Dog supplement: oil, tablet, chew, or powder?

Natural dietary supplements are increasingly used to support mobility and joint comfort in dogs. But one question always arises: which dosage form is most suitable: liquid oil, powder, tablet or functional chew?

The answer goes beyond convenience. The dosage form, meaning the form in which the active ingredient is presented, directly influences its bioavailability (the amount actually absorbed), digestive tolerance, active ingredient concentration and even the dog's willingness to take the supplement.

Understanding bioavailability

Bioavailability refers to the proportion of an active ingredient that reaches the bloodstream after ingestion.

Example: if a tablet contains 500 mg of glucosamine but only 20% enters the bloodstream, only 100 mg is actually absorbed.

Why are liquids better absorbed?

• No disintegration: a liquid is immediately available, unlike a tablet that must first dissolve.
• Solubility: lipophilic molecules such as Omega-3 or CBD cross intestinal membranes more easily when already dissolved in oil.
• Surface area: active ingredients in a liquid are uniformly dispersed, which maximises intestinal absorption.

Green lipped mussel oil reaches its maximum blood concentration (plasma peak) 6 times faster than powder.

Miller et al.

Liquids: the benchmark for Omega-3 and CBD

• Manufacturing: oils obtained by cold pressing or supercritical CO₂ extraction, which preserve essential fatty acids.
• Bioavailability: very high. Because omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) and CBD are lipophilic, they cross the intestinal wall easily in oil form.
• Concentration: potentially high, as oil is the natural carrier for fatty acids.
• Administration: mixed into food or given directly via dropper/syringe; palatability is often good.
• Storage: the main drawback of liquid forms is their susceptibility to oxidation, which often requires refrigeration and small volumes to maintain stability and efficacy.
• Examples of active ingredients best suited to liquid formulations: omega-3 fatty acids (green-lipped mussel, algae and fish oils) and CBD (hemp extract).

Green lipped mussel oil contains up to 15 times more Omega-3 than powder.

Miller et al.

Powders: suited to dry extracts and certain actives

• Manufacturing: hot drying or freeze-drying. This leads to loss of lipid fractions, particularly Omega-3.
• Bioavailability: variable. Good for certain standardised dry extracts (plants), low for lipids.
• Concentration: often reduced compared to oils.
• Administration: mixed into kibble, although the taste or smell may sometimes make them less acceptable to dogs.

Examples:

• Glucosamine & Chondroitin: in powder form derived from crustaceans/cartilage. Widely used historically, but no scientific consensus validates their clinical efficacy in dogs. The meta-analysis by Barbeau-Grégoire et al. (2022) concludes an absence of significant benefit compared to placebo.
• MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): crystallised powder, well tolerated, but no study has evaluated its effects when used alone in arthritic dogs.
• Collagen: available as a powder, more digestible than native collagen; data are still limited in dogs.
• Turmeric: only available as powder/dry extract. Low bioavailability without the addition of piperine or a lipid formulation (Shoba et al., 1998).
• Anti-inflammatory botanicals (boswellia, devil's claw): generally available as standardised dry extracts; efficacy depends on concentration; no studies are available in dogs.

Tablets: stable but restrictive

• Manufacturing: compacted powders with excipients and flavourings. Sometimes enriched with oils, but in limited quantities.
• Bioavailability: adequate if the tablet disintegrates well, but lower than liquids.
• Concentration: limited by tablet volume.
• Administration: often difficult; dogs spit them out or refuse them, especially over long courses.
• Examples of active ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, hydrolysed collagen.

Tablets have the advantage of delivering a fixed, standardised dose, which makes them practical in clinical trials where it is essential to compare results precisely between animals. But in everyday life, the reality is different: many dogs refuse tablets, even when hidden in food. Over a long course, this quickly becomes burdensome.

Functional chews: appealing but often underdosed

• Manufacturing: active powders incorporated into a matrix of fresh or dehydrated proteins (chicken, beef, salmon) and flavourings.
• Bioavailability: depends on the active ingredient. It is often low when active ingredients are in powder form.
• Concentration: generally low, as the chew must remain palatable. Many products highlight a well-known active ingredient (turmeric, devil's claw…), but at doses far below the levels shown to be effective in clinical studies.
• Administration: very easy, as chews are perceived as treats.
• Dosage: fixed (1 chew = X mg), making it difficult to adjust precisely according to body weight.

Matching the form to the active ingredient

• Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): liquid oil (optimal bioavailability and concentration, documented efficacy).
• CBD: liquid oil (better absorption, adjustable dosage; promising but still limited data in dogs).
• Glucosamine / Chondroitin: available as powders or tablets, but studies (Barbeau-Grégoire 2022) have not shown significant benefit compared to placebo.
• MSM (methylsulfonylmethane): often offered as powder or tablets, but clinical evidence of efficacy in arthritic dogs remains insufficient.
• Collagen: available as a powder, better absorbed than native collagen, but scientific data in arthritic dogs are limited and do not support firm conclusions about clinical efficacy.
• Turmeric, boswellia, devil's claw: only as standardised dry extracts (efficacy dependent on concentration and formulation).

Multi-active supplements: how to choose?

Many products combine several ingredients. To choose:

Conclusion

Liquids remain the most effective form for lipophilic active ingredients (omega-3 fatty acids, CBD). Powders are suitable for dry extracts, but efficacy depends on the actual concentration. Tablets are practical in theory but often poorly accepted. Chews, although palatable, are generally underdosed.

That is why PERNIXOL® uses a liquid formulation rich in green-lipped mussel oil and algae oil to promote optimal omega-3 absorption for lasting joint support.

Scientific references

• Barbeau-Grégoire M, Otis C, Cournoyer A, Moreau M, Lussier B, Troncy E. A 2022 Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Enriched Therapeutic Diets and Nutraceuticals in Canine and Feline Osteoarthritis. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Sep 8;23(18):10384. doi: 10.3390/ijms231810384. PMID: 36142319; PMCID: PMC9499673.
• Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS. Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):353-6. doi: 10.1055/s-2006-957450. PMID: 9619120.
• Maxwell LK, Regier P, Achanta S. Comparison of Glucosamine Absorption After Administration of Oral Liquid, Chewable, and Tablet Formulations to Dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2016 Mar-Apr;52(2):90-4. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6267. Epub 2016 Jan 25. PMID: 26808433.
• Miller MR, Kruger MC, Wynne C, Waaka D, Li W, Frampton C, Wolber FM, Eason C. Bioavailability of Orally Administered Active Lipid Compounds from four Different Greenshell™ Mussel Formats. Mar Drugs. 2020 Oct 23;18(11):524. doi: 10.3390/md18110524.

This article was written by the R&D team at Laboratoire Sensilia, experts in animal nutrition.