Quick answer: if Nutripaw Hip & Joint Treats Plus isn't helping, the usual reasons are judging it too early (Nutripaw itself says results from week 3 to 5 and a minimum of 6 weeks), giving fewer chews than the label says for your dog's weight, missed doses because your dog won't eat them, or a formula that simply doesn't include the joint actives you were expecting: the Plus has no glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel or Boswellia. Sometimes the problem needs a vet rather than a supplement. If you've given it a fair trial, we'd recommend trying MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews instead: all six key joint actives, the main amounts per chew on the label, and 60 days to judge it with a money-back guarantee and nothing to send back.
Transparency note: this page is written by MedPaw, which makes a competing joint supplement. Nutripaw's own guidance is quoted word for word with links, and reviews are quoted word for word with a link so you can check them. Everything was checked on 8 October 2026.
Why Nutripaw might not seem to be working
1. It's too soon to tell
Nutripaw's product page says results come from week 3 to 5 and advises "Use for a minimum of 6 weeks for best results", and its FAQ on that page says "Wait for 3 weeks and keep trying the product." Its main FAQ says full benefits can be seen within 30 days. Those timelines don't quite match, but they all point the same way: if you're only a couple of weeks in, it's too early to judge. As one reviewer put it, "It seems to be working, but the progress is slower than indicated." (Pavla V., 4 stars, September 2026)
2. Your dog is getting too few chews
Nutripaw doses by weight: 1 chew a day under 11kg, 2 for 11 to 23kg, 3 for 23 to 35kg, 4 for 35 to 45kg and 5 over 45kg. Big dogs need a lot of chews, and it's easy to give fewer to make a tub last. Weigh your dog and check you're giving the right number every day.
3. There's no loading phase
Nutripaw doesn't start with a higher dose. Instead, its page says "Not seeing changes by week 4? You can safely double the daily serving", and its FAQ suggests increasing "gradually, one by one, up to double the recommended serving size." That means some dogs only get a higher amount a month in. MedPaw is doubled for the first three weeks from the start.
4. Doses are being missed
Supplements only work if they're taken every day. A few Nutripaw reviewers said their dogs wouldn't eat its chews, and Nutripaw's FAQ says it doesn't refund if your pet doesn't like the taste, suggesting you hide them in food instead. If you're finding chews left in the bowl, your dog isn't getting the full dose.
5. The formula doesn't include what you expected
The Plus is built on KynoSil (a silicon ingredient), fish oil, fish collagen and hyaluronic acid. Its published composition has no glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel or Boswellia, and Nutripaw doesn't publish how much of each ingredient is in a chew. If you switched from a classic joint supplement expecting the same ingredients, that may explain a different result.
6. Your dog needs a vet
Joint supplements support joint health; they don't relieve pain like medication does. If your dog is limping, struggling to get up or getting worse, a vet check comes first.
How to tell if a joint supplement is working
Pick a few of these, note how your dog does now, and check again every two weeks:
- How easily they get up after resting, especially first thing in the morning.
- How long they're happy to walk before slowing down or lagging behind.
- Whether they manage stairs, the car or the sofa without hesitating.
- Limping, or favouring one leg, after exercise.
- Interest in play and how they move when they do.
- Licking at a particular joint.
A short video of your dog getting up and walking, taken at the start and repeated every couple of weeks, is often the clearest way to spot a change, and useful to show your vet.
What owners say
About one in four of the negative Nutripaw reviews we read said they saw no difference, for example: "Sadly these chews have made absolutely no difference whatsoever to my old Labrador." (Coleman, 1 star, September 2026). Others are more positive, and some say it helped within weeks. For the full picture, including the subscription complaints, read our Nutripaw reviews.
Why Nutripaw customers switch to MedPaw
Nutripaw vs MedPaw if you're not seeing results
| The issue | Nutripaw | MedPaw |
|---|---|---|
| Joint actives | No glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel or Boswellia | All six key joint actives in every chew |
| Knowing what's in it | Amounts per chew not published | The main amounts per chew on the label: MSM 185mg, glucosamine 170mg, chondroitin 70mg, green-lipped mussel 70mg, Boswellia 30mg, plus hyaluronic acid |
| Getting started | No loading phase; double after week 4 if no change | Double for the first three weeks |
| If it doesn't work | One opened tub per household, after daily use; taste and smell excluded | 60 days from delivery, for any reason; email us and keep the tub |
Our recommendation: if you've given Nutripaw at least six weeks at the right dose and you're still not seeing a difference, try a different formula. MedPaw adds glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel and Boswellia, and you can check the main amounts on the label. Swap rather than stack: stop Nutripaw and start MedPaw the next day. Give it six to eight weeks, and if you're not happy, email us within 60 days and we'll refund you. Try MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews.
If nothing has worked so far
If your dog is still stiff or sore after a fair trial of any supplement, see your vet. They may suggest pain relief, weight loss or an omega-3 fish oil at a proper dose, which has the strongest evidence for dogs with arthritis. Read what you can safely give a dog for joint pain and the best fish oil for dogs' joints. You might also find MedPaw vs Nutripaw and Nutripaw ingredients explained useful, or see our round-up of the best joint chews for dogs in the UK.
How long does Nutripaw take to work?
Nutripaw's product page says results from week 3 to 5 and recommends a minimum of 6 weeks, while its main FAQ says full benefits within 30 days. Give any joint supplement at least six weeks at the right dose before deciding.
Should I double the Nutripaw dose?
Nutripaw's own page says you can double the daily serving if you see no changes by week 4. Check with your vet first if your dog is on medication, and remember a doubled serving means a tub runs out twice as fast.
Why is Nutripaw not working for my dog?
Common reasons are stopping too early, giving too few chews for your dog's weight, missed doses, or the formula: the Plus has no glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, green-lipped mussel or Boswellia. If your dog is in pain, see your vet.
Can I get a refund if Nutripaw doesn't work?
Nutripaw's refund policy covers one opened tub per household, after you've given it daily, and excludes dogs that don't like the taste or smell. Its product page says 365 days, but its FAQ says 45 days, so claim early. MedPaw's guarantee is 60 days from delivery, for any reason, with nothing to send back.
What should I try instead of Nutripaw?
If you want the classic joint actives with the main amounts on the label, we'd recommend MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews. If your vet recommends omega-3, a dedicated fish oil at a proper dose has the strongest evidence.
Can I switch from Nutripaw to MedPaw straight away?
Yes. Stop Nutripaw and start MedPaw the next day. There's no need for a gap, and you shouldn't give both. Check with your vet first if your dog takes any medication.
