Green lipped mussel is one of the best known natural ingredients in dog supplements, and it is the ingredient Antinol® is built around. But green lipped mussel does not arrive in the same form in every product. Freeze-dried whole mussel powder and a concentrated lipid extract are different ingredients with different compositions, and the difference is worth understanding before you choose what to give your dog every day. This page sets out exactly what is inside an Antinol® capsule. Not just the active ingredient, but all five components, with quantities and with the reason each one is there. It also explains how green lipped mussel compares with the other ingredients you will see on the shelf, including fish oil, glucosamine and chondroitin.

What is green lipped mussel?

Green lipped mussel, or Perna canaliculus, is a shellfish native to the coastal waters of New Zealand. It takes its name from the distinctive green edge of its shell. It has been farmed in New Zealand for decades and is now one of the most widely used marine ingredients in pet nutrition worldwide.

What makes it of interest is its lipid profile. Green lipped mussel is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and contains a broad spectrum of marine lipids, including fatty acids that are uncommon in other marine sources. It is this lipid fraction, rather than the whole mussel, that Antinol® is built from.

When you see green lipped mussel for dogs on a label, it can therefore mean one of two quite different things: dried whole mussel, or an oil extracted from it. The comparison below sets out what separates them.

Green lipped mussel harvesting in New Zealand

Inside every capsule

PCSO-524®: the active ingredient in Antinol®

Every Antinol® capsule contains 50mg of PCSO-524®, a proprietary marine lipid complex extracted from New Zealand green lipped mussels. That 50mg represents the concentrated lipid fraction of 15 to 18 whole mussels.

How PCSO-524® is made

1

Harvest and stabilisation

Mussels reach the extraction facility and are stabilised within two hours of harvest, before the lipids begin to degrade.

2

Freeze drying

Water is removed at low temperature, leaving the lipid content intact.

3

Supercritical fluid extraction

A proprietary, solvent-free and heat-free process separates the lipid fraction from the rest of the mussel. No solvent residue, no heat degradation.

4

Encapsulation

The extracted oil is combined with olive oil and vitamin E and sealed into a soft gel capsule.

What PCSO-524® contains

More than ninety lipid components have been identified in PCSO-524®, including free fatty acids, sterol esters, polar and non-polar lipids and carotenoids. PCSO-524® contains all known omega-3 fatty acids. Three of them are the ones most owners will recognise.

EPA

10mg per capsule

Eicosapentaenoic acid

DHA

5mg per capsule

Docosahexaenoic acid

ETA

Trace amounts in most fish oils

Eicosatetraenoic acid, found in green lipped mussel

In total, the 50mg of PCSO-524® in each capsule provides 20mg of omega-3 fatty acids, within a wider matrix of marine lipids.

Green lipped mussel oil and green lipped mussel powder

Most green lipped mussel supplements for dogs use freeze-dried whole mussel powder. Antinol® uses only the extracted lipid fraction. The two are made from the same shellfish but they are not the same ingredient.

 
What it is
Composition
Lipid concentration
Processing
Typical serving
Green lipped mussel powder
The whole mussel, freeze-dried and milled
Protein, minerals and lipids together
As found in the whole mussel
Drying and milling
Measured in grams
PCSO-524® lipid extract
The lipid fraction only, separated by extraction
Marine lipids, with the non-lipid fraction removed
Concentrated, as the non-lipid fraction is removed
Stabilisation, freeze drying, supercritical extraction
50mg per capsule

Antinol® contains no mussel powder. In our extraction process, the mussel powder is a by-product, not an ingredient.

Every ingredient in an Antinol® capsule

Five ingredients. Each one is listed below with its quantity and its purpose.

Ingredient
Per capsule
Why it is there
PCSO-524®, green lipped mussel lipid extract
50mg
The active ingredient. A marine lipid complex from New Zealand green lipped mussels, equivalent to 15 to 18 whole mussels.
Extra virgin Spanish olive oil
100mg
Carrier oil. Aids the digestion and absorption of PCSO-524®, and helps keep the marine lipids stable in the capsule.
D-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E)
0.225mg
Natural antioxidant. Keeps the oil stable across the full shelf life of the capsule.
Bovine gelatin
Capsule shell
Forms the soft gel capsule.
Plant-based glycerin
Capsule shell
Keeps the capsule soft and easy to give.

And nothing else. No fillers, no bulking agents, no artificial flavourings, no mussel powder.

