Chicken-Free Hip and Joint Chews for Large and Giant Dogs

Who Is a Chicken Free Joint Chew For?

Plenty of owners keep chicken out of their dog's routine. Sometimes a vet has suggested it. Sometimes a dog has been itchy, upset or just not right, and chicken is the first thing to come out. Sometimes it is simply a preference. Whatever the reason, you deserve a joint chew that respects it.

These chews are made for:

• Large and giant breed dogs such as Mastiffs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands and Dogue de Bordeaux.
• Bull breeds such as Staffies, Pit Bull types, American Bullies, Bulldogs and Boxers.
• Active, sporting and working dogs who run, jump and hike.
• Rescue dogs with an unknown history, where starting gently and keeping the label simple really matters.
• Owners who read labels and want to know what is in the jar.

Who These Chews Are Not For

• Dogs with a shellfish allergy, because the chews contain green lipped mussel.
• Puppies under 3 months old.
• Dogs whose vet has asked you to avoid pork or other proteins. The flavour is bacon, so please ask your vet first.

Please check with your vet before starting if your dog has kidney issues, a long-term condition or takes medication.

What Does Chicken Free Actually Mean?

It means chicken is not an ingredient in the chew. That is all it means, and I think it is important to say so plainly. Chicken free is not the same as hypoallergenic, and it is not a promise that your dog will never react to anything. Any dog can react to any ingredient.

What Is in SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews

Nine natural actives in a soft, bacon flavoured chew with no artificial flavouring and no artificial preservatives:

Amounts are per 4 g serving, which is 2 chews. A 9 oz jar holds about 120 chews. The ingredient list on your jar is always the final word.

Honest Allergen Notes

Why Is Chicken in So Many Joint Chews?

Because it is a cheap, easy way to make a chew taste good, and most dogs will happily eat it. So a very large share of soft joint chews are chicken flavoured, sometimes right there in the product name.

When we searched Amazon for chicken free joint chews for large dogs, a good number of the top results were chicken flavoured chews or products that were not joint chews at all, like bully sticks and yak cheese. A clearly labelled chicken free option was hard to find. That is exactly why this page exists.

Why a Big Dog Needs a Daily Routine

A large or giant dog carries a lot of weight through every joint, every day. Joint chews work best as a steady routine, not a rescue after one big weekend. Because your dog will have a chew every day for months or years, it is worth checking what is in it before you buy.

Why We Made Ours Chicken Free

SolaPup began with Roxy, a French Mastiff we rescued from a puppy mill with only hours to live. She came to us with a long list of health issues, and I nursed her with natural, non-chemical care and a very short list of ingredients. After more than 35 years of rescuing large and bull breed dogs with health and behaviour issues, I knew exactly the chew I wanted for dogs like her: simple, honest and gentle. We had 3.5 beautiful years with Roxy. SolaPup is her legacy.

Why Bacon?

Because life is short and chews should taste like a treat to your dog, not a chore for you. Bacon flavour means most dogs take them straight away, including fussy eaters.

When to Start, When to Give, and When You May Notice a Difference

• Adult dogs: any time. Start with half the daily amount for the first 2 to 3 days, then move up to the full amount for your dog's weight.
• Puppies: from 3 months old, on a gentler plan of 1 chew a day. Please see our puppy guide.
• Newly adopted rescues: let them settle in first, check with your vet, then begin gently.
• Time of day: split the daily amount into a morning and an evening serving. Pairing it with a daily routine, like the morning walk, helps you remember.
• How long: they are designed for ongoing daily use.
• When you may notice changes: many owners notice changes in everyday movement within 2 to 4 weeks of daily use. Every dog is different, so please be patient.

Speak to your vet if your dog is limping, is in obvious discomfort, or if anything worries you. Chews are not a replacement for veterinary care.

Where to Look, Where to Buy and Where They Are Made

Where to Look for Chicken on Any Label

• The front of the pack. Chicken flavour or poultry tells you straight away.
• The full ingredient list. Look for chicken, chicken fat, chicken liver, chicken meal or poultry by-products.
• The flavour line. "Natural flavour" with no named source is worth asking the brand about.
• The product title online. Many listings put the flavour right at the end of the title.

