What is The Best Vitamin Supplement for Dogs: Mobility or Daily

Both Daily and Mobility have amazing benefits for dogs. But, one might fit your pet’s lifestyle more than the other.

At PetFriendly, we offer two types of supplements for dogs. In this article, we'll break down:

• What are dog supplements
• What to look for
• Daily vs. Mobility Supplements for Dogs
• What is the best vitamin supplement for dogs

What are dog supplements

Dog supplements are similar to human supplements. They contain essential vitamins and minerals that supplement your dog's diet. The most common dog vitamins include:

• B vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Fish oil
• Omega 3 fatty acids

Supplements typically come in soft chews, pills, liquids, or powders your dog takes orally. They can be added to dog food directly.

They often have a variety of health benefits, including:

• Skin and coat health
• Maintaining a healthy weight/weight loss
• Gut and digestion
• Hip and joint health
• Allergies and immune function

What to look for

Dietary supplements for dogs come in many forms, flavors, and ingredient makeups. And there are a lot to choose from. So how do you decide which dog supplements are best for your canine companion?

Here are a few factors to consider when selecting dog supplements.

Ingredients

Most supplements are meant to support your dog's diet — i.e. dietary supplements. They are helpful if they have food allergies or other health-specific needs, or are picky eaters. This is why the ingredients in your dog's supplements are so important.

When reading labels, it's important to know that ingredients are separated into two categories — active and inactive.

Active ingredients vs. inactive ingredients

Active ingredients are organic compounds like amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids obtained from plants or animals. For example, glucosamine can be sourced in shellfish.

What's the best joint supplement for dogs

The best joint supplements on the market tout key ingredients found naturally in animal and plant sources. No matter which supplement you choose, be sure to read the label, talk with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and be mindful of any food or skin allergies.

Efficacy

The extent to which the dog supplement supports your dog's health is a key factor in choosing the right one. For example, if the brand claims to support heart health, their supplement should include fish oils, omega-3 fatty acids, or something similar that helps lower blood pressure.

Most joint supplements for dogs contain the core ingredients of glucosamine, MSM, and chondroitin. Be skeptical of brands that do not have at least one of those primary ingredients listed.

Safety

Most pet products on the market have to undergo testing and meet regulatory standards. In the case of supplements, the requirements vary by manufacturer.

Reputable manufacturers typically:

• Include their ingredient list to demonstrate efficacy
• Be vet-recommended or vet-formulated
• Have a quality seal from the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)

Palatability

Dog owners know all too well that if your dog won't even sniff the supplement then getting them to take it every day is going to be a challenge — defeating the purpose of a "daily supplement."

While not required, many supplement brands go through palatability testing before bringing their supplement to market.

Palatability means the likelihood of a subject (your dog) accepting or agreeable to the taste. Put simply, will your dog eat it or not?

Most dogs have no problem snarfing down anything with chicken liver or beef in it, but some are picky eaters. If there isn't a palatability score, you may want to try it out for a short time to see if your dog likes it before subscribing.

Form Factor

Dog supplements are a booming industry which makes finding the form your dog will sniff, lick, and gobble up pretty overwhelming. Here are a few form factors to consider:

• Chewable tablets: One of the most common supplements, these are typically packed with lots of active ingredients but often not a lot of taste. Similar to human vitamin C tabs, a chewable tablet can be chalky and lack flavor for your dog to get excited about.
• Soft chews: Another common type of supplement, soft chews are the most similar to a treat. They are filled with lots of great ingredients but may require inactive ingredients to bind the nutrients together or make them soft and tasty for pups.
• Powders: Powders are the latest supplement craze for humans and pets. Powders can be mixed into dog food or sprinkled on as a topper. Powders can sometimes be disarming for dogs but over time they may not even notice it's there.
• Oils: Similar to powders, oils (like fish oils) have become increasingly popular among dog owners. Many oil supplements contain a singular ingredient that can help improve specific needs like joint problems. But, they can be extremely messy for pet parents.

Daily vs. Mobility Supplements for Dogs

PetFriendly offers a couple of supplements for dogs. So what are the best supplements for your dog? Here are some differences and similarities.

Daily Supplement for Dogs

What it is

Daily is an all-in-one vitamin supplement for dogs. This smoked chicken-flavored soft chew is packed with essential vitamins and nutrients. Daily is made in the USA from globally sourced ingredients and is vet-formulated.

