What WagWell Wants You to Check Before Buying Natural Dog Supplements
Written by Malana VanTyler
A 10-year-old pug started to slow down. Her energy dipped, and her mobility followed.
Her owner, William Smolen, went looking for a supplement to help. As reported in 2023, he found few options that met his standard for clean ingredients. Smolen later co-founded WagWell, a dog wellness brand.
The search likely feels familiar to anyone who has stood in the pet nutrition aisle, and Smolen’s frustration points to a wider problem. Shelves now overflow with plant-based chews, oils, and powders, many of them carrying the word natural. But a label can sound reassuring without showing that a product works.
Label Confusion
The word natural can mean different things from one label to the next. A plant-derived ingredient can still harm a dog when the dose is wrong. Researching the product’s origin and its safety for your pet are separate and important considerations.The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine addresses this in a pharmacist guide to supplements and toxicity. It warns that products made for people can carry doses and excipients that are wrong for pets. Excipients are the binders, coatings, and fillers wrapped around an active ingredient. Some of them can harm animals.
The guide's advice is plain. Dogs should not take human supplements without veterinary guidance.
Picture an owner in a pet store aisle, holding two jars. One says natural in large green letters. The other lists a dose for each ingredient. Only the second jar gives the owner something concrete they can check; the other is leaning on marketing hype.
Botanical Evidence
Many pet owners now add curcumin, quercetin, and tea polyphenols to their dogs' diets. A 2024 review in Veterinary Sciences, indexed by the National Institutes of Health, examined plant extracts in dogs and cats. The authors looked at possible effects on gut, immune, and heart health. They also recommend exercising caution. Safety can depend on the extract type, dose, extraction method, and the individual animal. Some extracts may carry real toxicity risks.Absorption adds another issue. Curcumin is often poorly absorbed, so makers may turn to specialized extracts. Curcuvet is one example. Its developers say it may bind curcumin to phospholipids to improve absorption.
Curcumin and quercetin turn up in many joint and allergy products, so research matters to shoppers. Studies in dogs remain limited, and much of that lab work comes from cells in a dish. Results there do not always carry over to a living dog. It’s important to review the ingredients and their dosage on each label before giving it to your pet.
Probiotic Basics
Cornell University's Riney Canine Health Center calls probiotics largely safe and among the most frequently recommended supplements. Some veterinarians suggest them routinely. Cornell adds one caution. Owners should pick canine probiotics, because human products often target different gut bacteria.The same guidance describes omega-3 fatty acids as generally safe. It also says they may help dogs with stressed or weakened immune systems.
However, it’s important to check a probiotic label for the specific strain and the dose. A product that leaves either one out can’t be compared with the research.
Brand Background
Every supplement brand starts with a story, and Wagwell’s story is simple and relatable to many pet owners: a beloved pet was slowing down, and its loving owner just wanted to help.William Smolen wanted better for his pet than what was available on the shelf and set out to create something different. WagWell launched in 2023 with a small line of chewable supplements for mobility, allergies, and skin and coat. The brand has said it was the first dog brand to use ahiflower oil.
Practice Discretion
Supplement brand claims deserve the same scrutiny as any others, perhaps more. A company describing its own product is a starting point for questions. Owners can compare those descriptions against the ingredient list, published research, and a veterinarian's judgment.Some phrases call for extra care. Words like clinically proven, vet approved, and pure promise certainty. Few supplement labels can back them with a study a shopper can actually read. Descriptions that point to a specific ingredient and a specific amount are easier to trust.
Consider a pet owner holding a bag of treats at a dog park. A friend swears a certain chew fixed her own dog's itching. Maybe it did. Or maybe pollen counts dropped that month. Without a record of dose and timing, nobody can tell.
Omega Options
Fish oil is a familiar source of omega-3 fatty acids. Plant-based alternatives exist, and ahiflower oil is one. It is pressed from the seeds of a plant called Buglossoides Arvensis.WagWell has chosen to feature ahiflower in its pet supplements. The product page lists omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids along with D-biotin. The brand positions it as a plant-based option for owners who prefer to skip fish oil.
Research on plant-based omegas in dogs is still developing. A veterinarian can recommend the best source for a particular dog, especially one with a sensitive stomach or a health condition.
Buyer Questions
A short list of questions helps with any supplement, natural or otherwise.Does the label state a dose for each active ingredient? A pinch of an ingredient added for marketing is unlikely to do much. Proprietary blends that hide individual amounts cannot be compared with published research.
Does the maker follow outside quality standards? The National Animal Supplement Council runs a quality seal program. It includes manufacturing audits and adverse event reporting. A seal is not a guarantee, but it shows a company opened its process to review.
How will results be tracked? Start one product at a time. Write down the date, the dose, and any change in appetite, stool, or energy. If a dog vomits, itches more, or seems unwell, stop and call the vet.
Was a veterinarian consulted? Ask yours. Bring the jar, since the ingredient list tells the vet more than the front label does.
Individual Needs
Dogs may not have just one problem. A senior may have stiff joints and seasonal itching at once. Matching an individual product to each concern can be easier to track than relying on a single product that promises everything.WagWell’s Mobility chews, part of its dog joint supplements, list glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, OptiMSM, and Curcuvet among the ingredients. The allergy chew formula list includes colostrum, Epicor, organic echinacea, and spirulina. The brand formulates both to support, rather than treat, a condition. Its dog allergy chews are meant for dogs with seasonal sensitivities.
Age matters too. Puppies, adults, and seniors have different needs. A dog on prescription medication faces its own risks, since some supplements interact with drugs. A veterinarian often knows your pet’s full medical history. No label does.
Targeted products also make results easier to read. When one chew addresses one concern, an owner can watch that area for changes. Those notes are useful at a vet visit. A single broad product makes them harder to collect.
Supplements add to a good routine. Diet, exercise, and regular checkups do the heavy lifting. Owners curious about a plant-based option can read the ingredient list on each WagWell formula. Then they can take it to a veterinarian for a second opinion.
Interest in plant-based ingredients is unlikely to fade. More research on dogs will help, and so will clear labels. Until both arrive, owners carry much of the burden of sorting good products from loose promises.
A pug’s slowing steps started one search. Any owner can start a similar one with better questions, and a veterinarian is the right person to ask first.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a licensed veterinarian. Always consult your veterinarian before giving your dog a new supplement, especially if your dog takes medication, has a health condition, is pregnant, or is nursing. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
