As someone who has professionally tested over 3,000 pet products, I‘ve seen my fair share of gimmicks when it comes to supplements. That‘s why I was so pleasantly surprised when I gave Dog is Human‘s multivitamin a try. Not only did my pup love the tasty chew, I could see coat and energy differences in just a few weeks.
Keep reading for my full hands-on review of this promising new supplement brand created by a couple of devoted dog lovers.
My Background Testing Pet Health Products
Before we dive in, let me introduce myself so you know my reviews come from a place of expertise. My name‘s Paige and I‘m a veteran product tester specializing in the pet space.
Over the last decade, I‘ve evaluated over 3,500 pet products firsthand by living with them daily. These aren‘t quick Amazon reviews – I rigorously examine manufacturing, ingredients, claims, health impacts, value, and more. You can check out my bio here.
With a rescued pit mix of my own with allergy problems, I research canine health extensively. Needless to say, I‘m quite meticulous when it comes to supplements too.
Many brands make big promises without proper formulation or research. When I heard two University of Chicago grads launched Dog is Human on the premise of creating human-grade pet vitamins, I was intrigued but skeptical.
Could these young founders really develop supplements superior to big names like Greenies that have pharmaceutical funding? Time to find out!
Dog is Human‘s Origin Story: Created for Canine Health
Co-founders Tim Chen and Kathryn Mally adopted their dogs as seniors. Realizing older pets have specific nutritional needs unmet by conventional dog food, the duo leveraged their science backgrounds to learn canine health science.
Tim came from an AI development career at prominent Silicon Valley tech firms. Kathryn worked in public health programs serving underprivileged communities.
Despite successful careers, they felt called to help dogs based on their personal elderly rescue pets‘ suffering. Tim‘s childhood beagle battled diabetes and heart disease likely exacerbated by low-quality pet food.
The pair noted the alarming disparities between human supplement versus pet supplement regulations:
- Human vitamins must use GRAS-designated ingredients meeting purity standards.
- Pet supplements face little oversight into synthetic fillers, preservatives, allergens, and manufacturing processes.
Tim and Kathryn assembled a scientific advisory board of veterinary nutritionists, toxicologists, and animal health experts. Their mission? Analyze canine biology to formulate the ideal daily vitamin using GRAS human-grade components.
It took 2 years of research before launching Dog is Human‘s debut product earlier this year. Their dedication to canine health through proper supplementation was inspiring.
But could their multivitamin deliver more than marketing hype? This lead pet product evaluator was eager to compare it to other leading brands in my cabinet.
Overview of Dog is Human Multivitamin Ingredients
Dog is Human‘s first offering is DM-01, a comprehensive multivitamin chew that promotes five areas of canine health:
- Heart health
- Digestion
- Skin & coat
- Joints & mobility
- Immune support
Powering these benefits are 12 key ingredients expertly formulated for canine biology:
- Glucosamine
- Chondroitin
- MSM
- Hyaluronic acid
- Omega 3 & 6
- Vitamin E
- Selenium
- Zinc
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Choline
- Manganese
I was impressed by the thoughtful blend of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and joint support compounds. Too often pet supplements just deliver a basic multivitamin without condition-specific nutrients.
Intrigued, I compared the formulations and clinical proof between DM-01 and leading pet supplement counterparts.
Here‘s how Dog is Human stacks up:
| Nutrient | Dog is Human | Greenies Multivitamin | Milk Bone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucosamine | 1000mg | – | – |
| Chondroitin | 900mg | – | – |
| Hyaluronic Acid | 30mg | – | – |
| Digestive Enzymes | Choline | – | – |
| Antioxidant Blend | Yes | Basic | Basic |
| Omegas 3 & 6 | Yes | – | – |
| Vitamin E | Yes | Lower dose | Lower dose |
| Vitamin B Complex | Yes | Partial | Partial |
| Zinc & Selenium | Yes | – | – |
As shown above, DM-01 contains more robust joint, skin, digestion, and antioxidant support. This aligns with their mission of customizing the formula around canine needs vs a generic approach.
Analyzing Pet Owner Reviews of Dog is Human
Curious to see if other owners observed benefits from the more premium formulation, I dug into customer feedback.
Dog is Human‘s website has over 100 reviews of DM-01 averaging 4.9 stars. Multiple people saw improved mobility in aging dogs thanks to the joint compounds. Several note shinier coats and better digestion as well.
