Joint supplements are among the most commonly purchased products for dogs. Understanding the evidence base helps owners make welfare-positive decisions for arthritic or at-risk dogs.
Dogs in joint pain benefit most from a multimodal approach: appropriate analgesia, physiotherapy, weight management and enrichment that keeps them moving without overloading joints. Supplements may provide marginal benefit in mild cases and are unlikely to cause harm, but should not substitute for veterinary assessment and treatment. The welfare risk of using supplements instead of NSAIDs is that dogs remain in preventable pain while owners believe the supplement is managing their condition.