Putting Our Money Where Our Mouths Are
We review supplements for a living. We read the research, check the labels, do the math, and make recommendations. But the ultimate test is what we actually give our own dogs. Here's the current roster, updated for Q1 2026.
Megan's Dogs
Remi (9, Australian Shepherd, mild arthritis, raw diet)
- Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet: 3 pumps daily (approximately 1,800 mg EPA+DHA). The cornerstone of her supplement routine. Started 3 years ago when we noticed early stiffness.
- LongTails: One scoop daily. Added 8 months ago for the NAD+ support and general aging nutrition. The beef liver and bone broth components complement Remi's raw diet nicely. I've noticed more consistent energy throughout the day, though I can't isolate which ingredient is responsible.
- Native Pet Probiotic: Intermittent use. After antibiotic courses or when her digestion seems off. Not daily.
Monthly cost: Approximately $85
Bowie (4, Mutt, healthy, kibble diet)
- Grizzly Pollock Oil: 2 pumps daily. Basic omega 3 support. Bowie is young and healthy, so this is his only supplement.
Monthly cost: Approximately $15
Jake's Dogs
Brutus (10, Rottweiler mix, hip osteoarthritis, kibble with toppers)
- Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet: 4 pumps daily (approximately 2,400 mg EPA+DHA). Higher dose for his arthritis and body weight.
- YuMOVE Joint Care Plus: 2 tablets daily. The green lipped mussel is what showed the most noticeable joint improvement in his case.
- LongTails: One large dog scoop daily. Added for NAD+ precursor support about 10 months ago. Combined with the other supplements and his weight loss (5 lbs over 2 months), Brutus is genuinely moving better at 10 than at 8. The overall trajectory has been clearly positive.
- Vitamin E (natural d alpha tocopherol): 200 IU daily. Because of the high dose fish oil.
Monthly cost: Approximately $140
Pepper (3, Pit Bull mix, healthy, kibble diet)
- Sardines: Half a can, 3 times per week. Cheapest and possibly best omega 3 source available. Pepper thinks she's getting the greatest treat on earth.
Monthly cost: Approximately $8
What We've Stopped Using (and Why)
Transparency means sharing our failures too:
- A popular glucosamine chew brand (unnamed): Used for 3 months with Brutus. No measurable improvement. Later realized the dose was sub therapeutic for his weight. Lesson learned.
- Turmeric golden paste (homemade): Tried for 6 weeks with Remi. No observable benefit, and it stained everything it touched. Replaced with higher dose fish oil, which has better evidence and less mess.
- A "kitchen sink" senior supplement with 30+ ingredients: Used for 2 months. Couldn't attribute any changes to it. Replaced with targeted individual supplements at proper doses. More expensive per month but actually effective.
Our Approach
You'll notice some patterns in our supplement choices:
- Every dog gets omega 3s. It's the most universally supported supplement for dogs.
- Young healthy dogs get minimal supplementation. Fish or fish oil and that's it. Don't fix what isn't broken.
- Senior dogs get targeted stacks. Joint support, omega 3s, and aging support, chosen based on their specific needs and responses.
- We use powder formats when possible. Better dosing, less filler, usually better value.
- We adjust based on results. If something isn't working after 8 weeks, we change. If something works, we keep it.
The Honest Cost of Caring
Our total household supplement spending:
- Megan's two dogs: ~$100/month
- Jake's two dogs: ~$148/month
- Combined: ~$248/month for four dogs
That's real money. We justify it because we see the results in our dogs' quality of life, and because the alternative (reactive treatment of health problems that proactive care might prevent or delay) is usually more expensive.
But we also want to be clear: you don't need to spend this much. If your budget allows $20/month, put it toward a quality fish oil and call it good. The perfect is the enemy of the good when it comes to supplementation. A single well chosen supplement at the right dose is infinitely better than a complex stack you can't afford to maintain.
Next Update: July 2026
We'll update this list quarterly. If we change products, add something new, or drop something, you'll know. If a product we've been recommending disappoints us, you'll know that too. Our dogs are our accountability mechanism. We only recommend what we actually use.
