Gear Score Methodology
PetPal Gear Score
Best Joint Supplements and Fish Oils for Aging Dogs and Cats (2026)
Editorial synthesis of veterinary references and manufacturer documentation — the Merck Veterinary Manual chapter on osteoarthritis in dogs and cats, the 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, the 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines, NASC quality-program documentation, Tufts Cummings Petfoodology coverage of joint supplements and fish oils, peer-reviewed evidence including Roush 2010 and Bauer 2011, and official Nutramax, VetriScience, Welactin, Hill's, and Adequan product pages. PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab.
PetPal Supplement Score = (Expert Consensus × 0.35) + (Evidence Lane × 0.25) + (Ingredient Transparency × 0.20) + (Senior-Pet Routine Fit × 0.20)Factor breakdown
Expert Consensus
35%Synthesized from the Merck Veterinary Manual chapter on osteoarthritis in dogs and cats, the 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines, the 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines, NASC quality-program documentation, Tufts Cummings Petfoodology coverage, peer-reviewed evidence including Roush 2010 and Bauer 2011, and official manufacturer pages. PetPalHQ does not run a testing lab. The PetPal Supplement Score is a composite of expert OA-management criteria and manufacturer disclosures — not a clinical measurement.
Evidence Lane
25%Whether the product sits in the EPA/DHA lane (stronger support per Merck and Tufts), the green-lipped mussel lane (conditional per Tufts), or the glucosamine/chondroitin lane (mixed per Merck systematic review).
Ingredient Transparency
20%Whether the manufacturer discloses meaningful active concentrations — EPA/DHA mg per dose, glucosamine mg per chew, chondroitin mg per chew — rather than only total fish-oil mg or vague 'proprietary blend' framing. NASC seal participation is a screening signal, not proof of effectiveness.
Senior-Pet Routine Fit
20%Whether the product fits the realistic senior-pet workflow — sprinkle for cats, liquid for body-weight-scaled dosing, single-ingredient chew for trial windows without stacking — rather than forcing an owner into a routine they will abandon.
See all score methodologies on the Gear Score index.