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VetriScience 0900580.180 Check price on Amazon

VetriScience Healthy Spine & Disc Easy-Open Capsules, Back and Spinal Support Chondroitin and Taurine Supplement for Dogs, Perfect for Dachshunds, Corgis, Frenchies, Basset Hounds & More, 180 Count Review

By Marcus Bell · Dog nutrition editor · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-06-21

4.5 (2,100) Amazon rating$20.302,000+ bought last month

Our verdict

A targeted capsule for breeds prone to back and disc strain, built around a chondroitin source and taurine rather than glucosamine, and it holds a solid 4.5 star average across 2,100 ratings.

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Best for

Dachshunds, corgis, French bulldogs, basset hounds and other long-backed or short-legged dogs whose owners want extra spinal and connective tissue support.

Skip if

Your dog needs a broad glucosamine based hip and joint formula, since this one skips glucosamine entirely in favor of a chondroitin and taurine blend.

  • Form Capsule
  • Flavor Unflavored
  • Benefits Joint Health
  • Best for Joints
  • Breed size Large, Medium, Small
  • Weight 0.49 Pounds
  • Priced 38% below the category median ($32.91 across 92 tracked models)

Our scorecard

4.5/5 overall
  • Owner rating4.5/5

    4.5 average across 2,100 owner ratings

  • Popularity3.0/5

    2,100 owner reviews, more than most models here

The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other dog food and health supplements we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.

Overview

VetriScience markets this one specifically at dogs built low to the ground, dachshunds, corgis, French bulldogs and basset hounds are called out by name, since those breeds carry extra strain on the spine and discs. Each capsule is unflavored and easy to open, so it can be swallowed whole or pulled apart and sprinkled over food for dogs that will not take a pill.

The formula leans on bovine tracheal cartilage as a chondroitin source along with L-taurine, vitamin C, manganese, calcium, magnesium and a small amount of vitamin B6 and D3. There is no glucosamine in the mix, which sets it apart from most general hip and joint chews on this list.

At 180 capsules per bottle and roughly 2,000 units bought in the past month, it is a steady seller among owners of small, long-backed breeds looking for daily spine support alongside their regular vet care.

Pros

  • Formulated specifically for long-backed and short-legged breeds prone to spinal and disc strain
  • Easy-open capsules can be pulled apart and sprinkled over food for dogs that will not swallow a pill
  • Combines a chondroitin source with taurine, manganese and vitamin C in one capsule
  • Unflavored formula that will not clash with a dog's regular diet
  • 180 count bottle covers months of daily use

Cons

  • No glucosamine in the ingredient list, so dogs needing a full spectrum joint formula may need a different product
  • Capsule form still means swallowing whole or opening it by hand each day
  • Bovine and rice derived ingredients will not suit dogs with those specific sensitivities

Specifications

Form
Capsule
Flavor
Unflavored
Benefits
Joint Health
Best for
Joints
Breed size
Large, Medium, Small
Weight
0.49 Pounds

Performance notes

Each capsule delivers 200 mg of bovine tracheal cartilage as its chondroitin source, plus 100 mg vitamin C, 100 mg pectin and 50 mg L-taurine, with smaller amounts of manganese, calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6 rounding out the formula. The capsule shell itself is gelatin and rice flour. Because glucosamine is absent, this product reads as a spine and connective tissue support formula rather than a classic joint lubrication supplement.

What buyers say

A 4.5 star average across 2,100 ratings and about 2,000 units bought in the past month point to a well established product with a loyal following, particularly among owners of the long-backed breeds it is marketed toward.

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Frequently asked questions

What breeds is this formulated for?

VetriScience calls out dachshunds, corgis, French bulldogs and basset hounds specifically, since these breeds carry extra strain on the spine and discs due to their long backs and short legs. Any dog with a similar build could be a candidate.

Does it contain glucosamine?

No, this formula is built around a chondroitin source, bovine tracheal cartilage, along with taurine, manganese and vitamin C rather than glucosamine, so it is more of a spine and connective tissue support product than an all purpose joint blend.

Can I mix it with food instead of giving the whole capsule?

Yes, these are labeled as easy-open capsules, so you can pull them apart and sprinkle the contents over a meal for dogs that resist swallowing a capsule whole. Check with your vet before starting any new supplement, especially if your dog has an existing health condition.

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