Quick answer: the most common complaints in Zesty Paws' negative reviews are about customer service: slow or missing replies, refunds refused and orders that never turned up. Others say their pet wouldn't eat the chews, saw no difference, or found them overpriced. For the UK Hip & Joint Chews specifically there are only a handful of reviews, the big review numbers you'll see online are for the different US formula, and the UK chew has no MSM, Boswellia or hyaluronic acid. On Trustpilot the brand scores 2.2 out of 5, with around 7 in 10 reviews at 1 star. If any of that sounds familiar, we'd recommend trying MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews instead: a soft chew dogs take like a treat, with all six key joint actives, a subscription you can pause or cancel any time, 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 Zesty Paws complaints
We read the 20 most recent Zesty Paws reviews on Trustpilot (January 2025 to September 2026), 17 of them at 1 star, plus the reviews on zooplus UK. Most are about the company or its other products rather than the joint chews. Frequencies are our estimates from that small sample.
What unhappy Zesty Paws customers complain about (our sample)
| Complaint | How often | What reviewers said |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service and refunds | About half of negative reviews | Slow or no replies, refunds refused, condescending responses, orders cancelled or slow to arrive |
| No difference | About 1 in 4 | No change after weeks of use, mostly with allergy, probiotic and calming chews |
| Pet won't eat them | Occasional | Dogs and cats refusing the chews; a strong smell |
| Price | Occasional | Expensive for what you get |
| Subscription | Rare | Feeling locked into repeat orders |
| Stomach upset | Rare | A dog being sick |
"Customer service however is very poor"
Customer service is the clearest pattern in Zesty Paws' negative reviews, including from UK buyers:
- "Customer service however is very poor." (Lesley C., 1 star, March 2025)
- "I order £50 worth of product almost 2 months ago and still not recieved it" (Jaii H., 1 star, September 2025)
- "They refuse to provide refunds and they are very condescending." (Sporty, 1 star, July 2026)
- "They hook you into doing multiple months" (1 star, April 2025)
Trustpilot also notes that Zesty Paws hasn't replied to its negative reviews.
"Unfortunately my dog rejected them"
The only Trustpilot review we found about the hip and joint chews was a 1 star review from a UK owner, headed "Pricey, Full of flour & Horrible Smell.":
- "Very pricey for what they are." and "Unfortunately my dog rejected them and wouldn’t eat them." (John, 1 star, January 2025)
- "it's not helping my dog's allergies or gut health at all!" (Hannah H., 1 star, March 2026, about the probiotic chews)
- "I had tried them previously and made my dog sick." (Lynne B., 1 star, September 2026, bought through Amazon)
The US reviews aren't about the UK chew
Zesty Paws is an American brand, and the headline claims you'll see, such as "380,000+ pet parents" or a 4.5 rating on Chewy, relate mostly to the US Mobility Bites. That's a different recipe: a bacon or duck chew with a "proprietary blend" including MSM. The UK Hip & Joint Chews are turkey flavoured, contain glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel and eggshell membrane, and have no MSM, Boswellia or hyaluronic acid. Only the pricier Senior Advanced chew adds hyaluronic acid and Boswellia, at 8mg of Boswellia per chew. The UK chews also contain egg (eggshell membrane), shellfish-derived glucosamine and mussel, with no allergen statement on the product page.
The guarantee catch
Zesty Paws' satisfaction guarantee only covers products bought on its own UK website, so Amazon, zooplus and Pets at Home purchases aren't included. You email the team first so they can check you've got the right product and feeding amount, allow 6 weeks, and then have 30 days to tell them, though the page doesn't say exactly when those 30 days start (Zesty Paws guarantee page). Ordinary change-of-mind returns must be unused and in the original packaging within 28 days (delivery and returns).
Why Zesty Paws customers switch to MedPaw
MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews differ from the UK Zesty Paws chew on exactly the points its reviewers raise.
Zesty Paws vs MedPaw on the things reviewers complain about
| The complaint | Zesty Paws (UK) | MedPaw |
|---|---|---|
| Getting your money back | Own-site orders only; email first; allow 6 weeks, then 30 days to claim | 60 days from delivery, for any reason; email us and keep the tub |
| Dog won't eat the chew | Turkey flavour | Soft chicken and bacon chew, given from your hand like a treat |
| Knowing what's in it | Glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel and eggshell membrane; no MSM, Boswellia or hyaluronic acid in the standard chew | 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 |
| Boswellia | Senior Advanced only, 8mg per chew | 30mg per chew in the standard chew |
Our recommendation: if you've had trouble getting answers or a refund from Zesty Paws, your dog won't eat the turkey chew, or you want MSM and Boswellia in the standard chew, switch to MedPaw. Swap rather than stack: stop Zesty Paws 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.
Zesty Paws' rating, in context
Zesty Paws is rated 2.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 24 reviews, with 71% at 1 star (checked 8 October 2026). That covers the whole brand and mostly US buyers. The UK site's own Trustpilot profile has just one review, the UK Hip & Joint Chews have only two reviews on zooplus (both 5 stars), and the Senior Advanced chew has none there. The large US review counts are for a different recipe. So there's very little evidence either way on whether the UK chew will help your dog.
To be fair to Zesty Paws, the two zooplus reviewers were happy (one describes an older dog limping less), and per chew the UK formula lists more glucosamine, chondroitin and green-lipped mussel than MedPaw.
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
Zesty Paws' reviews show a brand that leaves a steady stream of customers frustrated by its service and refunds, while its UK joint chew has almost no reviews of its own and leaves out MSM, Boswellia and hyaluronic acid. If that's put you off, MedPaw is the alternative we'd recommend. For more, compare the best joint chews for dogs in the UK, read about glucosamine and chondroitin, or see our guide to joint supplement side effects.
What are the most common complaints about Zesty Paws?
In the negative Trustpilot reviews we read, the most common complaints were about customer service and refunds (slow or no replies, refunds refused, orders not arriving), followed by pets refusing the chews, seeing no difference, and price. Most were about the company or its other products rather than the UK joint chews.
Is Zesty Paws any good?
Zesty Paws scores 2.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot, mostly over customer service, and its UK Hip & Joint Chews have only a couple of reviews. The large US review numbers are for a different formula. If you want a soft chew with all six key joint actives and a 60-day money-back guarantee, MedPaw is the alternative we'd recommend.
Is Zesty Paws available in the UK?
Yes. Zesty Paws has a UK website (zestypaws.co.uk) and is sold on zooplus and Amazon UK. The UK chews use a different, turkey-based formula to the US Mobility Bites, so check which version you're buying.
Can I get a refund from Zesty Paws?
Only for products bought on the Zesty Paws UK website. You email them first, allow 6 weeks, then have 30 days to claim a full refund. Change-of-mind returns must be unused, in the original packaging, within 28 days. MedPaw's guarantee lasts 60 days and you don't need to send anything back.
What's the best alternative to Zesty Paws?
If you've had service problems, your dog won't eat the turkey chew, or you want MSM, Boswellia and hyaluronic acid alongside glucosamine, chondroitin and green-lipped mussel, we'd recommend MedPaw Hip & Joint Chews. Swap rather than stack, and give it six to eight weeks.
Can I switch from Zesty Paws to MedPaw straight away?
Yes. Stop Zesty Paws 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.
