Nutraquin+ vs Antinol: which is right for your dog?

If your dog has started to slow down on walks or take a little longer to get up in the morning, it is natural to start looking at supplements. Nutraquin+ and Antinol both come up often, and they are quite different. One is a multi-ingredient capsule. The other is a single concentrated marine oil.

This guide looks at what Nutraquin+ contains, how it compares with Antinol, and how to choose calmly. Both are complementary feeds. Neither is a medicine, and neither replaces your vet's diagnosis or treatment.

We make a joint supplement ourselves, so we have kept this factual. We have used each manufacturer's own published information, and we say clearly where a claim comes from a company rather than from independent research.

Where Nutraquin+ and MedPaw differ on joint ingredients

If you are weighing up Nutraquin+, the most useful place to start is what is actually listed on the label. The table below scores each product against six key joint actives, with MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max, our own chew, shown first for comparison.

Nutraquin+ appears alongside four other well-known joint supplements. Antinol is not in this table, but it gives you a wider view of how Nutraquin+ compares with the rest of the market.

Nutraquin+ lists glucosamine, chondroitin and Boswellia, which gives it 3 of 6 key joint actives. It does not list MSM, green-lipped mussel or hyaluronic acid. MedPaw is the only product in the table with all six, so one daily chew covers the full range.

For a dog who is slower on walks or stiff first thing, that breadth matters. MedPaw also adds omega-3 from green-lipped mussel and flax seed, plus vitamins C and E and zinc, to support joints, mobility and comfort alongside your vet's care.

It is a soft daily chew, backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee, with Subscribe & Save if you want to keep going. We recommend 2 to 3 months of daily use for optimal results.

See MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max Take a closer look at the full six-active formula and the feeding guide for your dog's weight.

What is Nutraquin+?

Nutraquin+ is a joint supplement that comes as a capsule. According to the manufacturer's published information, the formula is built around three joint-focused ingredients, with two supporting nutrients.

• Glucosamine and chondroitin, two long-established joint ingredients.
• Boswellia, a plant-based ingredient.
• Vitamin C and zinc.

It does not list MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid, omega-3, turmeric or collagen. That is not a criticism. It simply shows what the formula is, and is not, designed around. No guarantee is stated in the information available, and doses were not given in the material we reviewed, so please follow the feeding guide on the pack itself.

What is Antinol?

Antinol takes a different route. It is a softgel capsule, made in New Zealand, and it is built around one ingredient: PCSO-524, a concentrated green-lipped mussel lipid oil. According to the maker, each capsule delivers 50mg of it, blended with extra virgin olive oil and vitamin E as a preservative. One independent reviewer also lists glycerine and gelatin as part of the capsule itself.

The maker points to the fatty acids EPA, DHA, ETA and OTA as the reason green-lipped mussel is valued for joint support. It describes 50mg for a small dog and 100mg for a larger dog. The starter pack includes extra capsules for a loading phase over the first 15 days, before moving on to maintenance.

The maker states a 3-year shelf life from manufacture and a 60-day money-back guarantee on starter packs. It also states that Antinol is a supplementary feed, not a veterinary medicine.

The headline difference

Put simply, Nutraquin+ leans on several familiar joint ingredients, while Antinol leans on one concentrated marine oil. Neither approach is right for every dog.

The practical differences are easy to spot on a label:

• If you want glucosamine and chondroitin, Antinol does not list them.
• If you want omega-3 from a marine source, Nutraquin+ does not list any.
• If you want Boswellia, you will find it listed in Nutraquin+ but not in Antinol.
• If shellfish is a concern, Nutraquin+ does not list green-lipped mussel, whereas Antinol is built on it.

Reading the label against your own dog's needs, and your vet's advice, is far more useful than any league table.

What does the evidence picture look like?

The sources do not agree with each other here, so it helps to stay balanced.

The manufacturer's view

Antinol's maker argues that the evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin in dogs is weak. That is one company's view, and it is a company that sells a competing approach. It should not be read as settled fact, and it certainly does not mean glucosamine or chondroitin "don't work".

An independent vet's view

An independent UK vet's review takes a middle position. It suggests green-lipped mussel has a clearer research base than glucosamine, though both may have a role. It also questions how well glucosamine and chondroitin are absorbed from the gut in dogs.

The same reviewer says green-lipped mussel extracts, including the one in Antinol, may help support comfort and mobility in dogs with joint problems. She stresses that this is long-term support rather than a painkiller, so quick results should not be expected.

What about Boswellia?

None of the sources we reviewed offers evidence either way on Boswellia in dogs. So we will say only that it is one of the listed ingredients in Nutraquin+, and leave it there.

