Whether canines should be taking nutritional supplements is a hot debate. While many argue that a dog eating a properly balanced diet shouldn’t need supplements, others say that it’s unrealistic to expect any diet to be perfectly balanced.

Glucosamine supplements are among the most reliable supplements that your dog can take. While the body produces glucosamine on its own, as your dog ages, they’ll need more glucosamine than their bodies can make, and supplementing their diet with extra glucosamine can help improve their quality of life and health outcomes.

Here are reviews for the top glucosamine supplements for dogs.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2024 Update)

The 9 Best Glucosamine Supplements for Dogs

1. Zesty Paws Multivitamin 8-in-1 Bites — Best Overall

Our choice for the best overall glucosamine supplement for dogs is Zesty Paws Multivitamin 8-in-1 Bites. These soft chews act as a multivitamin for dogs, providing them with glucosamine and vitamins C, E, and B-Complex, methylsulfonylmethane (or MSM), and cod liver fish oil to promote healthy muscle growth and immune system function.

These soft chews come in counts of 90, 180, and 250. So, there’s a container size out there for you, no matter how many you need! Since these are in soft chew form, you can add them to your rotation of treats that your dog gets during training time. But be sure to keep them out of reach from those that don’t understand that these treats aren’t just food; they’re medicine too!

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2. PetNC Natural Care Hip & Joint Soft Chews — Best Value

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry! PetNC Natural Care Hip & Joint Soft Chews are the best glucosamine supplements for dogs for the money. They come in a 90-count container and feature chondroitin and MSM for enhanced joint support.

Now, the lack of other vitamins and minerals might be a definite downside for pet parents looking to find one catch-all multivitamin for their dog. However, these liver-flavored treats are perfect for the picky eaters of the world.

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3. Nutramax Cosequin Hip & Joint Maximum Strength Plus MSM Chewable Tablets — Premium Choice

Nutramax Cosequin Hip & Joint Maximum Strength Plus MSM Chewable Tablets feature glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to support healthy joints and mobility. They are the number-one veterinarian-recommended glucosamine supplements for joints and mobility, which is why they’re our premium choice.

These chewable tablets can be given to your dog as a pill or crushed up and added to their food. They’re safe for all life stages and breed sizes.

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4. PetHonesty Multivitamin 10-in-1 Peanut Butter Glucosamine, Omega-3 Vitamins for Dogs — Best for Puppies

PetHonesty Multivitamin 10-in-1 Peanut Butter Glucosamine, Omega-3 Vitamins for Dogs are among the most comprehensive multivitamins for dogs, making them excellent for someone who has a puppy that they want to give a head start to. These soft chews provide 20 essential vitamins, glucosamine, and omega-3 fatty acids to help your dog’s joints grow healthy and stay healthy.

These are peanut butter-flavored soft chews that your dogs will love as much as they love their treats. But be careful about getting them confused because too much of a good thing isn’t healthy either!

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5. NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS Plus Soft Chews

NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS Plus Soft Chews are specially formulated and designed to help dogs that need a little boost to their joint support. These specifically target adult and overweight pets, so they might not be for you if you have a puppy! They’re formulated with glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to help joint health and alleviate the aches and pains associated with daily exercise.

Since these aren’t multivitamins, dog parents looking for a more comprehensive option will probably want to pass on them. But for those looking for a simple, no-frills joint support supplement, look no further!

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6. Vet’s Best Aches & Pains Chewable Tablets

Vet’s Best Aches & Pains Chewable Tablets provide aspirin-free pain relief and joint support, making them especially good for dogs that have started to have onset arthritis and may need extra support and pain relief. These tablets contain glucosamine, MSM, pineapple bromelain, and white willow bark to provide pain relief and joint support.

They’re made of plant-based materials formulated by American veterinarians and approved by the National Animal Supplement Council. They’re also sourced and produced in the U.S.A. for pet parents who prefer to have their products made close to home.

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7. VetriScience GlycoFlex 3 Hip & Joint Care Advanced Strength With Glucosamine & MSM Chicken Flavored Joint Supplement Chew

VetriScience GlycoFlex 3 Hip & Joint Care Advanced Strength With Glucosamine & MSM Chicken Flavored Joint Supplement Chew is especially recommended for dogs that need joint and connective tissue support. These soft chews are also recommended for dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery.

