works out in a similar manner to about 60 mg per 25-pound dog serving, or about 1/6 the recommended dose.
Another popular food brand in major stores is Pedigree Healthy Joints. In this example, the analysis they guarantee is again 500 mg/kg and 375 mg/kg of chondroitin, about the same as Blue Buffalo, and you get the same outcome.
Glucosamine Dosage: Math Reality Check
We suggest that you supplement your dog food with good quality glucosamine supplements. Usually the dosage of glucosamine in dog foods isn’t high enough to make any difference. Therefore, it’s actually just marketing to make you think that there is a meaningful amount of glucosamine in the fool. Your dog gets much more benefit from a supplement.
Lets check this against some experts on HUMANS! The Mayo Clinic says that to help prevent general osteoarthritis in humans, you should take 1000-2000 milligrams daily of glucosamine, glucosamine sulfate, or glucosamine hydrochloride. This can be in capsules, powders, or tablets. The dog usually takes this by mouth. We will use the number of 1,500 mg. This is an average dosage in a human human glucosamine tablet (or tablets). This is for men who weigh 180, and women 154. This does not have to be exact to make the point.
The average for both women and men is 167. Dose is 1,500 mg. So for a 25-lb dog, we get 25*1500/167 = 225 mg. So we are getting close to the 400-500 mg suggested for a dog.
Related Dog Supplements
There are numerous dog supplements that are good for your dog’s health:
- Fish Oil: Regardless of the diet you feed your dog, a very vital and nutritious supplement is fish oil for dogs. Therefore, fish oil helps to maintain their minds, bodies, and coats in top shape.
- Omega 3: This is an anti-oxidant, commonly found in fish oil. It helps reduce swelling and irritation from various conditions. Most reports say simply that Omega 3 promotes general health so your dog will live longer.
- Probiotics: Like human being, dogs get many benefits from using probiotics. These “good bacteria” boosters for digestion help cut down on various irritants and inflammations.
Methodology
Cost factors are calculated by dividing the current price, not including shipping by the number of 500 mg doses of glucosamine, rounded to the nearest cent. Subject to change. Titles and descriptions are condensed from the manufacturers, and some comments are included from Amazon buyers. So here are our choices for Best Glucosamine for Dogs, one of the best supplements for dogs you can get.
What Factors Do We Consider
The primaries factors we take into consideration for the quality, effectiveness, and popularity of the best glucosamine supplement for dogs is the relative rating of the product in overall sales, that is for example 4 out of 5 stars, and the number of reviews that any product receives. If a product has a lot of reviews, that means a lot of people have used it. Finally, we consider the number of negative reviews and attempt to understand if there are any problems with the product as fast as the average customer is concerned.
Glucosamine Dog Treats
Just a reminder, if you are looking for Glucosamine Dog Treats we would really suggest the Nutramax Cosequin Soft Chews Plus MSM Joint Health Supplement Chews – 60 Count
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