The honest summary is that the two products offer different things, and the research base differs by ingredient. A supplement can only ever sit alongside veterinary care.

How long before you might notice anything?

A vet-reviewed source takes a cautious line and advises allowing several weeks of daily use before judging any joint supplement. Joint supplements are a gradual, supportive part of the routine, not a quick fix.

We would lean towards the cautious end. Consistency matters, and it is easy to give up too early if you expect an overnight change, or to credit the wrong thing when your dog simply has a good day.

Practical steps before you choose

Start with your vet

Stiffness can have several causes, from arthritis to injury to something unrelated to the joints. Your vet can examine your dog, rule out anything more serious and say whether a supplement is appropriate at all.

Change one thing at a time

Introduce a single product and give it a fair run. If you change food, supplement and exercise routine all at once, you cannot tell what made the difference.

Do not double up without advice

One reviewer warns that Antinol should not be combined with other marine oil products without veterinary advice, because of the total fatty acid load. If your dog's food already has added omega-3, mention it to your vet.

Think about capsule practicalities

Both products are capsules, and not every dog takes them happily. For Antinol, the maker says you can pierce the softgel and squeeze the oil onto food for a dog who will not take it whole, and notes a mild fish smell. For Nutraquin+, check the pack or ask your vet before opening any capsule.

Watch for shellfish sensitivity

Green-lipped mussel is a shellfish. If your dog has reacted to shellfish before, speak to your vet before using any product that contains it. Occasional loose stools or vomiting have been reported with green-lipped mussel oil.

Check age and puppies

Antinol's maker says it can be given from 12 weeks of age. A separate vet reviewer advises asking your vet before giving any joint supplement to a puppy, and that is the safer route. Growing large-breed dogs in particular have different needs from adults.

Keep a simple mobility diary

Subtle changes are hard to judge from memory. A few short notes each week make it much easier to see whether anything is shifting, and they give your vet something concrete to work from.

Short phone videos of your dog walking and getting up are very useful at a vet appointment, especially if the signs come and go.

The basics matter alongside any capsule

The vet reviewer behind one of our sources says weight control, steady regular exercise and home adjustments are the foundation of looking after sore or stiff joints, with any capsule or tablet coming second. That fits the general advice from vets.

• Keep your dog at a healthy weight. Extra weight puts extra load on every joint.
• Choose steady, regular walks over occasional long ones.
• Add non-slip rugs or mats on slippery floors.
• Offer a supportive, warm bed away from draughts.
• Use a ramp for the car if jumping has become hesitant.

It is also tempting to reach for kitchen remedies, such as a spoonful of turmeric from the cupboard. That is not a plan for a dog who may be in pain. If your dog is stiff after walks or slow to get up, a vet visit is the right next step.

When to see a vet

A supplement is never a reason to delay an appointment. Older dogs often need pain relief that only a vet can prescribe, and a supplement cannot do that job.

Please also speak to your vet before starting any supplement if your dog:

• Is on prescription medication, including anti-inflammatories.
• Has a diagnosed condition.
• Has a history of shellfish reactions.
• Is a puppy or a growing large-breed dog.

If your dog develops vomiting or diarrhoea after starting something new, stop the supplement and call your vet if the signs persist or worsen.

Where MedPaw fits

If you would like a different format or a wider ingredient mix, MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews Max is a separate product with its own formula. It is a daily soft chew and a complementary feed.

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, plus vitamins C and E and zinc.

• Compared with Nutraquin+: it shares glucosamine, chondroitin, Boswellia, vitamin C and zinc, and adds MSM, green-lipped mussel, hyaluronic acid, omega-3 and vitamin E.
• Compared with Antinol: it is a chew rather than a softgel, and it combines several joint ingredients instead of one concentrated oil.
• Because it contains green-lipped mussel, the same shellfish caution applies for dogs with a shellfish history.

Feeding is 1 chew a day up to 4kg, 2 for 5-17kg, and 2-3 for 18kg and over, doubled for the first three weeks. We recommend 2-3 months of daily use. There is a 60-day money-back guarantee, and Subscribe & Save is available.

So which one should you choose?

There is no single best joint supplement. Nutraquin+ and Antinol suit different preferences, and the right choice depends on your dog, your vet's advice and what else your dog already takes.

Check the label for what is actually in the product. Give whichever one you choose a fair run of several weeks, keep track of how your dog moves, and keep your vet involved throughout. A supplement can support your dog's joints and mobility, but it works best alongside good veterinary care and a comfortable daily routine.