Best Boswellia Supplement for Dogs UK (2026): Compared

Quick answer: only a handful of dog joint supplements sold in the UK contain Boswellia, and the amount per dose ranges from about 8mg to about 190mg. If Boswellia on its own is your priority, Vetoquinol's Flexadin Advanced has the most per chew. If you want Boswellia as part of all-round joint support, we'd recommend MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews: 30mg of Boswellia per chew alongside glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel and hyaluronic acid, in a soft chew dogs take like a treat.

Transparency note: this page is written by MedPaw, which makes a joint supplement that contains Boswellia. Amounts are taken from each brand's own label or listing, linked below so you can check them. Checked 9 October 2026.

What Boswellia is, and what the evidence says

Boswellia serrata (Indian frankincense) is a tree resin whose boswellic acids are thought to influence the body's inflammatory response. Our guide to Boswellia for dogs explains how it's thought to work and who it may suit. The short version on evidence:

• The main dog study of Boswellia alone was an open trial of 29 dogs with no control group. Vets judged it effective in 71% of the 24 dogs that completed it, and a few dogs had brief diarrhoea or wind (Reichling et al., 2004). It used 400mg of extract per 10kg of body weight a day, far more than most joint chews in the table below give a medium or large dog, ours included.
• A small randomised, placebo-controlled trial of a chew combining Boswellia with UC-II collagen found owners reported better mobility. Only 17 dogs took part and it was funded by the manufacturer (Stabile et al., 2024).
• A 2022 review of 72 trials of natural products for dog and cat arthritis listed a Boswellia extract trial under "others" and drew no conclusion on Boswellia alone. Omega-3 had the clearest benefit (Barbeau-Grégoire et al., 2022).

So Boswellia is promising, but it isn't proven, and no product at these amounts has strong evidence behind it.

Boswellia supplements for dogs sold in the UK, compared

Two things to bear in mind. First, dogs get a different number of chews or tablets a day on each product, so per-dose figures aren't daily totals. Second, "Boswellia" can mean a standardised extract or a powdered resin, and labels rarely say how strong it is, so the milligrams aren't perfectly comparable. Many brands also make other joint products without Boswellia, so check you're buying the right one.

When to see a vet first

A supplement isn't a painkiller or a treatment. See your vet, rather than reaching for a supplement, if your dog has:

• a limp that lasts more than a day or two, or comes on suddenly
• yelping, panting or restlessness that could be pain
• a swollen, hot or painful joint
• weakness, wobbliness or dragging paws
• stiffness with weight loss, lethargy or loss of appetite

Our guide on when to take a limping dog to the vet goes into more detail.

What actually helps, before any supplement

Keeping your dog lean is the single most useful thing you can do for their joints. Add steady, controlled exercise, non-slip rugs, a ramp for the car, and physiotherapy or hydrotherapy if your vet suggests it. See how to keep an older dog mobile and hydrotherapy for dogs. If your vet recommends pain relief, a supplement sits alongside it, not instead of it.

What to look for in a Boswellia supplement

• A published amount. If the label only lists "Boswellia" with no milligrams, you can't compare it.
• A format your dog will take every day. A supplement only works if it's eaten. Many dogs refuse tablets.
• Allergens. Many Boswellia products also contain shellfish-derived glucosamine, mussel, chicken, fish or gluten.
• Warnings. Some brands, such as Dorwest, say their Boswellia product isn't for pregnant or lactating dogs. Ask your vet if your dog takes medication.

How MedPaw fits

MedPaw isn't the highest-Boswellia product in the table, and we won't pretend it is. What it offers is Boswellia as one of all six key joint actives in a single soft chew, so you're not juggling several products. How many chews depends on your dog's weight; see the feeding guide on the product page.

Our recommendation: if your vet is happy for your dog to try a supplement and you want Boswellia as part of broad joint support rather than on its own, try MedPaw for six to eight weeks. If it isn't right for your dog, email us within 60 days and we'll refund you. MedPaw contains mollusc (green-lipped mussel) and gluten (brewer's yeast), so it isn't suitable for dogs with a shellfish allergy. It's a complementary feed, not a medicine, so check with your vet first if your dog has a health condition or takes medication. Try MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews.

For older dogs specifically, see the best joint supplements for senior dogs, and if your dog is losing muscle, read the best supplement for a dog losing muscle.