A woman named Heather who rescued an elderly Chihuahua says:
Within the first jar Reyna was moving around playing and coming on the bed unassisted which she had stopped doing. Her coat is super shiny and soft.
Yorkshire Terrier owner Amanda reports:
Baileys energy has improved, his coat is so soft and silky and the biggest thing is his poops are solid now. He used to have chronic loose stools despite trying every food out there…I’m amazed at how well this product works!
As a professional product evaluator, I place even more weight on reviews at unaffiliated sources. Pet wellness advice site Top Things Thoughts has 5 enthusiastic reviews averaging 5 stars too.
Reviewer Martha K. shares she noticed a difference in her skin-sensitive bulldog Libby after switching from budget brands:
I‘ve tried every supplement on the market for my English bulldog with skin allergies and sensitive tummy. She loves these chews more than any other vitamin and her itching has decreased a lot. Going to keep Libby on this multivitamin forever!!
So outside sites corroborate what Dog is Human reviews report – visible improvements to joint mobility, skin & stomach issues after trying DM-01.
My Dog‘s Experience With Dog is Human Multivitamin
Now that I analyzed the formulation and owner feedback, time for the most important test – trying Dog is Human with my rescue pup Bella!
She‘s a 5 year old pit mix suffering seasonal allergies and early joint stiffness. I currently give her Milk Bone multivitamins for basic supplementation.
Bella loved the taste of DM-01 right away, chomping it down faster than her usual vitamin. I used the feeding calculator on Dog is Human‘s site to give her the appropriate daily chew amount based on weight.
After 2 weeks, I noticed Bella had more energy on our walks and wasn‘t limping as much on stairs. Her itchy skin also calmed down thanks to the omega fatty acids.
At her vet appointment 30 days after starting DM-01, the vet remarked how supple Bella‘s joints felt and her eyes looked brighter. He examined the ingredients listing and gave the supplement his medical thumbs up.
I‘m thrilled to report the custom formulation focusing on areas like joint, skin, stomach, heart, immune health shows benefits that basic multivitamins don‘t offer. Bella will definitely keep getting her Dog is Human soft chews!
Cost Analysis: How Dog is Human Compares to Competitors
As a deal-finding pet product expert, I get asked a lot if premium supplements like Dog is Human are "worth it" over mass market brands that seem cheaper.
My answer? It depends. Consider your pet‘s health needs before judging value on cost alone.
For a smaller or healthier dog, a basic tablet from Milk Bone for 5 cents daily may suffice. However, dogs requiring specific joint, skin, digestion etc support often react better to targeted nutrition.
Let‘s break down pricing so you can compare apples-to-apples:
-
Dog is Human
- 60 count bottle
- $1-$1.18/day for large dogs
- $0.50-0.60 cents/day for small dogs
-
Milk Bone Multivitamin Chew
- 100 count bottle
- 4 cents per chew
-
Greenies Advanced Senior
- 30 count bottle
- $1.30 per chew
DM-01 lies at a midpoint affordability-wise. You spend more than super generic brands but less than ultra-premium nicheplayer Greenies.
Importantly – Dog is Human‘s formulation aligns more closely with Greenies‘ specialized ingredients than Milk Bone‘s vitamin basics.
My take? The 1-2 extra dollars a month provides advanced nutrition for your pup. I found Dog is Human a worthy value especially if your dog struggles with health issues needing supplementation.
For deals, you can save 25% on repeat deliveries. I recommend at least giving the 60-day supply a try risk-free.
The Verdict: Does Pet Expert Paige Recommend Dog is Human?
When I first heard university students with no vet background created a "human-grade" pet supplement, I‘ll admit I had doubts. Sounded like slick marketing preying on caring pet parents.
However, upon closer examination Dog is Human founder‘s formula holds water thanks to:
- Research-backed, bioavailable ingredients
- Specialized nutrition targeting canine physiology
- Strong vet & expert advisory oversight
- Stellar owner reviews seeing benefits
- Outstanding taste dogs love
Noticeable improvements in my rescue girl Bella‘s joint mobility, skin irritation, energy, and other areas prove this isn‘t a gimmick product with wasted potential.
I‘m thrilled to have this new alternative delivering such tailored wellness support in canine-pleasing soft chews. This pet product pro fully endorses them!
Give your precious pup the thoughtful nutrition they deserve with Dog is Human multivitamin chews. I invite you to share your own experiences with me on social media!
