Quick answer: the main drawbacks with Seraquin are how little you can check and how fiddly it is to give. There are very few reviews, most of them several years old, and newer listings at zooplus, Ocado, Jollyes and PDSA have none at all. It's a tablet, many weights need half tablets, the double-dose loading phase lasts 4 to 6 weeks, and we couldn't find a money-back guarantee. The few complaints we found were about seeing no improvement, an upset stomach and wind, and the number of tablets. Its 4.5 rating at Viovet comes from just 84 reviews. If any of that puts you off, we'd recommend trying MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews instead: a soft chew given like a treat, whole chews at every weight, all six key joint actives with the main amounts on the label, a three-week loading phase, and a 60-day money-back guarantee with nothing to send back.
Transparency note: this page is written by MedPaw, which makes a competing joint supplement. Reviews are quoted word for word with links so you can check them. Ratings and quotes were checked on 8 October 2026.
The most common Seraquin complaints and drawbacks
Seraquin has very few negative reviews to read. We read 21 reviews in full across Viovet, VetUK and eBay, dated between 2011 and 2023, and Viovet's 1 and 2 star reviews had no visible text. So the table below combines the handful of complaints we found with the practical drawbacks that come from the product itself.
Seraquin complaints and drawbacks (our sample and the dosing guide)
| Complaint | How often | What reviewers said |
|---|---|---|
| Few, mostly old reviews | Every retailer we checked | 84 reviews at Viovet and 129 ratings on eBay, mostly several years old; zooplus, Ocado, Jollyes and PDSA Pet Store have no reviews yet |
| No noticeable difference | 1 review, plus 1 partial | No improvement in an older dog; another saw a big improvement but the dog was still a little stiff in the mornings |
| Upset stomach | 1 review | Stomach upset and wind, with results below what the owner hoped for |
| Number of tablets | 1 review | Three tablets a day felt like a lot, which is the loading dose for a larger dog |
| Price | 1 review | A giant breed owner found it a bit expensive, though others called it good value |
| Half tablets and a long loading phase | Built into the dosing guide | Half tablets for dogs under 10kg and from 20 to 40kg; double the dose for 4 to 6 weeks, then cut back gradually |
| No money-back guarantee | None we could find | Seraquin is sold through vets and retailers, so returns follow each retailer's own policy |
Sources: Viovet reviews, VetUK reviews and eBay reviews. Frequencies are from a small sample; we couldn't access Amazon or Pets at Home reviews.
"No improvement noticed"
The few critical reviews are about results and the stomach:
- "No improvement noticed" (Dawn S., VetUK, May 2020)
- "Not good on my dogs tummy cannot use upset his tummy and touch of wind" (Sandra S., VetUK, February 2020)
- "Although she is still a bit stiff in the mornings" (eBay reviewer, September 2016), from an owner who also wrote: "They are a bit expensive"
Notice the dates. Even the complaints are years old, which is the bigger problem: there's very little recent feedback on the current Seraquin Joint pack.
Half tablets and a 4 to 6 week loading phase
Seraquin's dosing is where most owners will feel the hassle:
- Long loading phase: you give double the daily amount for the first 4 to 6 weeks. The pack wording on Ocado says to then cut back by half a tablet each week until you reach the maintenance dose. A 25kg dog starts on 3 tablets a day, so a 60 tablet box lasts about 20 days at first.
- Half tablets: the maintenance guide uses half tablets for dogs under 10kg and for dogs of 20 to 40kg, so you'll often be splitting tablets.
- Turmeric amount: each 2g tablet has 50mg turmeric, but the curcumin content isn't published.
- Label changes: VetUK's older listing shows a different list of non-active ingredients from the current pack, which contains hydrolysed chicken protein and pork liver flavour. If your dog has food sensitivities, check the box you actually receive.
The guarantee catch
We couldn't find a money-back guarantee for Seraquin. It's sold through vets and retailers rather than directly, so if it doesn't work for your dog, returns depend on each retailer's own policy. Seraquin's UK website blocked our access, so check there too.
Why Seraquin customers switch to MedPaw
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews differ from Seraquin on exactly the points that make it hard to give or hard to judge.