Key ingredients include:

• Gut Health Enzyme Blend
• 7-Strain Probiotic Blend
• B vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Glucosamine HCI
• MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
• Chondroitin Sulfate

What does it do

Daily is a dog supplement that supports four key areas of your dog's body systems:

• Hip and joint function: Daily contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and vitamin A. These vitamins help reduce inflammation, ease joint stiffness and pain relief.
• Gut and digestive health: A signal of good pet health is a hearty appetite and regular bowels. The Gut Health Enzyme Blend and 7-Strain Probiotic Blend inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut, reduce gas, prevent diarrhea, and support colon health.
• Skin and coat: Healthy dogs have shiny coats, free from dandruff or greasiness. Biotin, vitamin B-12, and pantothenic acid all promote healthy skin, hair, and nails to help your dog look and feel their best.
• Immune support: Daily also contains B vitamins and folic acid to help your dog live a long healthy life. These vitamins play a significant role in heart health, brain health, kidney health, and energy.

How is it dosed

Daily comes in three unique weight breaks with feeding instructions on the jars:

• Small dogs: Up to 25 lbs
• Medium dogs: 26-75 lbs
• Large dogs: 76+ lbs

Your monthly supply will include 30, 60, or 90 chews. Our supplements are carefully balanced with your dog’s weight in mind — we always recommend that you stick to the suggested daily dose.

Do you need a prescription

Our Daily Supplement for Dogs is delivered to your door without a prescription from a vet. This product is vet-formulated, but we suggest that you consult with your vet to make sure a vitamin supplement is right for your dog.

Mobility Hip and Joint Supplement for Dogs

Mobility is a dog joint supplement designed to help improve joint pain, joint function, and overall joint health. It’s a smoked, beef-flavored soft chew and is formulated by vets and is made in the USA from globally sourced ingredients.

What it is

Our hip and joint supplement is a smoked, beef-flavored soft chew packed with quality ingredients. Our hip and joint supplement is made in the USA in an SQF-certified facility from globally sourced ingredients.

Key ingredients include:

• Glucosamine HCI
• Chondroitin Sulfate
• MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
• FruiteX-B®*
• Collagen
• White Turmeric
• Black Pepper
• Vitamin E

*Unlike other joint supplements for dogs, Mobility contains FruiteX-B®, an ingredient that improves the absorption of other ingredients in your dog's body for quicker results.

What does it do

Mobility is one of the best joint supplements because it helps:

• Stimulate the growth of new cartilage
• Minimize cartilage breakdown
• Lubricate joints
• Boost mobility
• Relieve joint pain
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote healthier joints in dogs

Additionally, probiotics in our dog joint supplements help with digestion and bioavailability (the ability to absorb and spread nutrients).

Mobility is fast-acting and has anti-inflammatory properties. Pet parents can see improvement in as little as 2 weeks after adding our hip and joint supplements to their dog's health regimen. This makes it a great fit for older dogs.

How is it dosed

Like Daily, Mobility comes in three unique weight breaks with feeding instructions on the jars.

• Small dogs: 11-25 lbs
• Medium dogs: 26-75 lbs
• Large dogs: 76+ lbs

Your monthly supply will include 30, 60, or 90 chews. Depending on your dog’s unique weight, your dog will take one, two, or three supplements per day.

Our supplements are carefully balanced with your dog’s weight in mind. We always recommend that you stick to the suggested daily dose.

With FruiteX-B® in our formula, you don't need to “front load” your dog's treatment for 4-6 weeks then taper off. That being said, we recommend checking with your vet first to determine which joint supplement is best.

Do you need a prescription

Mobility Hip and Joint Supplement gets delivered to your door without a visit to the store or your veterinarian. This product is vet-formulated but we always recommend talking to your veterinarian before trying supplements for dogs.

What is the best vitamin supplement for dogs

Pet parents who take a holistic approach to pet care are more likely to have happy, healthy dogs. A healthy diet, regular exercise, physical therapy, and dietary supplements are just a few ways to support the longevity of your furry friends.

Still not sure which supplement is best for your dog? Here's what we suggest:

Daily is great for growing pups who need support getting the right nutrients:

• Puppies at least 8 weeks old
• Adolescent dogs
• Healthy adult dogs

Mobility is perfect for dogs that are susceptible to joint pain such as:

• Large or extra-large dog breeds like Great Danes
• Dogs that are predisposed to hip and joint health issues
• Senior dogs may also benefit from the anti-inflammatory properties of Mobility Hip and Joint Supplements.

If your dog currently takes Daily but falls into one of those buckets, consider transitioning to Mobility for Dogs and stop taking Daily for Dogs.

If you're unsure and you want to try both, avoid giving your pup Daily for Dogs and Mobility for Dogs at the same time. Too much glucosamine may lead to weight gain and gastric upset.