Whether or not dogs 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 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 our choices 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 Core Elements 8-in-1 – Best Overall

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

These soft chews come in counts of 90, 180, and 250. So, there’s a container size out there, no matter how many you need! Because 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 who don’t understand that these treats aren’t just food; they’re medicine too!

---

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

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry! PetNC’s 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 with these soft chews.

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.

---

3. NutraMax Cosequin Maximum Strength – Premium Choice

Nutramax’s Cosequin Maximum Strength are chewable tablets featuring glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to support healthy joints and mobility. These are the number one veterinarian-recommended glucosamine supports for joints and mobility. That’s why they’re our choice for the best premium glucosamine supplements for dogs.

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.

---

4. PetHonesty 10-in-1 Multivitamin Peanut Butter Soft Chews – Best for Puppies

PetHonesty’s 10-in-1 Multivitamin is one of the most comprehensive multivitamins for dogs, making it an excellent choice 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!

---

5. NaturVet Moderate Care Glucosamine DS Plus

NaturVet’s Glucosamine DS Plus soft chews are specially formulated and designed to help dogs who need a little boost to their joint support. These specifically target adult and overweight pets, so these 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!

---

6. Vet’s Best Aches & Pains Chewable Tablets

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

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 USA for pet parents who prefer to make their products close to home.

---

7. VetriScience GlycoFlex Stage III

VetriScience’s GlycoFlex Stage III soft chews are especially recommended for dogs who 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, DMG, and antioxidants selected for joint health! They boost joint strength and help your dog stay mobile longer. They’re clinically proven to increase hind leg strength by 41% within four weeks of starting the supplements!

---

8. Synovi G4 Soft Chews Joint Supplement

Synovi’s G4 Soft Chews are the perfect all-natural joint supplement for supporting healthy collaborative growth and other immune system functions. This supplement contains a variety of natural anti-inflammatory, immune support, andantioxidant supplements that will help keep your dog comfortable and mobile.

---

9. Waggedy Anti-Inflammatory Hip & Joint

Waggedy’s Anti-Inflammatory Hip & Joint soft chews contain turmeric as their 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; you won’t get any surprises with these!

---

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

What Is Glucosamine?

Let’s get into some more details about glucosamine. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound made of glucose and amino acid called glutamine. Glucosamine is a building block of cartilage, and an increase in glucosamine 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 dogs. 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 dog to stay active and healthy.

How Can Glucosamine Help My Dog?

Staying Active

Glucosamine improves joint function, stability, and flexibility, allowing 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.

Symptoms 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 symptoms of hip dysplasia look very similar to that of canine arthritis. However, the symptoms 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 dog breeds, like German Shepherd Dogs, are more prone to hip dysplasia than others. When purchasing a dog through a breeder, you should request a genetic report on the dog. A responsible breeder should be able to supply you with information on the dog and its parents.

While glucosamine supplements can’t reverse damage or undo the malformation of the hip joints, they can help alleviate discomfort and improve strength and mobility of the hip joints. Hip dysplasia is usually 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 dog health. It can improve the quality of life and longevity of our dogs. Our choice for the best overall glucosamine supplement was Zesty Paws’ 8-in-1 Multivitamin. Pet parents on a budget can rely on PetNC’s Natural Care Hip & Joint Soft Chews. If you have a little extra to spend, our choice for the best premium glucosamine supplement for dogs was NutraMax’s Cosequin Maximum Strength chewable tablets.

---

Featured Image Credit: Varvara Serebrova, Shutterstock