Which Dog Supplement Brands Are Canadian? A Guide to Buying Canadian Pet Supplements 🇨🇦

More Canadians are paying attention to where the products they buy come from, including the products they choose for their dogs.

But when it comes to pet supplements, figuring out what is actually Canadian isn't always easy.

A supplement can be sold in Canada without being made here. A company can be Canadian-owned while using ingredients from around the world. And a maple leaf on a package doesn't necessarily tell the whole story.

If supporting Canadian businesses is important to you, here's what to look for and some Canadian dog supplement companies you may want to know.

Canadian Dog Supplement Brands at a Glance

*Manufacturing location and sourcing can vary by product. Always check the individual product label or contact the manufacturer when country of origin is important to you.

What makes a dog supplement Canadian?

There isn't just one definition.

A pet supplement company might be:

• Canadian-owned: The business itself is Canadian.
• Made in Canada: The product is manufactured or substantially transformed in Canada and meets Canada's requirements for making that claim.
• Made with Canadian ingredients: Some or all ingredients originate in Canada.
• Canadian-founded: The company was started in Canada or by a Canadian founder, although its ownership or operations may have changed over time.

Those distinctions matter.

A Canadian company can manufacture products here while sourcing ingredients internationally, and there can be very good reasons for doing so.

New Zealand green-lipped mussels are an obvious example. If you're looking for authentic New Zealand green-lipped mussel, New Zealand is exactly where you would expect it to come from.

Being Canadian doesn't have to mean that every ingredient comes from Canada. It can mean building and operating a Canadian business while being transparent about where ingredients come from and why they were chosen.

What does “Made in Canada” mean?

Canada has specific guidelines around country-of-origin claims.

According to the Competition Bureau, a “Made in Canada” claim generally requires the last substantial transformation of the product to have occurred in Canada and at least 51% of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the product to have been incurred in Canada.

When imported ingredients or components are used, an appropriate qualifying statement may also be necessary.

“Product of Canada” has a considerably higher threshold, generally requiring at least 98% of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the product to be Canadian.

In other words:

Canadian-owned, Made in Canada and Product of Canada don't necessarily mean the same thing.

🇨🇦 Canadian dog supplement companies to know

Canada has a growing community of companies developing supplements and wellness products for dogs. Here are several you may encounter.

North Hound Life | Ontario

North Hound Life is a Canadian pet supplement company based in Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario.

We formulate natural, whole-food supplements for dogs using carefully selected functional ingredients, without unnecessary fillers.

Our approach to sourcing begins close to home. We first look to suppliers in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. When the ingredient we're looking for has a better or more appropriate source elsewhere, we work with trusted international suppliers.

Our New Zealand green-lipped mussels, for example, come from New Zealand.

For us, being a Canadian pet supplement company isn't about putting a maple leaf on every ingredient. It's about building our company here, producing our products here, supporting Canadian jobs and businesses wherever possible, and being transparent about what goes into our products and where it comes from.

WellyTails | Ontario

WellyTails is a Canadian family-owned pet nutrition company founded in Guelph, Ontario.

The company produces supplements for dogs and cats as well as nutritional products designed to complement homemade dog food. WellyTails identifies its Canadian production facilities as being located in Cambridge, Ontario.

TRI-ACTA by Integricare | Ontario

TRI-ACTA is the joint supplement line from Integricare Animal Health, an Ontario company established in 1999.

Integricare specializes in joint and mobility supplements for companion animals and horses and states that it sources the ingredients used in TRI-ACTA within Canada.

Adored Beast Apothecary | Atlantic Canada

Adored Beast Apothecary is a Canadian-founded holistic pet wellness company that began in Nova Scotia in 2015.

Its product line includes probiotics, digestive support, immune support, skin and coat products, joint supplements and other holistic wellness formulations.

The company currently lists Canadian operations in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Baie Run | Nova Scotia

Baie Run is a Canadian pet health company based in Nova Scotia.

Its supplement range includes products for joint health, skin and coat health, digestive support, calming and other areas of canine and feline wellness.

As with any brand, consumers specifically looking for a Made in Canada claim should check the individual product label, as manufacturing and sourcing information can vary by product.

BiologicVET | Canada

BiologicVET produces nutritional supplements for dogs and cats and is associated with Canadian natural health company Flora Manufacturing & Distributing.

