Chews, oils, powders or tablets: how pet supplement formats compare

Chews, oils, powders and tablets differ mainly in how you measure the daily amount and how you get it into your pet. Chews are counted and handed over like a snack. Oils are measured in millilitres and poured over food. Powders are scooped and stirred into food. Tablets are counted and given whole or hidden in food. The right format is the one your dog or cat will take every day and that you will remember to give, so picky eaters, travel and storage often decide it more than anything else.

This guide compares the four formats side by side. Prices are in Canadian dollars and appear only for Trueleaf products, because those are the only prices we can state with certainty. Figures were checked on September 30, 2026.

How do chews, oils, powders and tablets compare?

How is the daily amount measured in each format?

Chews are counted. The label gives a number of chews per day for each weight band. Our dog chews are dosed at one chew per 10 lb a day for Calming Support and one chew per 8 lb a day for Hip + Joint Support, split between morning and evening. A 40 lb dog takes 4 Calming Support chews or 5 Hip + Joint Support chews a day.

Oils are measured by volume. Our oils use five weight bands, from 1.25 mL (a quarter teaspoon) for dogs under 10 lb up to 10 mL (2 teaspoons) for dogs 71 lb and over, once a day. A 40 lb dog takes 5 mL, one teaspoon.

Powders are measured with a scoop or by weight in grams. Scoop sizes vary between brands, so use the scoop that comes with the product, level it off, and match it to the label's weight band.

Tablets and capsules are counted like chews. Some tablets are scored so they can be split for smaller pets. Capsules usually cannot be split, though some labels say they can be opened over food.

Whatever the format, the full table for each Trueleaf product is on our dosing chart.

Which format is simplest to give every day?

For many dogs, a chew is the simplest. It looks and smells like a snack, you can hand it over as part of a routine, and there is nothing to measure. Splitting the dose between morning and evening fits neatly around meals.

An oil is simple if your dog eats a regular meal from a bowl. You measure once, pour, and serve. There is no extra item for the dog to accept.

A powder is similar to an oil, but it needs to be stirred in and some pets eat around it if the food is dry. Wet food or a little water helps it stick.

Tablets take the most handling for many pet owners. Some pets take them in a piece of food without noticing. Others need to have them placed in the mouth.

What if my dog or cat is a picky eater?

If your pet refuses chews, a format that goes into food is the usual next step. An oil poured over a meal your dog already eats does not ask the dog to accept anything new as a separate item. A powder can do the same in wet food.

Many cats are selective about texture and smell. Our cat supplements are small soft chews in 50g bags. Cat chews are not split. Follow the cat label as it reads. Our guide on cat supplements and how much to give covers the daily amounts by weight.

Which format is best for travel?

Chews are the lightest to carry. Count out what you need for the trip into a small sealed bag, and there is nothing to measure at a campsite or a hotel. Tablets are similarly compact.

Oils need a little more planning: a closed bottle, something to measure with, and a bag in case of drips. Some households give the chew at home and keep a bottle on hand for trips, or the other way around. If you fly, check your airline's rules for liquids.

Powders travel well in a sealed pouch, but you need the scoop and a way to keep both dry.

How should each format be stored?

For our chews and oils, the instruction is the same: keep them closed, and away from light, heat and moisture. Do not leave a bag of chews in a hot car.

For any product, the label is the final word on storage. Some liquid products ask to be refrigerated after opening. Powders need to stay dry, so close the lid straight away and never put a wet scoop back in the tub.

What does each format cost per day for a 40 lb dog?

Cost per day depends on two numbers: the price of the container and how many days it lasts at your dog's weight. Here are our own products for a 40 lb dog.

How we worked it out: a 237 mL bottle at 5 mL a day is 47.4 days, and $44.99 divided by 47.4 is $0.95. A 600g bag of Calming Support Chews is 200 chews, so at 4 chews a day it lasts 50 days, and $58.99 divided by 50 is $1.18. Subscribe & Save takes 20% off the price, so the 600g bag is $47.19 and the 237 mL oil is $35.99 on subscription. Shipping and tax are not included.

Smaller bags cost more per day. At 40 lb, Calming Support Chews come to $2.00 a day from the 90g bag and $1.51 a day from the 200g bag, against $1.18 from the 600g bag.

We have not priced powders or tablets here, because we do not sell them. Use the same method on any product: find the daily amount for your pet's weight, work out how many days the container lasts, and divide the price by the days.

Chews or oil: which Trueleaf format should you pick?

Both formats carry the same actives for each line. Calming Support pairs hemp seed with chamomile, lemon balm and L-theanine. Hip + Joint Support pairs hemp seed with turmeric root extract and green lipped mussel. The chews are veterinarian formulated and made in our own plant in Vernon, BC.

Start with the chew unless your dog avoids chews, weighs under 10 lb, is on a calorie-controlled diet, or shares a household with other dogs whose food you would rather dose by the bowl. In those cases the oil is often the simpler fit. Our full guide, chews or oil: how to choose the format, goes through each of those cases.

If you are not sure which product suits your pet, the supplement finder asks a few questions and suggests one. And whichever format you choose, it is worth telling your veterinarian what your pet is taking.