Quick answer: if your dog has liver disease, don't add a joint supplement until your vet has a diagnosis and has agreed to it. The liver processes many medicines and food substances, liver disease has many different causes, and each changes what is sensible to give. What matters most is getting the diagnosis right first, choosing pain relief carefully, checking minerals such as copper and zinc, and keeping extras simple so your vet can see exactly what your dog is getting. If your vet is happy to consider a joint chew, take the label of MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews along and ask whether it suits your dog.
Transparency note: this page is written by MedPaw, which makes a joint supplement. It is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan, and it doesn't replace your vet's advice. Sources are linked so you can check them. Checked 9 October 2026.
Why the liver matters when choosing a joint supplement
The liver clears toxins and processes many drugs, and VCA Animal Hospitals notes that "many diseases, drugs and toxins can cause damage to the liver". Raised liver values on a blood test can mean anything from a short-lived problem to inherited disease, so a supplement chosen before the cause is known could be the wrong one. VCA also warns that starting liver supplements before your vet has had a chance to diagnose the cause can confuse the picture and delay treatment. The same logic applies to joint products.
What to check in a joint supplement for a dog with liver disease
| What to check | Why it matters | What to ask your vet |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis first | Different liver diseases need different diets and treatments | Do we know the cause yet? |
| Pain relief | Some painkillers are processed by the liver or can affect it | Which pain relief is right for my dog's liver? |
| Copper and zinc | Some breeds store too much copper in the liver, and zinc is used to reduce copper absorption | Do minerals in this product matter for my dog? |
| Herbal extracts | Plant extracts such as Boswellia or turmeric add more substances for the liver to handle and are less studied in liver patients | Are you happy with each ingredient on the label? |
| Number of products | Several tubs make it harder to spot what caused a change | Can we keep to one joint product? |
| Diet and treats | Liver diets are carefully balanced, and appetite can be poor | Does a daily chew fit the diet? |
For guidance only. Your vet decides your dog's diet and medicines.
Pain relief and the liver
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the usual first painkillers for arthritis, but writing for vets, veterinary specialist Dr Gregory Grauer advises that in dogs with reduced liver function "NSAIDs should be avoided, if at all possible", and recommends alternative pain relief. Even medicines often used instead, such as gabapentin, can have longer-lasting effects in dogs with liver disease, according to VCA. That is why pain relief for a liver patient is always a vet decision, usually with blood tests to monitor it. Our guide to blood tests for dogs on painkillers explains what vets look for.
Joint supplements aren't painkillers and don't replace prescribed pain relief. Never give human painkillers. Ibuprofen can be dangerous for dogs, and even the UK paracetamol-based medicine licensed for dogs, Pardale-V, lists liver disease among its contraindications on its official data sheet.
Copper, zinc and certain breeds
Cornell's Riney Canine Health Center lists the Labrador Retriever, Dobermann, Bedlington Terrier and West Highland White Terrier among breeds highly prone to copper building up in the liver. The main treatment is a lower-copper diet, and vets sometimes use zinc, which reduces copper absorption from the gut, though Cornell warns that high doses of zinc can cause stomach upset and even anaemia. If your dog has copper-associated liver disease, every source of minerals matters, including joint chews and multivitamins. MedPaw contains 3mg of zinc per chew, so mention it to your vet.
When to see your vet
- Yellow tinge to the gums, eyes or skin
- Vomiting, diarrhoea, or not eating
- A swollen tummy, or drinking and peeing more
- Confusion, wobbliness or odd behaviour, especially after meals
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- New or worse lameness, or pain that isn't controlled
- Any change after starting a new supplement: stop it and call your vet
What helps stiff joints in a dog with liver disease
Most of the best joint care involves no tablets at all. Keep your dog at a lean weight agreed with your vet, keep walks short, steady and regular (see low-impact exercise for stiff dogs), put rugs on slippery floors and use a ramp for the car. Ask about hydrotherapy or physiotherapy if your dog is struggling. Dogs who are unwell often lose muscle, and weaker muscles make stiff joints worse: our guide to supplements for a dog losing muscle explains how to tackle it.
What the evidence says about joint supplement ingredients
A 2022 review of 72 trials graded the common actives for dogs with arthritis:
How the main joint supplement ingredients compare on evidence for joint pain in dogs
| Ingredient | What the 2022 review of 72 trials found |
|---|---|
| Omega-3 (fish oil, green-lipped mussel) | The strongest evidence of the supplements reviewed |
| Glucosamine and chondroitin | Did not relieve pain |
| MSM, hyaluronic acid, Boswellia | Too few good trials to judge on their own |
Source: Barbeau-Grégoire et al., International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022.
Fewer, better-supported ingredients are easier for your vet to assess. Omega-3 has the strongest joint evidence, though fish oil adds fat and calories, so ask your vet whether it suits your dog's liver diet. See omega-3 fish oil for dogs' joints for the options, and VCA's glucosamine guidance for glucosamine's known cautions and interactions.
MedPaw's label, to show your vet
MedPaw doesn't treat liver disease or arthritis, and we don't claim it suits every dog with a liver condition. It contains Boswellia serrata (a plant resin extract) and zinc, both worth pointing out to your vet. Here are all the published actives and allergens:
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews: the main amounts per chew on the label, to show your vet
| Ingredient or fact | Per chew, as published |
|---|---|
| MSM | 185mg |
| Glucosamine | 170mg |
| Chondroitin | 70mg |
| Green-lipped mussel | 70mg |
| Boswellia serrata | 30mg |
| Hyaluronic acid | Included (amount not published) |
| Vitamin C | 33mg |
| Vitamin E | 24 IU |
| Zinc | 3mg |
| Format | Soft chicken and bacon flavour chew, 60 per tub |
| Allergens | Mollusc (green-lipped mussel) and gluten (brewer's yeast) |
| What it is | A complementary feed, not a medicine or painkiller |
The full composition and analytical constituents are printed on the tub.
Our recommendation: get a diagnosis and a liver plan first. If your vet then agrees a joint chew is reasonable, MedPaw gives you one clearly labelled product instead of several tubs, in a soft chew with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Show your vet the table above and ask whether MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews suits your dog. Feeding amounts by weight are on the product page.
If your dog takes other medicines too, our guide to joint supplements alongside medication explains how to plan it with your vet.
Joint supplements and liver disease: common questions
Can a dog with liver disease take joint supplements?
Sometimes, but only once your vet knows the cause and has agreed. Liver disease has many causes, and your vet needs to see every ingredient you're considering alongside your dog's blood results.
Is glucosamine bad for a dog's liver?
We're not aware of good evidence that glucosamine damages a dog's liver, but VCA notes its effects may last longer in pets with liver disease. That's a reason to check with your vet, not to give it without asking.
Are herbal joint supplements safer for dogs with liver disease?
Not necessarily. Plant extracts are still substances the body has to process, and few have been studied in dogs with liver disease. Show your vet every ingredient, herbal or not.
Can dogs with liver disease have painkillers for arthritis?
Many can have some form of pain relief, but NSAIDs need great care and specialists advise avoiding them where possible in reduced liver function. Your vet will choose and monitor the right option.
My Labrador has raised liver enzymes. Should I avoid supplements with minerals?
Labradors are among the breeds prone to copper building up in the liver, so ask your vet before giving any product with added minerals, and follow any low-copper diet they recommend.
Can I give milk thistle with a joint supplement?
Milk thistle and SAMe are used by vets for liver support, but ask your vet before giving either, so they can plan every product together and diagnose the cause first.
