Vitapet R a Joint Formula Normal Strength

Stiffness in an older animal shows up as a change of route long before it shows up as a limp. The dog who used to take the stairs two at a time starts taking them one at a time; the cat picks a lower shelf than last year. That change of habit is usually the moment somebody starts reading the backs of bottles.

This is a liquid you stir into food rather than a tablet, which is the difference between a supplement a cat takes and one that ends up behind the radiator. Vitapet build it from a blend of fish and vegetable oils selected for the omega 3 nutrients EPA and DHA, and give the natural omega 3 level as 12.5%. Vitamins A and D are in the blend, along with vitamin E as an antioxidant. Their own daily amounts are printed on the label, measured with a 5ml teaspoon and stepped up by the size of the animal from cats through to the very large breeds, with the instruction not to exceed them.

• Liquid supplement, stirred into food
• Natural omega 3 level of 12.5%
• EPA and DHA from a blend of fish and vegetable oils
• Vitamins A and D, plus vitamin E as an antioxidant
• Vitapet list it as suitable for puppies over twelve weeks
• Daily amounts printed by weight band, cats upward

On what this is and is not. It is a nutritional supplement, not a pain medicine and not a fix for arthritis. Vitapet's own wording is that research has indicated increased levels of these nutrients may help maintain supple joints, which is a maintenance claim rather than a therapeutic one. An animal who is limping, flinching when handled or has stopped jumping should be seen by a vet first. Note the name too: this is the Normal Strength formula, so if you have been told to go higher on omega 3, this is not the bottle.

Who it's for: owners of an ageing dog or cat who want to start something before there is a problem, and in particular anyone with a cat or a determined pill-spitter, because this goes into the bowl instead of down the throat.