Seraquin vs MedPaw on the complaints and drawbacks
| The complaint | Seraquin | MedPaw |
|---|---|---|
| Trying it without risk | No money-back guarantee we could find; retailer return policies apply | 60 days from delivery, for any reason; email us and keep the tub |
| Tablets and half tablets | Chewable tablet, with half tablets for many weights | Soft chicken and bacon chew, given from your hand like a treat; whole chews at every weight |
| Loading phase | Double for 4 to 6 weeks, then cut back by half a tablet a week | Double for just the first three weeks |
| Knowing what's in it | Glucosamine, chondroitin and turmeric; curcumin content not published; no MSM, green-lipped mussel or Boswellia | All six key joint actives, with the main amounts per chew on the label: MSM 185mg, glucosamine 170mg, chondroitin 70mg, green-lipped mussel 70mg, Boswellia 30mg, plus hyaluronic acid |
| Subscription | Run by each retailer, on its own terms | Pause, change or cancel any time from your account, or just email us |
Our recommendation: if splitting tablets is a chore, your dog hasn't improved, or you want a guarantee in case it doesn't suit your dog, switch to MedPaw. Swap rather than stack: stop Seraquin 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.
Seraquin's rating, in context
Seraquin is rated 4.5 out of 5 at Viovet from 84 reviews (800mg and 2g tablets combined) and 4.9 out of 5 from 129 ratings on eBay (checked 8 October 2026). That's a small number of reviews for a product sold for many years, the reviews we read were written between 2011 and 2023, and the newer Seraquin Joint listings at zooplus, Ocado, Jollyes and PDSA Pet Store have no reviews yet, and we couldn't find Seraquin on Trustpilot. A high score from a few, mostly old reviews can't tell you much about how today's pack will work for your dog.
To be fair to Seraquin, the reviews that do exist are positive and mostly describe older dogs moving more easily, it gives more glucosamine and chondroitin per day than MedPaw, and it's cheaper per month.
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.
Our verdict
Seraquin's problem isn't a flood of bad reviews; it's that there are so few, and most are years old, so you're largely buying on trust. Add half-tablet dosing, a loading phase of up to six weeks and no guarantee we could find, and it's a hard product to judge on your own dog. If that's where you are, MedPaw is the alternative we'd recommend. For more, read our Seraquin alternatives guide and our YuMOVE vs Seraquin comparison.
More on Seraquin: MedPaw vs Seraquin, Seraquin side effects, why Seraquin might not be working and Seraquin ingredients explained.
What are the most common complaints about Seraquin?
There are very few. In the reviews we read, owners mentioned seeing no improvement, an upset stomach and wind, the number of tablets during the loading phase, and price for a giant breed. The bigger drawbacks are that most reviews are several years old, many weights need half tablets, the loading phase lasts 4 to 6 weeks, and we couldn't find a money-back guarantee.
Is Seraquin any good?
The reviews that exist are positive: 4.5 out of 5 from 84 reviews at Viovet and 4.9 from 129 ratings on eBay. But they're few and mostly old, and newer listings have none, so there's little recent evidence. If you'd rather have a soft chew, whole doses and a 60-day money-back guarantee, MedPaw is the alternative we'd recommend.
Does Seraquin have side effects?
Side effects rarely come up in reviews. We found one owner who reported an upset stomach and wind. Seraquin contains hydrolysed chicken protein and pork liver flavour, so check the ingredients if your dog has a food allergy, and speak to your vet if your dog is on other medication.
How many Seraquin tablets should my dog have?
For the 2g tablets, the maintenance dose is half a tablet under 10kg, 1 for 10 to 20kg, 1.5 for 20 to 40kg and 2 over 40kg. Double that for the first 4 to 6 weeks, then cut back by half a tablet a week. Dogs under 10kg can use the 800mg tablets instead.
What's the best alternative to Seraquin?
If splitting tablets is a hassle, your dog hasn't improved, or you want a guarantee, we'd recommend MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews: a soft chew given like a treat, whole chews at every weight, all six key joint actives with the main amounts on the label, and a 60-day money-back guarantee with nothing to send back. Swap rather than stack, and give it six to eight weeks.
Can I switch from Seraquin to MedPaw straight away?
Yes. Stop Seraquin 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.
