Joint Chews for Active, Sporting and Working Dogs: Agility, Hunting, K9 and Trail Dogs

Who Is This Guide For?

Dogs with a job, or dogs who act like they have one. Agility and flyball dogs, field and hunting dogs, herding dogs, K9 and search and rescue dogs, canicross and trail dogs, dock diving dogs, and every happy weekend adventurer who thinks a three hour hike is a warm up.

It is especially for the larger, heavier working dogs, such as Labradors, Retrievers, German Shepherds, Malinois, Rottweilers, Pit Bull types and Boxers, because they carry extra weight through every landing.

Who Should Wait

• Puppies under 3 months old, and young dogs under 12 months, who follow our puppy plan.
• Dogs with a shellfish allergy, because the chews contain green lipped mussel.

Please check with your vet first if your dog has a long-term condition or takes medication.

What Are SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews?

A soft, chicken free, bacon flavoured daily chew with nine natural actives, and no artificial flavouring or preservatives. Per serving (2 chews, 4 g):

A 9 oz jar holds about 120 chews. Made in the USA in an FDA-registered facility that is also GMP, NASC and SQF certified, with every batch third party lab tested. The ingredient list on your jar is the final word. Contains green lipped mussel (shellfish).

Why Working Dogs Need a Daily Routine

Agility, hunting, herding, K9 work, trail running and long hikes all add up. Running, jumping, quick turns and hard landings, especially on hard ground, are what add load to a dog's joints over time. Swimming is different: water takes some of the body weight, so it is a gentle, low impact way to work a dog.

Owners often tell us the same things after a big day:

• Stiffness after rest
• Slower movement the next day
• Hesitation with stairs or jumping
• Less enthusiasm after big activity days

Why a Daily Chew Rather Than a Big Day Rescue

Joint chews are designed to be given every day, the same way, so support is steady in the background. Reaching for one only after a huge weekend is a bit like going to the gym once a month. We recommend a steady daily routine.

Why I Care About This

SolaPup began with Roxy, a French Mastiff we rescued from a puppy mill with only hours to live. After more than 35 years of rescuing large and bull breed dogs, I believe in steady, everyday support rather than a scramble after one big weekend.

When to Give Them, and When to See Your Vet

• When to start: any time for adult dogs. Begin with half the daily amount for the first 2 to 3 days, then move up to the full amount.
• Time of day: split the daily amount into a morning and an evening serving. Keep the same times each day, ideally with meals or the post-walk routine.
• Before and after events: keep the routine the same. Do not skip or double.
• Off season: they are designed for ongoing daily use, so many owners keep going through the quiet months.
• When you may notice changes: many owners notice changes in everyday movement within 2 to 4 weeks of daily use. Every dog is different.

Sore or Injured? How to Tell

Ordinary soreness after a big outing is usually mild, on both sides and improving, and it tends to ease within 24 to 48 hours. An injury is more likely to be one-sided, sharp, and to stay the same or get worse.

Call your vet if your dog is limping on one leg and not clearly improving after 48 hours, holding a leg up, hopping, has a swollen or hot joint, yelps when touched, trembles or pants at rest, or passes dark brown or cola coloured urine after hard exercise. Please never give human painkillers, as some, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen (paracetamol), are toxic to dogs.

Where Does the Strain Land, and Where Do You Find SolaPup?

• Where the strain lands: hips, elbows, knees, shoulders and spine, especially on hard landings and sharp turns, and on hard ground rather than grass.
• Where to buy: solapup.com or Amazon.com.
• Where to carry them: a few chews in a small zip bag works well for trips, competitions and days away. Keep the main jar sealed at home.
• Where they are made: in the USA, in an FDA-registered facility that is also GMP, NASC and SQF certified, with every batch third party lab tested.
• Running a kennel or a team? Please get in touch through our contact page and ask about our wholesale account.

How to Build a Routine That Works for a Working Dog

• Build up gradually. Increase your longest outing by no more than about 10 percent a week.
• Warm up and cool down with 5 to 10 minutes of steady walking at each end.
• Mix in easy days so muscles recover between big efforts.
• Walk in the cooler hours with heavy and flat-faced breeds.
• Keep them lean. Extra weight is extra load.
• Give a daily chew, the same time every day.

How Much to Give

Start with half the daily amount for the first 2 to 3 days, and split the daily amount into a morning and an evening serving. This chart is for adult dogs. Young dogs under 12 months follow our puppy plan.

How to Give Them

Give them whole, or crumble them into the bowl. Each chew is about 5 ml of crumbs. Some chews may crumble in transit, which is completely normal and they are still fully effective.

Which Dogs, Which Sports and Which Questions?

Which Dogs Is It For?

Agility and flyball dogs, field and hunting dogs, herding dogs, K9 and search and rescue dogs, canicross and trail dogs, dock diving dogs, and active large, giant and bull breeds.

Which Questions to Ask About Any Joint Chew

• Is it designed for daily use, or only occasional?
• 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?
• Is the flavour one my dog can have?

Which Dogs Should Check With a Vet First?

Dogs with an injury, a long-term condition or on medication, and dogs competing in regulated events where there may be rules about what a dog can be given.

What Does It Cost Per Day?

At $39.99 a jar with about 120 chews, a large working dog on 3 chews costs about $1.00 a day and an extra large dog on 4 chews about $1.33. A medium dog on 2 chews is about $0.67.

Quick Answers

Should I give joint chews only after a big day?

We recommend a steady daily routine, which is how the chews are designed to be used.

How long before I notice a difference?

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

Can I give them every day, all year?

Yes, they are designed for ongoing daily use. Check in with your vet about your own dog.

Do they contain anything I should know about for competitions?

The full ingredient list is on the jar and on this page. Please check the rules of your event or sport if that applies.

Are they suitable for dogs with a shellfish allergy?

No. They contain green lipped mussel, which is shellfish.

Are they chicken free?

Yes. Read more on our chicken free page.

How many chews does a 100 lb working dog have?

Dogs of 61 lbs and over have 4 chews a day.

What if my dog does not like them?

Crumble them over the bowl, and remember our 30-Day Tail-Wag Guarantee.

More from SolaPup: Chicken free | Giant breeds | Large breed puppies | 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.