Analytical constituents

29.8%

Crude protein

53.3%

Fat content

<0.1%

Crude ash

0%

Crude fibre

Omega-3: 20mg per 50mg of PCSO-524®, including 10mg EPA and 5mg DHA.

Omega-3 for dogs: green lipped mussel and fish oil compared

Fish oil and cod liver oil are the most common sources of omega-3 for dogs. Both deliver omega-3 mainly as EPA and DHA. Green lipped mussel delivers EPA and DHA too, alongside ETA and a wider range of marine lipids that fish oils do not carry in meaningful quantities.

The other practical difference is stability. Marine oils oxidise on contact with air, which is why fish oil that has been open for a while develops a strong smell.

Antinol® is supplied in individual sealed soft gel capsules with vitamin E as an antioxidant, so each capsule is protected until the moment it is given.

Antinol sealed soft gel capsules and starter pack

How to give Antinol® to your dog

Antinol® is given once daily, by weight.

1

Dogs up to 20kg

One capsule daily
2

Dogs over 20kg

Two capsules daily

The capsule can be given whole, hidden in food, or pierced and squeezed over a meal. Antinol® is a complementary feed for dogs, suitable for daily long-term use as part of a complete and balanced diet, and is available for puppies from 12 weeks of age. Store below 25°C, in a cool dry place.

Every order is covered by our 60-day money-back guarantee.

The same ingredients for cats

Antinol® for cats uses the same PCSO-524® formulation as the dog capsule, in a size and daily amount suited to cats. The ingredient list is identical: PCSO-524®, olive oil, vitamin E, gelatin and glycerin.

Starting out

The first 15 days

If your dog is new to Antinol®, the feeding amount is doubled for the first 15 days.

  • Dogs up to 20kg: two capsules daily for the first 15 days, then one capsule daily
  • Dogs over 20kg: four capsules daily for the first 15 days, then two capsules daily

The capsules can be split across the day or given together, with a meal or as a treat. Starter Packs include a free booster pack of 15 capsules to cover this first period.

FAQ's - Green lipped mussel for dogs: your questions answered

  • Is green lipped mussel good for dogs? 

    Green lipped mussel is a natural marine ingredient that has been used in dog supplements for decades. It is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and a broad spectrum of marine lipids. In Antinol®, it is present as PCSO-524®, a concentrated lipid extract, and is intended for daily use as part of the normal care of a healthy dog. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, speak to your vet before starting any new supplement.

  • How much green lipped mussel is in Antinol®?

    Each Antinol® capsule contains 50mg of PCSO-524®, a concentrated green lipped mussel lipid extract. That 50mg represents the lipid fraction of 15 to 18 whole green lipped mussels. It provides 20mg of omega-3 fatty acids, including 10mg of EPA and 5mg of DHA.

  • Is Antinol® the same as a green lipped mussel powder supplement?

    No. Green lipped mussel powder is the whole mussel, freeze-dried and milled, and contains protein and minerals alongside the lipids. Antinol® contains only the extracted lipid fraction, separated using a solvent-free and heat-free supercritical extraction process. Antinol® contains no mussel powder.

  • Does Antinol® contain glucosamine or chondroitin?

    No. Antinol® contains five ingredients: PCSO-524® green lipped mussel lipid extract, extra virgin Spanish olive oil, D-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E), gelatin and glycerin. There is no added glucosamine and no added chondroitin.

  • What is ETA, and why does it matter?

    ETA, or eicosatetraenoic acid, is an omega-3 fatty acid found naturally in green lipped mussel. It is present in only trace amounts in most fish oils, which makes it the clearest compositional difference between a green lipped mussel lipid extract and a standard fish oil supplement.

  • Can I give Antinol® alongside my dog's other supplements?

    Antinol® can be given alongside other supplements in your dog's daily routine. The one thing we would avoid is a supplement that is high in omega-6, since that changes the omega-3 to omega-6 balance the Antinol® formulation is built around.

  • Is green lipped mussel suitable for dogs with a shellfish sensitivity? 

    Green lipped mussel is a shellfish. If your dog has a known sensitivity to shellfish, speak to your vet before giving Antinol® or any other green lipped mussel supplement.

  • How long does it take to see a difference?

    Antinol® is designed to be given every day as part of your dog's ongoing routine, rather than as a short course. We recommend giving it daily for at least 60 days before assessing how it fits your dog's routine, which is why every order comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.