Its products include nutritional powders and supplements targeting areas such as whole-body nutrition, joint health, skin and coat health and digestive wellness.

Some BiologicVET products sold in Canada are specifically identified as Made in Canada.

Cranimals | Canada

Cranimals is a Canadian pet supplement brand particularly well known for its cranberry-based products.

Its formulations focus largely on urinary health, antioxidant support and simple functional ingredients, including organic cranberry powder.

NaturPet | British Columbia

NaturPet is a Canadian natural pet supplement company associated with Kelowna, British Columbia.

Its range focuses heavily on herbal liquid formulations and includes products for digestive, urinary, respiratory and general wellness support.

Blends for Life | Ontario

Blends for Life is a Canadian pet supplement company whose supplements are made in Guelph, Ontario.

The company produces natural supplements for dogs and cats using human-grade ingredients, with products targeting joint and mobility health, digestion, skin and coat health, calming, immune support and other areas of pet wellness.

What about Four Leaf Rover?

Four Leaf Rover deserves a little more explanation because its history doesn't fit neatly into a simple Canadian-versus-American category.

The company was founded by Canadian pet health advocate Dana Scott, who also founded Dogs Naturally Magazine.

However, consumers specifically looking to support Canadian-owned or Canadian-manufactured products should check Four Leaf Rover's current company and individual product information rather than assuming the brand is Canadian based solely on its founder and history.

It's a good example of why Canadian-founded and currently Canadian-owned or Made in Canada are different questions.

🇺🇸 Popular U.S. pet supplement brands sold in Canada

Canadian pet parents also encounter many American pet supplement companies in stores and online.

These aren't necessarily better or worse choices because they're American. We're including them simply because consumers who specifically want to buy Canadian may not realize where some familiar brands are based.

Proactive Paws

Proactive Paws is a U.S. pet supplement brand associated with veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker.

The company states that its supplements are manufactured in the United States using globally sourced ingredients.

Wholistic Pet Organics

Wholistic Pet Organics is based in New Hampshire and produces natural and organic pet supplements.

The company manufactures products in the United States and offers supplements targeting digestive health, joint support, skin and coat health and general wellness.

Green Juju

Green Juju is a U.S. pet nutrition and wellness company known for whole-food supplements, freeze-dried products and functional foods.

Its products are manufactured in the United States.

NaturVet

NaturVet is an American pet supplement company with manufacturing operations in Temecula, California.

Its extensive product range includes supplements for joints, digestion, calming, allergies, vitamins and general wellness.

Fera Pets

Fera Pets is a veterinarian-founded pet supplement company based in California.

Its product line includes functional mushrooms, probiotics, joint supplements, omega-3 products and other targeted nutritional supplements.

Nutramax Laboratories

Nutramax Laboratories is headquartered in South Carolina and develops and manufactures supplements for people and animals.

Pet parents may recognize Nutramax as the company behind products such as Dasuquin and Cosequin.

Zesty Paws

Zesty Paws is a U.S.-based pet supplement brand headquartered in Florida and owned by international health and nutrition company H&H Group.

The brand offers supplements for areas including mobility, digestion, calming, immune health and skin and coat support.

And what about Nordic Naturals?

Nordic Naturals is another brand that doesn't fit perfectly into a simple country label.

The company has Norwegian roots but is headquartered in California. Its omega-3 supply chain includes operations in Norway as well as manufacturing operations in California.

For Canadian consumers, it's best thought of as a U.S.-based international supplement company rather than a Canadian brand.

How can you tell if a dog supplement is actually Canadian?

If buying Canadian matters to you, don't rely solely on the front of the package.

Here are a few questions worth asking.

1. Who owns the company?

Look at the company's About and Contact pages. A .ca website, Canadian retailer or maple leaf doesn't necessarily mean the company itself is Canadian-owned.

2. Where is the supplement made?

Look for an explicit country-of-origin statement on the product or company's website. “Made in Canada,” “Made in the USA” and “distributed by a Canadian company” can mean very different things.

3. Where do the ingredients come from?

This is a separate question from where the finished supplement is manufactured. A Canadian-made supplement can contain Canadian and imported ingredients.  And imported isn't automatically a negative. The goal should be to find the best appropriate source for each ingredient, along with quality testing and traceability.

