If you have just bought a joint supplement for your dog, one of the first questions is usually the simplest. How much should I actually give? It is a sensible thing to ask. The answer is not the same for a small terrier and a big Labrador, and it is not the same from one product to the next.
This guide explains how joint supplement dosing generally works and how to feed MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max correctly. We will also cover how long to give it, what to tell your vet, and when a supplement is not the right next step.
A supplement sits alongside good care. It supports your dog's joints and everyday mobility, but it never replaces a vet's advice, especially if your dog seems uncomfortable.
Before you settle on a dose, compare what is in the chew
A feeding guide tells you how much to give, but not what your dog receives in each serving. That depends on the formula, so it helps to see which joint actives each product lists before you commit to a daily routine.
The table below compares MedPaw, our own product, with five other UK joint supplements, starting with a score for how many of six key joint actives each one contains.
Key joint actives in the UK's leading dog joint supplements
| Ingredient | MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max | NutraPaw Joint Support | YuMOVE Joint Support PLUS Max | Seraquin Joint | Synoquin EFA | Nutraquin+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key joint actives | 6 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 6 (+1 via mussel) | 2 of 6 | 2 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
| Glucosamine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chondroitin | ✓ | ✗ | Via mussel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MSM | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Green-lipped mussel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hyaluronic acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Boswellia | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Omega-3 | Mussel, flax | Mussel | Mussel, fish oil | ✗ | Krill oil | ✗ |
| Turmeric | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Collagen | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Antioxidants | Vit C, Vit E, zinc | Manganese | Vit C, Vit E, manganese | ✗ | Vit C, zinc | Vit C, zinc |
| Format | Soft chew | Tablet | Tablet | Chewable tablet | Tablet or capsule | Capsule |
| Guarantee | 60 days | 90 days | 6 weeks | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
✓ = included, ✗ = not listed. Key joint actives: glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and Boswellia. Taken from each manufacturer's published information, September 2026.
The top row is the one to read first. MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max is the only product here with all six key joint actives: glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and Boswellia serrata. The others list between two and four, so the same number of daily servings does not mean the same range of ingredients.
For dosing, MedPaw keeps it simple. A 20kg dog has 2 to 3 soft chews a day, doubled for the first three weeks, with 2 to 3 months of daily use recommended for optimal results. The chew format makes a daily routine easier to keep up.
All of this supports your dog's joints and everyday mobility alongside veterinary care. If you would like to try it, the 60-day money-back guarantee and Subscribe & Save make it easy to give it a proper run.
Explore MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max See the full feeding guide and ingredients for the soft chew that brings all six key joint actives together in one daily serving.
Why dose depends on body weight
Joint supplements are generally dosed in weight bands. A Chihuahua and a Labrador do not need the same amount, so most feeding guides tell you how much to give based on how heavy your dog is. That is how the whole category tends to work.
The practical point is that the dose belongs to the product. A guide written for a powder does not translate to a tablet, and a tablet guide does not translate to a soft chew. Each product has its own strength, its own format and its own feeding guide.
Never carry a dose across from one product to another
It can be tempting to think, "My friend gives her dog two of something, so I will give two of mine." Please do not. Always use the guide printed on the exact product you are feeding, and match it to your dog's weight now rather than the weight they were last year.
Strength is not the same as dose
When you compare supplements, you may see ingredient panels listed "per 100g" of the product. That figure describes what the product is made of. It does not tell you how much your dog actually receives in a day.
A product can look impressive on a per 100g basis and still deliver a modest amount per serving, or the other way round. What matters is the daily amount of each ingredient your dog gets when you follow the feeding guide. If you are comparing two products, ask the manufacturer for the daily amounts at your dog's weight rather than relying on the headline percentage.
Consistency matters here too. Some products are designed to be fed at the same level for the long term, while others suggest a different amount later on. Every product has its own guide, so follow the one on your pack, and ask your vet before changing the amount.
How to feed MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max is a daily soft chew and a complementary feed for dogs. Its key joint ingredients are glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and Boswellia serrata. It also provides omega-3 from green-lipped mussel and flax seed, vitamins C and E, and zinc, and it is made with rapeseed oil and glycerine.
