Green lipped mussel is the joint supplement with the most straightforward story behind it, and this is the version with the fewest things done to it: whole mussel, freeze dried, ground to a powder. No tablet binder, no flavouring, no filler — which is why you can read a percentage breakdown on it rather than an ingredient list.

AniForte source it from licensed marine farms in New Zealand and freeze-dry it whole to preserve the nutrients. The powder analyses at 3.3% glycosaminoglycans, 3.2% omega-3 fatty acids and 0.63% omega-6, and retains 8% fat — which AniForte describe as a quality marker, because the fat is where the omega-3 lives. They list glucosamine, chondroitin, GAGs and ETA among what it carries, and state it suits both young and senior pets, dogs and cats alike.

• 250G of pure powder
• Single ingredient: green lipped mussel
• Glycosaminoglycans 3.3%, omega-3 3.2%, omega-6 0.63%
• 8% fat retained
• Sourced from licensed New Zealand marine farms, freeze-dried whole
• Suitable for dogs and cats, young and senior

Shellfish, and an unproven benefit. A dog or cat with a shellfish sensitivity should not have this, and if yours has ever reacted to fish or seafood it is worth asking your vet first. AniForte's claims about joints and tendons are theirs; what we can tell you is what is in it and in what proportion, which is more than most joint supplements manage. And the point that outranks the rest: a stiff or slowing animal should be examined, because joint disease is treatable and weight management does more than any powder will.

Who it's for: owners who want green lipped mussel without anything else added, and households wanting one tub that covers a dog and a cat.