Where to Buy

SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews are available on solapup.com, and also on Amazon.com. Buying from us direct means you are supporting a small, family-run, rescue-led business, and the 30-Day Tail-Wag Guarantee comes with it.

Where They Are Made

Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility that is also GMP, NASC and SQF certified. Every batch is third party lab tested.

Where to Keep the Jar

Keep the lid on tight and store the jar as directed on the label, away from heat and out of reach of your dog.

How to Choose, Introduce and Give a Chicken Free Joint Chew

How to Check Any Joint Chew in Four Steps

1. Read the front of the pack and the product title.
2. Read the whole ingredient list, active and inactive.
3. Ask the brand about any vague wording.
4. Check with your vet if your dog has diagnosed allergies.

How to Introduce SolaPup Chews

• Give half the daily amount for the first 2 to 3 days.
• Then move up to the full amount for your dog's weight, split morning and evening.
• If you notice more frequent urination, go back to the previous amount and wait a little before trying again.
• If switching from another joint chew, there is no need to overlap. Simply start on day one as above.

How Much Does My Dog Need?

This chart is for adult dogs. Puppies follow a gentler plan, so please see our puppy guide, and have a look at our giant breed page for dogs of 61 lbs and over.

How to Give Them

Give them whole as a daily chew, or crumble them into the bowl for fussy eaters or dogs with sensitive teeth. Each chew is just under a teaspoon, about 5 ml, so 2 chews is roughly 10 ml. Some chews may crumble in transit. That is completely normal and they are still fully effective.

Which Dogs, Which Chew, and Which Questions to Ask

Which Dogs Benefit Most?

Large and giant breeds, bull breeds and active dogs of any age, because they carry the most load through their joints. Older dogs who still love to move are very welcome too.

Which Questions to Ask About Any Joint Chew

• Is the flavour source named, and is it one my dog can have?
• Are the amounts shown per chew, per serving or per day? (Ours are per 4 g serving, which is 2 chews.)
• Is it made in a registered, certified facility and independently tested?
• Does the dosing chart cover my dog's weight, including very big dogs?
• What does it really cost per day for my dog's size?

Which Everyday Habits Help Too?

• Keep your dog lean, because every extra pound is extra load.
• Use ramps for the car and sofa instead of jumps.
• Add rugs on slippery floors for grip.
• Warm up with five minutes of steady walking before play.

What Does It Cost Per Day?

At $39.99 a jar with about 120 chews, a medium dog costs about $0.67 a day, a large dog about $1.00 and an extra large dog (61 lbs and over) about $1.33. We show it clearly because owners of big dogs always do the sums.

Quick Answers

Are SolaPup chews really chicken free?

Yes, the formula is chicken free. Please also read the ingredient list on your jar.

Is chicken free the same as hypoallergenic?

No. Chicken free only means chicken is not an ingredient. Your dog could still react to something else, which is why we suggest starting with half the daily amount.

Can I give these to a dog with a chicken allergy?

Chicken is not an ingredient, but we cannot promise any dog will not react to something else. Please talk to your vet first, especially if your dog has diagnosed allergies.

What flavour are they?

Bacon. Most dogs take to them straight away.

Do they contain shellfish?

Yes. They contain green lipped mussel, so they are not suitable for dogs with a shellfish allergy.

Are they safe for long-term use?

They are designed for ongoing daily use. Check in with your vet about your own dog.

What if my dog has a sensitive tummy?

Split the daily amount into a morning and evening serving and start with half the amount for 2 to 3 days.

Can puppies have them?

Yes, from 3 months old, on a gentler puppy plan. See our puppy guide.

My dog is over 90 lbs. How many chews?

Dogs of 61 lbs and over have 4 chews a day, including dogs over 90 lbs.

When will I notice a difference?

Many owners notice changes in everyday movement within 2 to 4 weeks of daily use. Every dog is different.

What if my dog does not like them?

Crumble them over the bowl. If they are still not for you, our 30-Day Tail-Wag Guarantee has you covered.

More from SolaPup: Giant breeds | Large breed puppies | Active and working dogs | Bull breeds and rescue dogs

As always, check with your vet before starting any new product, especially for puppies or dogs with existing health conditions or on medication. SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews contain green lipped mussel (shellfish). Our products may be formulated with ingredients containing FDA recognised allergens, for example shellfish, soy and wheat, which may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals or pets. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.