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max: daily feeding guide
| Your dog's weight | Standard daily amount | First three weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 4kg | 1 chew | Double the standard amount |
| 5 to 17kg | 2 chews | Double the standard amount |
| 18kg and over | 2 to 3 chews | Double the standard amount |
For guidance only, not a diagnosis. Always check the pack for the most current feeding guide.
The loading phase
For the first three weeks, the daily amount is doubled. After that, you move to the standard amount shown in the table. The idea is simple. You start at a higher level, then settle into a steady daily habit.
How long to keep going
We recommend 2 to 3 months of daily use. Joint comfort is not something that changes overnight, and a supplement works best as part of a steady routine rather than a short burst.
If your dog sits between bands
Dogs do not always land neatly in a weight band. If your dog is close to a boundary, or their weight has changed recently, ask your vet which amount suits them. Please do not guess or round up in the hope of faster results. More than the feeding guide says is not better.
Making the daily routine stick
The simplest way to get dosing right is to make it boring. A supplement given every day at the same time will serve your dog far better than one given in enthusiastic bursts and then forgotten for a week.
- Pick a mealtime. Giving the chews with breakfast or dinner ties the habit to something you already do.
- Weigh your dog before you start. Then re-check every few months, because weight shifts with age, activity and diet, and the right band may change too.
- Count the chews as part of the daily food allowance if your dog is watching their weight. Extra weight puts more load on joints, so keeping your dog lean is one of the kindest things you can do.
- Store the pack out of reach. Soft chews are tasty, and a dog that finds the pack could eat far more than intended.
- Note the start date. It makes it much easier to look back after a proper trial.
Some powder supplements are mixed into wet food, or added to dry biscuits with a little water so the powder sticks. A soft chew skips that step, but the principle is the same. Whatever the format, the best one is the one you can give reliably every day.
Giving it time before you judge
It is natural to watch closely in the first few days. Try to resist judging too soon. Every dog is different, and it takes a fair period of steady feeding to get a true picture of how your dog is getting on.
For MedPaw, we recommend 2 to 3 months of daily use. If you would like a sense of how your dog is doing, a simple mobility diary helps far more than memory does.
What to note in a mobility diary
- How easily your dog gets up after a rest, especially first thing in the morning
- Willingness to use stairs, jump into the car or hop onto the sofa
- Length and pace of walks, and how your dog is afterwards
- Interest in play
- Stiffness after a long sleep or a car journey
Short notes or a quick phone video every couple of weeks make changes easier to see. They are also very useful to show your vet.
How other products differ, and why format matters for dosing
Joint supplements come as powders, tablets, capsules and soft chews, and each has its own feeding guide. Below are some of the products owners often come across, taken from each manufacturer's published information in September 2026. We have not included their dose amounts, because you should always check the pack or the manufacturer for those.
- NutraPaw Joint Support is a tablet. It lists glucosamine, MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid, turmeric and collagen, with omega-3 from the mussel and manganese. It does not list chondroitin or Boswellia, and it has a 90-day guarantee.
- YuMOVE Joint Support PLUS Max is a tablet. It lists glucosamine, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid and fish oil, with chondroitin only via the mussel, plus vitamins C and E and manganese. It does not list MSM, Boswellia, turmeric or collagen, and it has a 6-week guarantee.
- Seraquin Joint is a chewable tablet. It lists glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric. Its guarantee is not stated.
- Synoquin EFA is a tablet or capsule. It lists glucosamine, chondroitin and krill oil, plus vitamin C and zinc. Its guarantee is not stated.
- Nutraquin+ is a capsule. It lists glucosamine, chondroitin and Boswellia, plus vitamin C and zinc. Its guarantee is not stated.
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max is a soft chew with a 60-day money-back guarantee, and Subscribe & Save is available. Because formulas and formats differ, never assume one product's dose applies to another.
Please do not stack products without asking
If you are thinking of giving two joint supplements together, speak to your vet first. Doubling up can quietly double certain ingredients, such as green-lipped mussel, omega-3 or Boswellia, which may not be what you intended.
Safety: what to tell your vet before you start
Most dogs take a joint chew without any trouble, but it is sensible to treat any new supplement with a little care. Every dog is an individual, and a reaction is always possible, particularly if there is an underlying health issue that has not yet been picked up.
