Joint Chews for Giant Breed Dogs: Mastiffs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards and More

Who Is This Guide For?

For anyone who shares their sofa, car boot and heart with a very large dog. Mastiffs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Dogues de Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Leonbergers, Irish Wolfhounds and every wonderful big mixed breed in between.

It is also for anyone who has stood in a shop aisle trying to work out how many chews a 130 lb dog actually needs, and been told the chart stops at 90 lbs. Ours does not.

Who These Chews Are Not For

• Dogs with a shellfish allergy, because the chews contain green lipped mussel.
• Puppies under 3 months old.

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

What Are SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews?

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

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). Our products may be formulated with ingredients containing FDA recognised allergens, for example shellfish, soy and wheat.

Why Giant Dogs Need a Joint Chew Plan

A giant dog carries a great deal of weight through every joint, every single day. Every step, stair, jump out of the car and slippery kitchen floor adds up. Giant breed puppies also keep growing for a long time, up to 18 to 24 months, so what you do early matters.

Joint chews work best as a steady daily routine rather than a rescue after one big day. That is why we built SolaPup for daily use, with nine natural actives in a chew your dog actually wants.

Why the Sums Matter

A bigger dog means more chews a day, so what a jar costs per day matters as much as the price on the jar. When we looked at Amazon most joint chews in the giant breed searches were general all-breed products, with dosing written for dogs far smaller than a Mastiff. Breed-specific options existed for a few breeds, but with very few reviews. We think giant dog owners deserve clear answers, so we show the daily cost for every size below.

Why Our Story Starts With a Giant

SolaPup began with Roxy, our French Mastiff, rescued from a puppy mill with only hours to live. I nursed her through serious health issues with natural, non-chemical care. We had 3.5 beautiful years together. After more than 35 years of rescuing large and bull breed dogs, I made the chew I wished I had for her.

When to Start, When to Give and When to Expect Changes

• Puppies (3 to 12 months): 1 chew a day, split morning and evening, whatever the weight. Stay here until 12 months.
• 12 to 18 months: stay on the lower dose while your giant is still growing.
• From 18 months: move towards the adult amount gradually, one chew at a time, waiting 2 weeks between increases.
• Adults: start with half the daily amount for 2 to 3 days, then move to the full amount for your dog's weight.
• Time of day: split the daily amount into a morning and an evening serving.
• When you may notice changes: many owners notice changes in everyday movement within 2 to 4 weeks of daily use. Every dog is different.

If you notice more frequent urination, drop back to the previous amount. It settles quickly. Our puppy guide has the full detail.

Where Do Big Dogs Carry the Load, and Where Do You Find SolaPup?

Where the Weight Goes

Hips, elbows, knees and the spine all work hard in a giant dog, and the front legs carry more than half the body weight. That is why steady everyday support, a lean body and good flooring all matter.

Where to Buy

SolaPup Hip & Joint Chews are currently available on solapup.com, and also on Amazon.com

Where They Are 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 Much, How Long a Jar Lasts and How to Give Them

So a 70 lb dog and a 150 lb dog both have 4 chews a day. This chart is for adult dogs. Please check with your vet if you have any questions about your own dog.

How to Give Them

• Start with half the daily amount for the first 2 to 3 days.
• Split the daily amount into a morning and an evening serving.
• Give them whole, or crumble into the bowl. Each chew is about 5 ml of crumbs.
• If your giant is on a sensitive stomach, take it slowly and keep to two servings a day.

How to Keep a Giant Moving Comfortably Day to Day

• Keep them lean. Every extra pound is extra load on joints that already carry plenty.
• Use ramps, not leaps, for the car and the sofa.
• Add grip. Rugs on slippery floors help a heavy dog stand without skidding.
• Choose softer ground and steady lead walks over repeated hard landings.
• Walk in the cooler hours. Many giant and flat-faced breeds overheat sooner.
• Warm up slowly, with about five minutes of steady walking first.

Which Breeds, Which Questions and Which Chew?

Which Breeds Is This Page For?

Mastiffs, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Dogue de Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees, Neapolitan Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Leonbergers, Irish Wolfhounds and other large and giant breeds. Read more in our guides for Mastiffs, Newfoundlands and Dogue de Bordeaux.

Which Questions to Ask About Any Joint Chew for a Giant Dog

• Does the dosing chart cover my dog's actual weight, or does it stop at 60 or 90 lbs?
• Are the amounts shown per chew, per serving or per day? (Ours are per 4 g serving, which is 2 chews.)
• What does it cost per day at my dog's dose, not just per jar?
• Is it made in a registered, certified facility and independently tested?
• Is the flavour one my dog can have?

Which Dogs Should Wait?

Puppies under 3 months, dogs with a shellfish allergy, and any dog whose vet has advised otherwise.

What Does a Giant Dog Really Cost Per Day?

At $39.99 a jar with about 120 chews, 4 chews a day is about $1.33 a day, and a jar lasts about 30 days. For a medium dog it is about $0.67 a day and for a large dog about $1.00. Puppies on 1 chew a day cost about $0.33.

Quick Answers

How many chews does a giant dog need?

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

My dog is 140 lbs. Is it still 4 chews?

Yes. 4 chews a day is the amount for every dog of 61 lbs and over. Please check with your vet if you have any questions about your own dog.

How long does a jar last for a big dog?

About 30 days at 4 chews a day, about 40 days at 3 chews a day.

Are they hard for a big dog to chew?

No, they are soft, and can be given whole or crumbled into the bowl.

Are they suitable for dogs with a shellfish allergy?

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

Can giant breed puppies have them?

Yes, from 3 months old, on a gentler plan of 1 chew a day. See our puppy guide.

Are they chicken free?

Yes. Read more on our chicken free page.

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.

Can I give them every day, long term?

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

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 | 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.