I tried NaturVet Glucosamine-DS Supplement for my Older Dogs [Review]

When my thirteen-year-old Dalmatian mix, Ragz, stopped bouncing around the house, I knew which brand to turn to. NaturVet’s other supplements have helped my pets in the past and I was hopeful their glucosamine would show similar effective results.

There is nothing worse than watching your best furry friend struggle with painful joints as they age. It’s this all-too-common issue that NaturVet set out to remedy when they created their line of Glucosamine-DS supplements.

This line includes products for minor joint aches and pains as well as more debilitating conditions.

Keep reading to find out how their Glucosamine-DS Level 2 supplement helped Ragz and to see my full NaturVet Glucosamine-DS Supplement review. 

What Is NaturVet?

NaturVet is a pet supplement company with a long list of products, but they started with just one product. When Scott Garmon’s newly adopted Labrador developed painful arthritis at a young age he set off to find a natural solution. 

That’s how the first NaturVet glucosamine supplement was born.

Today, the company has a number of glucosamine products. They also sell supplements for a range of issues, from tear stains to anxiety.

Where Are NaturVet Glucosamine Products Produced?

Glucosamine-DS supplements, just like the rest of NaturVet’s products, are manufactured in the USA. Their headquarters are located in Temecula, California.

Who Should Use NaturVet Glucosamine-DS?

NaturVet’s glucosamine products are available in different concentrations, making them a great choice for any dog or cat who suffers from any degree of joint pain.

The glucosamine, chondroitin, omegas, and antioxidants in Glucosamine-DS help reduce inflammation and support proper joint function. They can help younger pets suffering from hip dysplasia, older adults with occasional lameness, and seniors with arthritis.

Because supplements like Glucosamine-DS can help prevent joint damage, it’s best to start these products before symptoms arise.

About NaturVet Glucosamine-DS

Out of all the pet supplements on the market, glucosamine is one that almost all pets can benefit from at some point in their lives. 

So why should you choose Glucosamine-DS over the many other options out there? Because this glucosamine supplement is available in different concentrations, contains powerful natural ingredients, is easy to dose and administer, and starts working quickly.

Options

NaturVet’s Glucosamine-DS is available in three different concentrations. 

Glucosamine-DS Level 1 is meant for dogs and cats with minor joint pain. Each soft chew contains 250 mg of glucosamine HCL and 30 mg of chondroitin.

Glucosamine-DS Plus Level 2 is meant for pets with moderate joint pain. Each soft chew contains 250 mg of glucosamine HCL and 30 mg of chondroitin, plus 250 mg of MSM. This is the product I give Ragz.

ArthriSoothe-Gold Level 3 is for dogs and cats with advanced joint pain and arthritis. It also contains 250 mg of glucosamine HCL and MSM per chew but has 100 mg of chondroitin. It also contains 100 mg of green-lipped mussel.

Each of these supplements is available in chew form as well as tablets, capsules, and liquid.

Ingredients

While the higher levels of Glucosamine-DM contain additional joint-supporting ingredients, they each have the same base formula.

This consists of:

• Glucosamine HCL – Increases the amount of fluid and cartilage around joints to prevent damage.
• Yucca Schidigera – A natural anti-inflammatory and source of saponins, which are theorized to play a role in reducing protozoan-caused arthritis. 
• Chondroitin Sulfate – Helps keep connective tissue hydrated while blocking enzymes that break down cartilage. 
• Vitamin C and E – Powerful antioxidants that fight inflammation.
• Omega-3 and 6 – Fatty acids that reduce joint inflammation and pain and slow arthritis progression.

Dosage

The dose of these glucosamine products varies by dog weight and product level. Typically, small dogs will need one chew while giant dogs will need four to six chews per day.

NaturVet recommends doubling the recommended dose for the first three weeks your pet is on the product. This is a common recommendation with glucosamine. A double dose helps repair damage that has already happened while a single dose works well for maintenance once symptoms have already improved.

How to Administer

I give my dogs their Glucosamine-DS Plus by breaking up the chews and putting them in their food. I’ve also given the capsules and tablets this way. 

You can also feed the chews straight and hide the capsules and tablets in meat or cheese. The liquid is made to be added directly to meals.

I’ve found that my dogs aren’t the biggest fans of the chews, I think because they have a very muted flavor. They often won’t eat them straight, but they never have an issue eating them along with their food. 

When to Expect Results

In my experience, you will likely see results before your three-week double dose period ends. I noticed Ragz limping much less about a week and a half after starting the product. By the end of three weeks, she was acting much more like her younger self.

Key Features

NaturVet’s glucosamine products combine numerous effective ingredients to help reduce joint inflammation, fight pain, and protect cartilage. 

A potent combination of glucosamine HCL, chondroitin, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids makes these supplements more effective than most. The higher-level products also contain MSM and green-lipped mussel for added benefits.

Pros

• Effective all-natural ingredients
• Multiple levels for different needs
• Fast results
• Easy to dose
• Wheat-free
• Available in chews, tablets, liquid, and capsules
• Affordable

Cons

• Not overly palatable
• Strong odor
• Need to double dose at first for best results

My Experience with NaturVet Glucosamine-DS

I started my old Dalmatian mix, Ragz, on NaturVet’s Glucosamine-DS Plus Level 2 about six months ago.

She has always had a bum shoulder that acts up on occasion. But after moving to a hilly neighborhood that added elevation changes to our walks, the limp became much more noticeable. Because I’ve had great results with other supplements from NaturVet, I didn’t hesitate to turn to them for glucosamine.

I chose the Level 2 product because of Ragz’s age, how constant the limp had become, and because she was otherwise still pretty mobile. 

I also started my fourteen-year-old Chihuahua, Papyrus, on this supplement, as well. Being a little guy, his joint pain is less noticeable. But after struggling with luxating patellas his whole life, I knew his back legs had to be hurting.

After only about ten days on the product, I was already seeing improvement in both dogs. By the time I was done double-dosing them at the three-week mark, Ragz had gained a lot of energy back. She was no longer dragging on the last hill of our walk and was much more likely to run zoomies than before.

Even Papyrus seemed a little more lively than usual. And his back leg skipping, a sign of painful knees, improved.

I do wish these chews were a little more palatable so I could add them whole to my dogs’ food and feel confident they’d eat them. But, since they occasionally spit them on the floor when I do this, I always have to break them up.

Other than that, I have no complaints about this product. It works quickly, produces obvious results, and contains only ingredients I can feel good about feeding my fur babies. I plan to continue using it for my senior dogs for the rest of their lives.

Final Verdict

If your dog or cat has developed joint pain or arthritis, I highly recommend getting them on one of NaturVet’s glucosamine products.

All three levels of their Glucosamine-DS supplement contain powerful and effective natural ingredients proven to help support joint health and reduce pain and inflammation. They are available in a variety of forms, impressively affordable, and produce quick results.