It is especially helpful to have a word with your vet before starting if your dog:
- Is a puppy, particularly a large breed, as growing dogs have specific feeding needs
- Is pregnant or nursing
- Is on prescribed medication
- Is on a prescription or restricted diet, such as one for kidney or urinary problems
- Has a known shellfish or other allergy
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max contains green-lipped mussel and Boswellia serrata. Products with these ingredients may not suit every dog, particularly those on certain diets or medicines. The sensible approach is to tell your vet about every supplement your dog takes, and this matters most if your dog is on a special diet or prescribed medication.
Supporting the basics alongside the chews
A supplement works best as one part of a wider routine. A few everyday habits can make a real difference to how comfortable your dog feels.
- Keep your dog lean. It is one of the kindest things you can do for their joints.
- Choose steady exercise. Regular lead walks suit most dogs better than sudden bursts of hard play.
- Think about surfaces. Non-slip rugs on smooth floors and a supportive bed can make daily life easier.
- Use ramps or steps where jumping into the car or onto furniture is becoming a struggle.
When to see your vet
A joint supplement is a complementary feed. It is not a treatment for any condition, and it should never delay a vet visit when something seems wrong. The guide below can help you judge how quickly to act.
How quickly should you contact your vet?
Before starting, or at the next check-up
Mention the supplement, especially if your dog is a puppy, pregnant or nursing, on medication or a special diet, or has a known allergy. Raise it again if there is no change after a fair trial period.
Book an appointment promptly
New or worsening limping, persistent stiffness, reluctance to climb stairs, jump or play, difficulty getting up, licking or chewing at a joint, a change in gait, or signs of pain such as yelping, panting at rest or snapping when touched.
Call your vet straight away
Sudden severe lameness, a swollen or hot joint, a dog that will not put weight on a leg, collapse, or a hind end that seems weak or wobbly. If you suspect a reaction to a supplement, such as vomiting, diarrhoea, itching, facial swelling, lethargy or loss of appetite, stop giving it and call your vet.
If you have given the chews daily for a fair trial and see no change, speak to your vet rather than simply increasing the amount. A vet can look for causes that a supplement cannot address.
The short version
Dosing depends on your dog's weight and on the specific product, so always follow that product's own feeding guide. For MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max, that means 1 chew a day up to 4kg, 2 chews for 5 to 17kg and 2 to 3 chews for 18kg and over, doubled for the first three weeks, with 2 to 3 months of daily use recommended.
Give it daily with food, keep a simple diary, and be patient. Tell your vet about every supplement your dog takes, and see them first for any pain, sudden change or worsening mobility. A steady routine and a little patience are the kindest way to give your dog's joints everyday support.
How much Riaflex should I give my dog by weight?
Riaflex has its own feeding guide, so the amount depends on your dog's current weight and the guide printed on the pack. We have not quoted the bands here because the manufacturer's current UK label is the only reliable source for them. Check the pack or the Riaflex product page, and ask your vet if your dog sits between two bands.
Can I use the Riaflex dose for a different joint supplement?
No. Each product has its own strength, format and feeding guide, so a dose never carries across from one supplement to another. Always follow the guide on the exact product you are feeding, matched to your dog's weight today.
How many MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max would a 20kg dog have each day?
A 20kg dog falls in the 18kg and over band, which is 2 to 3 chews a day. For the first three weeks the amount is doubled, so that is 4 to 6 chews a day. One tub holds 60 chews, so at 2 chews a day it lasts 30 days, and at 3 chews a day it lasts 20 days. During the doubled first three weeks, one tub lasts about 10 to 15 days.
Why is the MedPaw dose doubled for the first three weeks?
The first three weeks are a loading phase, where you start at a higher daily amount and then settle into the standard amount on the feeding guide. We recommend 2 to 3 months of daily use to give the chews a fair trial. If you are unsure which amount suits your dog, ask your vet.
Can I give Riaflex and MedPaw chews together?
Please speak to your vet before giving two joint supplements together. Doubling up can quietly double certain ingredients, which may not be what you intended. If you are thinking of switching from one product to another, your vet can help you do it sensibly.
My dog is stiff on walks. Should I just raise the supplement dose?
Please do not increase the amount beyond the feeding guide. A joint supplement is a complementary feed, not a treatment, and more than the guide says is not better. Stiffness, limping or reluctance to jump should be checked by your vet, who can look for causes that a supplement cannot address.
