Dog Joint Supplement Dose Comparison Checker
Enter your dog's weight and the amounts printed on the label. This tool compares the daily amount on the label with the amount used in published canine studies. It does not recommend a dose for your dog.
Study dose
This product at label dose
Enter the amount on the label and chews or tablets per day to compare.
Study doses at a glance
Reference doses pending reviewer sign-off. Data last updated 2026-10-06.
| Ingredient | Dose used in the study | Study | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) (pending reviewer sign-off) | 69 mg EPA+DHA per kg per day | Mehler et al., 2016 (84 days, 78 dogs with osteoarthritis; 74 completed). Average dose 69 mg EPA+DHA/kg/day. Pump schedule in the paper: 720 mg for 4.5-13.6 kg, 1440 mg for 13.7-27.2 kg, 2160 mg for 27.3-40.8 kg, 2880 mg above 40.8 kg.Mehler SJ, May LR, King C, et al. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2016;109:1-7. DOI 10.1016/j.plefa.2016.03.015 · PMID 27269707Where the dose is stated: Abstract, Methods. | Read the review |
| Eggshell membrane (NEM®) | 150 mg per 25 lb (about 13 mg/kg) | Ruff et al., 2016 (6 weeks, 51 dogs with suboptimal joint function). The paper reports 150 mg per 25 lb (about 13.5 mg/kg). The calculator uses 13.2 mg/kg as that conversion, not a second study dose.Ruff KJ, Kopp KJ, Von Behrens P, et al. Vet Med (Auckl). 2016;7:113-121. DOI 10.2147/VMRR.S101842 · PMID 30050844Where the dose is stated: Subjects and methods, Study design. | Read the review |
| UC-II (undenatured type II collagen) | 40 mg of UC-II ingredient per dog per day | Stabile et al., 2019 (30 days, one tablet daily, 60 dogs). The 40 mg is the weight of the UC-II ingredient, not active undenatured type II collagen. Fixed daily dose per dog, not per kg.Stabile M, Samarelli R, Trerotoli P, et al. Vet Sci. 2019;6(3):72. DOI 10.3390/vetsci6030072 · PMID 31487772Where the dose is stated: Section 2 (Materials and Methods, treatment allocation). | Read the review |
| Glucosamine | 30 mg glucosamine HCl per kg per day | Kampa et al., 2023 (6 weeks, dogs with hip osteoarthritis). About 600 mg a day for a 20 kg dog. Combination product; force-plate did not improve.Kampa N, Kaenkangploo D, Jitpean S, et al. Front Vet Sci. 2023;10:1033188. DOI 10.3389/fvets.2023.1033188 · PMID 36816197Where the dose is stated: Methods, Animals/Treatment groups (Group 2). | Read the review |
| ASU (avocado/soybean unsaponifiables) (pending reviewer sign-off) | 10 mg/kg/day | Boileau et al., 2009 (8 weeks, 16 dogs, cruciate ligament transection model). 10 mg/kg/day orally. Structural outcomes only, not a clinical pain dose. | Read the review |
| Hyaluronic acid (oral) (pending reviewer sign-off) | 27 mg up to 26 kg; 54 mg above 26 kg | Serra Aguado et al., 2021 (10 weeks, 55 dogs after TTA surgery). 27 mg HA per capsule; 1 capsule if 26 kg or under, 2 capsules if over 26 kg. Biomarker outcomes only. | Read the review |
Study dose by body weight
Daily amount a dog of each weight would get at the study dose. This is a reference for comparing labels, not a dosing recommendation.
| Dog weight | Omega-3 (EPA + DHA) (mg/day) | Eggshell membrane (NEM®) (mg/day) | Glucosamine (mg/day) | ASU (avocado/soybean unsaponifiables) (mg/day) | UC-II (undenatured type II collagen) (mg/day) | Hyaluronic acid (oral) (mg/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 345 | 66 | 150 | 50 | 40 (fixed) | 27 (fixed) |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 690 | 132 | 300 | 100 | 40 (fixed) | 27 (fixed) |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 1380 | 264 | 600 | 200 | 40 (fixed) | 27 (fixed) |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 2070 | 396 | 900 | 300 | 40 (fixed) | 27 (fixed) |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 2760 | 528 | 1200 | 400 | 40 (fixed) | 27 (fixed) |
How to read a joint supplement label
- Find the milligrams of the active ingredient in the Guaranteed Analysis or Active Ingredients panel.
- Check whether the amount is per 1 chew or per 2 or more — this is the most common reason label doses get misread.
- Use the maintenance number of chews for your dog's weight, not the higher loading amount some products give for the first weeks.
- Note the form: glucosamine HCl and glucosamine sulfate are different, and "collagen" can mean UC-II or hydrolyzed collagen, which are not interchangeable.
For the full step-by-step version, see what to look for in a dog joint supplement: label checklist, or see the Cosequin vs Dasuquin label comparison. Loose stool after starting a new chew? Read can joint supplements cause diarrhea in dogs?
Frequently asked questions
How does my dog's glucosamine amount compare with research doses?
For comparison, the placebo-controlled trial we use as a reference gave 30 mg of glucosamine HCl per kg per day — about 600 mg for a 20 kg (44 lb) dog. This is the amount used in that study, not a recommended dose for an individual dog. In that trial the glucosamine group did not improve on the objective force-plate measure. Follow the product label and ask your veterinarian before changing the amount you give.
Is a higher dose better?
Not necessarily. Studies tested specific amounts; going above the label amount has not been shown to work better and increases cost. Do not give more than the label directs without talking to your veterinarian.
Why is the UC-II dose not based on body weight?
The UC-II studies gave a fixed amount per dog each day rather than an amount per kilogram, so the calculator compares a label against that fixed amount. Use the UC-II ingredient amount on the label, not the total collagen amount.
Why can't I check omega-3, green-lipped mussel or turmeric yet?
We only add a study dose after our reviewer has checked it against the original paper. Those ingredients are still being checked, or their studies gave doses in a way (such as a share of the diet) that cannot be compared with a chew label.
What should I look for on the label?
The amount of each active ingredient in milligrams, whether that amount is per 1 chew or per several, the daily number of chews for your dog's weight at maintenance (not the loading phase), and the ingredient's form, such as glucosamine HCl versus sulfate.
A study amount is a research reference, not a recommended dose. Matching it does not mean a product will produce the same outcome.