How we test
Our methodology, scoring rubric, and editorial independence policy — in plain English.
The trial protocol
Every product Healthy Pup Report covers passes through a four-stage editorial test.
- Ingredient audit. Active ingredients are cross-checked against the veterinary and consumer-health literature. Products whose only "actives" are flavoring or surfactants do not advance to in-life testing.
- In-life trial. The product is used daily on one or more dogs from our editorial pool for a minimum of 28 days. Most trials run 6 to 8 weeks.
- Photographic record. Day-1 and end-of-trial photographs are captured under controlled lighting and retained in our editorial archive.
- Veterinary observation. Trials are timed where possible to overlap with a scheduled veterinary visit so a licensed clinician can document observable changes.
The scoring rubric
Every product is scored 1.0 to 5.0 across four equally weighted criteria:
- Active chemistry credibility
- Real-world result
- Compliance friction
- Value
Scores are revisited annually. Products still in production are re-tested before previous scores are republished.
Affiliate disclosure
Healthy Pup Report uses affiliate links on products that pass our editorial bar. When a reader clicks through and completes a purchase, the retailer pays us a small commission. The price the reader pays is unaffected.
We do not accept:
- Paid placements
- Sponsored articles
- "Pay to be reviewed" arrangements
- Editorial influence in exchange for commission
Conflict of interest
No member of our editorial team holds equity in any brand we cover. We do not accept personal gifts from brands beyond product samples necessary for testing, and where a sample is provided rather than purchased that is disclosed inside the article.
Corrections
Factual errors are corrected within 48 hours of confirmation. Significant corrections are logged at the bottom of the affected article. Report errors through our contact page.
Not veterinary advice
Healthy Pup Report is an editorial publication. Nothing in our articles is veterinary advice. For your dog's specific medical condition, consult a licensed veterinarian.