Quick Takeaway

Understanding the facts about joint claims in dog food can be confusing. Here’s what every pet parent should know.

  • ‘800 mg MSM’ on a dog food label usually means per kilogram of food, not per cup.

  • A typical daily feeding often delivers only a fraction of what joint studies use.

  • Heat and storage can reduce activity of sensitive compounds in kibble.

  • Supplements fill the gap with consistent, measurable amounts.

Understanding the Numbers

Label vs Reality: How Much Your Dog Really Gets

What “mg/kg” Really Means

Most pet foods list joint ingredients like glucosamine and MSM as mg per kilogram (2.2 lb) of food, not per serving. If a food claims 700 mg/kg glucosamine, a 60-lb dog eating 1 lb of food actually receives only about 318 mg per day.

Even premium formulas often list impressive numbers that look meaningful, but once you do the math, the daily intake is far below the levels typically used for meaningful joint support.

Graphic comparing label claim of 700 mg/kg glucosamine to actual daily intake of about 318 mg for a 60-lb dog eating 1 lb of food.

Why It Matters:
Numbers on the bag look high because they’re based on kilograms, not servings. Understanding the label helps you know what your dog is actually getting each day.

Quick Tip:

To estimate actual intake, divide the label number (mg/kg) by 2.2, then multiply by how many pounds of food your pet eats each day.

Example Calculation
Label: 700 mg/kg glucosamine
Dog eats: 1 lb of food (0.45 kg)
700 × 0.45 = 315 mg per day

High temperatures can destroy nutrients

Food provides the calories. Wholistic supplements preserve vitality.

Why Heat Matters

Even the highest-quality dog foods are cooked at temperatures that can degrade delicate nutrients, such as enzymes, vitamins, and fatty acids.

While heating is essential for safety and shelf life, it can also reduce the activity of ingredients that support comfort, mobility, and immune balance.

At Wholistic Pet Organics, we keep our supplements raw and unheated to preserve their natural bioavailability, so your pet gets the nutrition nature intended, not what survives the extrusion process.

High-temperature processing of pet food, illustrating how heat affects nutrient integrity compared to raw supplements.

Cold-Processed Nutrition

Our unheated, whole-food formulas retain active enzymes, vitamins, and phytonutrients that can be lost during traditional processing. Each batch is crafted to protect ingredient potency, helping support your pet’s vitality from bowl to body.

How Supplements Bridge the Gap

Even the best dog foods can’t deliver every nutrient in the right form or amount. Wholistic supplements make sure nothing’s missing.

Food sustains. Supplements fine-tune.

Dog food provides energy and essential macronutrients, but cooking and prolonged storage can degrade delicate, functional compounds such as enzymes, vitamins, and joint-supportive nutrients.

Wholistic Pet Organics supplements are formulated to bridge those gaps, providing bioavailable, unheated nutrition that complements your pet’s existing diet.

Each formula delivers measurable, consistent levels of ingredients in their most natural, active state.

That means you can feed confidently, knowing your pet is getting what commercial food can’t always maintain.

Dog bowl with kibble and Wholistic Pet Organics supplements, illustrating how whole-food supplements complete the diet.

A Wholistic Partnership

Our supplements aren’t food replacements; they’re the bridge between nutrition and true wellness. Each scoop complements your dog’s diet with bioavailable nutrients that support comfort, balance, and vitality.

Give your pet what food alone can’t.

Wholistic supplements preserve the raw, natural nutrition that helps support comfort, mobility, and vitality

  • No Fillers or Artificial Ingredients

    Only clean, functional nutrition your pet actually needs.

  • Founding NASC Audited Member

    Transparent labeling and verified quality systems.

  • Whole, Raw Food Ingredients

    Kept as close to nature as possible for potency.

  • Made In-House in NH

    Full control over sourcing, manufacturing, and testing.