4. How transparent is the company?

This may be one of the most useful questions you can ask. Can you find out where the company operates? Does it tell you where its products are made? Does it explain where important ingredients come from? Does it provide meaningful information about ingredient quality rather than relying on marketing language?

Transparency can tell you considerably more about a supplement than a flag on the front of the package.

Are North Hound Life dog supplements Canadian?

Yes. North Hound Life is a Canadian pet supplement company based in Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario.

We formulate and produce natural, whole-food supplements for dogs in Canada and source ingredients from Canada and trusted suppliers around the world.

We prioritize Canadian sourcing when the right ingredient and quality are available here, but we don't choose an ingredient simply because it is Canadian.

We choose ingredients for their quality, nutritional value and intended function.

Sometimes that takes us down the road in Ontario.

Sometimes it takes us to another Canadian province.

And sometimes it takes us all the way to New Zealand.

What matters to us is knowing what we're putting into our products, why we've chosen it and where it came from.

Does buying Canadian really make a difference?

Supporting Canadian pet businesses can have an impact well beyond the company whose name appears on the package.

Canadian manufacturers employ people locally. They purchase packaging and services. They work with laboratories, ingredient suppliers, designers, printers, warehouses and transportation companies. Independent Canadian pet retailers introduce those products to their customers.

One Canadian product can have a surprisingly long Canadian supply chain behind it.

That doesn't mean Canadian pet parents need to stop purchasing every product made elsewhere.

It simply means that when two products meet your needs, where they're made and who you're supporting can be another factor in your decision.

For consumers who want to support Canadian businesses, asking a few more questions about ownership, manufacturing and sourcing can make that choice much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which dog supplement brands are Canadian?

Canadian pet supplement brands include North Hound Life, WellyTails, TRI-ACTA by Integricare, Adored Beast Apothecary, Baie Run, BiologicVET, Cranimals and NaturPet, among others.

Because ownership and manufacturing arrangements can change, consumers looking specifically for Canadian-made products should confirm the country-of-origin information on individual products.

Is North Hound Life a Canadian company?

Yes. North Hound Life is a Canadian pet supplement company based in Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario.

Are North Hound Life supplements made in Canada?

North Hound Life formulates and produces its natural, whole-food dog supplements in Canada using Canadian and imported ingredients selected according to the ingredient and its best available source.

Are Four Leaf Rover supplements Canadian?

Four Leaf Rover was founded by Canadian Dana Scott. However, Canadian-founded is not necessarily the same as currently Canadian-owned or Made in Canada. Consumers specifically seeking Canadian-made supplements should check the current country-of-origin information for the individual Four Leaf Rover product they're considering.

Is Green Juju Canadian?

No. Green Juju is a U.S. pet nutrition and wellness company, and its products are manufactured in the United States.

Is Proactive Paws by Dr. Karen Becker Canadian?

No. Proactive Paws, founded by veterinarian Dr. Karen Becker, is a U.S.-based pet supplement company. The company lists its location in Florida and states that its supplements are manufactured in the United States using globally sourced ingredients.

Although some Proactive Paws products, including Primitive Probiotics™, meet Health Canada Veterinary Health Product requirements, this does not mean they are Canadian-made. Primitive Probiotics™ is manufactured in the USA.

Is Wholistic Pet Organics Canadian?

No. Wholistic Pet Organics is an American pet supplement company based in New Hampshire and manufactures its products in the United States.

Is Nordic Naturals Canadian?

No. Nordic Naturals is headquartered in California and has operations in both the United States and Norway.

Does “Made in Canada” mean all the ingredients are Canadian?

No. A product can qualify for a Made in Canada claim while containing imported ingredients, provided it meets Canada's requirements for the claim and uses the appropriate qualifier where required.

Are Canadian dog supplements better than American dog supplements?

Not necessarily.

Country of origin alone doesn't determine supplement quality. Ingredient quality, formulation, dosage, testing, sourcing, manufacturing standards and transparency are all important considerations.

Buying Canadian simply gives consumers who want to support Canadian businesses another factor to consider when choosing between appropriate products.

I created this guide to help Canadian pet parents better understand where the supplement brands they encounter come from. Company ownership, manufacturing and sourcing arrangements can change. Information in this article was based on publicly available company and retailer information at the time of publication. Always check the individual product label or contact the manufacturer if country of origin is important to your purchasing decision.