These soft chews contain perna, MSM, glucosamine, dimethylglycine (or DMG), and antioxidants selected for joint health. They boost joint strength and help your dog stay mobile longer. According to the manufacturer, they’re clinically proven to increase hind leg strength by 41% within 4 weeks of starting the supplements!

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8. Synovi G4 Soft Chews Joint Supplement

Synovi G4 Soft Chews Joint Supplement is the perfect all-natural joint supplement for supporting healthy collaborative growth and other immune system functions. It contains a variety of natural anti-inflammatory, immune-supporting, and antioxidant supplements that will help keep your dog comfortable and mobile.

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9. waggedy Anti-Inflammatory Hip & Joint Soft Chews Supplement

waggedy Anti-Inflammatory Hip & Joint Soft Chews Supplement contain turmeric as its primary anti-inflammatory, along with MSM and glucosamine to help with long-term support to the joints and hips. They’re little barebones when it comes to both joint support and anti-inflammation, but you won’t get any surprises with these!

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Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Glucosamine Supplements for Dogs

What Is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound made of glucose and amino acid called glutamine. It’s a building block of cartilage, so an increase will stimulate cartilage growth. It is also responsible for keeping the joints lubricated with synovial fluid by thickening the liquid to support the joints.

Your dog’s body naturally produces glucosamine, but as they get older, the amount of glucosamine produced by the body is insufficient to keep the joints healthy in the long term. Supplementing glucosamine in aging dogs has been shown to have markedly positive effects on overall health outcomes.

Why Is Glucosamine Important?

Glucosamine is responsible for stimulating cartilage growth and thickening synovial fluid in the body. Both cartilage growth and thicker synovial fluid improve joint function and flexibility, helping your dog stay mobile for longer.

The thickening of the synovial fluid has been shown to slow the progression of arthritis in canines. However, glucosamine is not a cure for degenerative joint disease. Increasing the amount of glucosamine in your dog’s system can help reduce stiffness and discomfort, allowing your pet to stay active and healthy.

How Can Glucosamine Help My Dog?

Staying Active

Glucosamine improves joint function, stability, and flexibility, enabling your dog to maintain strength and range of motion in their joints for longer. Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy, and increasing the glucosamine in the body can help your dog stay active and prevent obesity.

Reducing Discomfort

Since glucosamine thickens the synovial fluid in the joints, it means the joints can move more freely and with less discomfort.

What Conditions Can Be Treated With Glucosamine?

If your dog has a condition affecting the hips or joints, your vet might recommend adding a regimen of glucosamine to your dog’s daily life. While glucosamine is not a cure for degenerative disorders, it can help slow the progression of certain diseases and alleviate discomfort associated with them.

Canine Arthritis

Canine arthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by joint inflammation and discomfort. If left untreated, it can lead to loss of mobility, stiffness, and even lameness in severe cases.

Signs of canine arthritis include limping, slowness to rise, avoiding stairs, problems getting in or out of the car, and loss of interest in walks. Limping may increase in the morning or during cold weather.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a degenerative joint disease affecting the hips. It is caused by a hereditary malformation of the hip joints and cannot be entirely prevented, even through selective breeding. If left unchecked, hip dysplasia will cause lameness in the long term.

The signs of hip dysplasia look similar to those of canine arthritis. However, they more markedly affect the hind legs in cases of hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia also results in swaying while standing and a “bunny-hop” gait.

Some purebred dogs, like German Shepherds, are more prone to hip dysplasia than others. When purchasing a dog through a breeder, you should request a genetic report. A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with information on the dog and their parents.

While glucosamine supplements can’t reverse damage or undo the malformation of the hip joints, they can help alleviate discomfort and improve the strength and mobility of the hip joints. Hip dysplasia can be noticeable and diagnosed in puppies. However, most dogs won’t see a marked decline until later in life.

Conclusion

Glucosamine is an essential supplement for canine health. It can improve the quality of life and longevity of dogs. Our choice for the best overall glucosamine supplement among these reviews is Zesty Paws’s 8-in-1 Multivitamin. Pet parents on a budget can rely on PetNC’s Natural Care Hip & Joint Soft Chews. If you have extra to spend, our choice for the best premium glucosamine supplement for dogs is NutraMax’s Cosequin Maximum Strength chewable tablets.

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Featured Image Credit: Varvara Serebrova, Shutterstock