Hip & Joint

Hip & Joint is Four Leaf Rover's veterinarian-formulated structural joint supplement — a concentrated powder built around four functional ingredients: New Zealand green-lipped mussel, NEM® brand eggshell membrane, Poria Cocos mushroom, and 95% pure curcumin. It's the product to reach for when the goal is cartilage repair, connective tissue support, and meaningful mobility improvement — whether for a senior dog with arthritis, a large breed entering the joint-maintenance years, or an active/working dog whose joints need daily protection.

No fillers, no heat processing, no synthetic glucosamine, no flavour enhancers. Four ingredients, each chosen for its evidence-backed contribution to joint structure and inflammatory response. Available in 83.1g.

Green-Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) — 1,350mg per tsp. The largest ingredient by weight. GLM powder delivers glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) — natural sources of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid — the structural building blocks of joint cartilage and synovial fluid. Also provides ETA, an omega-3 fatty acid nearly unique to green-lipped mussels that supports a balanced inflammatory response. Four Leaf Rover's GLM is sustainably farmed in New Zealand and freeze-dried to preserve the fatty acid content.

NEM® Brand Eggshell Membrane — 450mg per tsp. The thin membrane between the eggshell and the egg white is a clinically-researched source of collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and naturally occurring glucosamine. In a 2017 randomised trial, NEM® was shown to reduce activity-related joint discomfort in humans in as little as 8 days. Four Leaf Rover's NEM® comes from human-grade eggshells used for commercial baking — a high-quality, traceable source.

Poria Cocos Mushroom (Wolfporia extenda) — 300mg per tsp. An organic medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine for joint and kidney support. Unlike most other mushroom products, Four Leaf Rover's Poria contains a minimum 30% beta-glucans. Poria helps support a normal inflammatory response and fluid balance around the joints.

Curcumin (95% curcuminoids) — 150mg per tsp. The active anti-inflammatory compound extracted from turmeric. Most curcumin products on the market are diluted with turmeric powder or bulked out with fillers. Four Leaf Rover's curcumin is concentrated to 95% curcuminoids — carbon-14 tested to verify it's natural and free of synthetic colourants or adulterants.

Both Hip & Joint and Safe-Sea contain green-lipped mussel, but they deliver different benefits in different forms. Hip & Joint uses GLM powder — whole, freeze-dried mussel meat — which is rich in glycosaminoglycans (the structural cartilage compounds) and amino acids, with a modest amount of fatty acids. Safe-Sea uses GLM oil — the concentrated fat fraction extracted from the mussel — which delivers roughly 15 times more omega fatty acids per serving than the powder, but without the GAG content.

In other words: GLM powder is the structural side of green-lipped mussel (joints, cartilage, connective tissue). GLM oil is the functional side (fatty acids, inflammatory response, skin, coat, immune). Dogs with significant joint issues often benefit from both together — Hip & Joint building the structure, Safe-Sea managing the inflammatory fat balance systemically.

Eggshell membrane is one of the most overlooked functional ingredients in joint care. Research on NEM® specifically has shown measurable reductions in activity-related joint discomfort and protection of cartilage against breakdown in as little as 7–10 days. It works differently from glucosamine supplements — rather than providing building blocks, it delivers intact collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and GAGs that the body can use directly. Four Leaf Rover uses the NEM® branded version specifically because it's the clinically-researched form; generic eggshell membrane products are not equivalent.

Turmeric and curcumin are not the same thing. Turmeric is the root, which contains about 3% curcuminoids — the actual anti-inflammatory compounds. Most "turmeric supplements" for dogs are just ground turmeric powder, meaning your dog is getting 97% fibre and starch, and only 3% of the active compound. Four Leaf Rover's curcumin is concentrated to 95% curcuminoids — delivering roughly 30 times the active compound per milligram compared to plain turmeric. Carbon-14 testing verifies it's naturally derived and free from synthetic adulterants, which is a real concern in the global curcumin supply chain.

Cartilage structure and repair. The GAGs in GLM and eggshell membrane provide the building blocks cartilage needs to maintain itself and repair minor damage from daily activity.

Synovial fluid quality. Hyaluronic acid from eggshell membrane and GAGs from GLM support the lubricating fluid inside joint capsules — critical for smooth, pain-free movement.

Balanced inflammatory response. ETA from GLM, curcumin, and Poria mushroom each contribute to modulating the inflammatory pathways that drive joint discomfort.

Mobility and stiffness relief. The combined mechanism — structural support, fluid balance, and inflammatory modulation — translates into easier movement for most dogs within a few weeks of consistent use.

Hip & Joint is the choice for dogs with existing or anticipated structural joint needs: senior dogs showing stiffness, large and giant breeds entering the 5+ year range, active or working dogs whose joints take daily wear, dogs recovering from orthopaedic surgery or injury, and dogs with diagnosed arthritis. For dogs whose primary need is broad omega support (skin, coat, systemic inflammatory balance, general joint maintenance), Safe-Sea is the first-line product. For dogs where purity matters most (sensitive stomachs, food intolerances, minimal-ingredient preferences), Collagen offers single-ingredient connective tissue support. Many owners use Hip & Joint and Safe-Sea together — the structural + omega combination covers both sides of joint health.

Every batch of Hip & Joint is third-party tested for heavy metals, pesticides, and microbial contaminants, with a Certificate of Analysis available on request. Four Leaf Rover holds the NASC Quality Seal and is certified Plastic Negative by rePurpose Global. Manufacturing is GMP-compliant.

Active ingredients per 2.3g (1 tsp). Source: Four Leaf Rover.

Green-Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) 1,350mg. NEM® Brand Eggshell Membrane 450mg. Organic Poria Cocos Mushroom (Wolfporia extenda) 300mg. Curcumin (95% curcuminoids, carbon-14 tested) 150mg.

Free from: synthetic glucosamine, fillers, preservatives, artificial flavourings, artificial colourings, GMO ingredients, gluten, and dairy.

Give once daily, mixed into food. For the first 10 days, double the daily amount to build active levels quickly — then drop to the maintenance dose.

An 83.1g jar typically lasts anywhere from around one to several months depending on your dog's size. Safe for long-term daily use.

Store in the fridge to preserve the fatty acids in the GLM powder. If fridge space is limited, store in a cool dark place and use within 30 days of opening. Keep the lid tightly sealed.