When it comes to supporting joint health in dogs, most supplements on the market rely on Glucosamine HCl, a low-cost synthetic compound often produced from shellfish or industrial fermentation. At Dog Years, we take a different approach. Our goal has always been to create a supplement that genuinely improves dogs’ lives while respecting the environment and the quality standards New Zealand is known for. That’s why we use pure New Zealand Deer Velvet, a natural, renewable ingredient with unmatched biological value.
The true cost of Glucosamine HCl
Glucosamine HCl may be cheap, often priced around US $10–15 per kg, but that affordability comes at a hidden cost. Most Glucosamine HCl on the market is derived from shellfish shells, a by-product of large-scale seafood processing. This extraction process relies heavily on acid hydrolysis using hydrochloric acid, generating significant chemical waste and high water consumption. When not properly managed, the resulting effluent contributes to marine pollution and coastal acidification.
Even plant-based or lab-synthesised versions of Glucosamine HCl have environmental drawbacks. They depend on industrial fermentation processes powered by non-renewable energy, with heavy carbon footprints. In short, it is an industrial chemical, not a naturally regenerating resource.
Why Deer Velvet is different
New Zealand Deer Velvet represents the opposite philosophy. It is a renewable, naturally regrown tissue that deer produce every year. Each spring, stags regrow their antlers in one of nature’s most extraordinary biological processes. Harvesting is carefully regulated under New Zealand’s strict animal welfare codes, and the same deer continue to produce velvet annually throughout their lives.
Unlike synthetic Glucosamine, Deer Velvet contains over 300 bioactive components, including natural forms of glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, and essential growth factors that support cartilage repair and tissue regeneration. It is not a single isolated molecule; it is a complete, biologically complex compound designed by nature.
At around NZ $350-500 per kg, Deer Velvet is more costly to source, but that reflects its rarity, purity, and ethical production. Each batch we use in Dog Years supplements comes from trusted New Zealand farms, where animal welfare, sustainability, and traceability are prioritised.
Choosing quality over commodity
The difference between Deer Velvet and Glucosamine HCl is the difference between natural regeneration and industrial replication. One is a living, renewable resource that reflects New Zealand’s environmental values. The other is a cheap, mass-produced ,chemical designed and ruins marine ecosytems.
At Dog Years, we are not interested in the cheapest way to fill a chew. We are interested in what genuinely works for dogs, for farmers, and for the planet.
By choosing Deer Velvet, we are investing in
- Regenerative farming practices that protect
- New Zealand’s environment
- Animal welfare through ethical, repeatable harvestingLocal production that supports rural communities
- Natural bioactivity unmatched by any synthetic compound
A better path forward
We believe the best way to help dogs live their best years is to use ingredients that respect nature’s design. Deer Velvet is not just an ingredient; it is a symbol of renewal and vitality, both for the dogs we care for and the land we source from.
Dog Years proudly stands for quality over compromise, and Deer Velvet represents that commitment in every chew.
