PEA Was Put to the Test in Dogs. The Results Are Hard to Ignore.

If your dog is slower getting up after a nap, hesitates before jumping onto the couch, or just doesn’t move quite as freely as they used to, it’s natural to wonder what you can do to help.

One ingredient getting increasing attention from dog owners is PEA, short for palmitoylethanolamide.

PEA has been studied for years for its role in the body’s natural response to inflammation and discomfort. In 2026, researchers put it to a rigorous test in dogs experiencing ongoing joint discomfort: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The result that immediately stands out:

After six weeks, 76% of dogs receiving PEA met the researchers’ criteria for successful treatment, compared with 40% receiving placebo.

Researchers also saw significant improvements in things dog owners can actually observe, including walking, running, general activity, and getting up from a lying position.

Here’s what the study found and what dog owners should know about PEA.

First, what exactly is PEA?

PEA stands for palmitoylethanolamide. The name sounds complicated, but the compound itself is something the body already produces naturally.

PEA is a naturally occurring fatty acid compound found in both humans and animals. It plays a role in the body’s natural response to inflammation, stress, and injury.

Scientists have studied supplemental PEA for decades, including its role in inflammatory responses and discomfort.

The 2026 clinical trial looked specifically at how PEA affected discomfort and everyday physical function in dogs.

50 dogs. Six weeks. PEA vs. placebo.

Researchers enrolled 50 dogs that had been experiencing joint pain for at least two months.

The dogs were randomly assigned to receive either PEA or placebo:

• 25 dogs received PEA.

• 25 dogs received placebo.

The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. The dogs received their assigned supplement every day for six weeks, with PEA dosage adjusted according to body weight.

Researchers evaluated the dogs at the beginning of the study and again at weeks two, four, and six using the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI), a validated tool for evaluating discomfort and its impact on everyday activities.

Those activities included walking, running, getting up, general activity, climbing stairs, and enjoyment of life.

The big result: 76% of dogs receiving PEA responded

At the end of six weeks, 19 of the 25 dogs receiving PEA met the study’s predetermined criteria for successful treatment.

That’s 76% of the PEA group.

In the placebo group, 10 of 25 dogs, or 40%, met the same criteria.

And the overall response rate was only part of the story. When researchers looked at specific measures of everyday movement and discomfort, PEA separated from placebo in several important areas.

Dogs weren’t just scoring better. They were moving better.

Walking and running improved

Dogs receiving PEA showed significantly greater improvements in walking and running compared with placebo.

Differences appeared as early as week two and continued during the study.

These are the kinds of changes dog owners tend to notice at home: keeping pace on a walk, moving more willingly, or breaking into a run again.

Getting up became easier

By weeks four and six, dogs receiving PEA showed significantly greater improvement in their ability to rise from a lying position compared with placebo.

For owners who have watched their dog take a little longer to get their feet underneath them after a nap, this is a particularly relatable result.

General activity improved

Dogs receiving PEA also showed significantly greater improvement in general activity.

That expands the findings beyond individual movements. Researchers saw changes in how discomfort affected the dogs’ overall willingness and ability to be active.

Measures of discomfort improved too

By week six, researchers found significant differences between the PEA and placebo groups across several measurements of discomfort, including average observed pain and overall pain scores.

The study did not find a statistically significant difference between groups in its overall quality-of-life score.

Taken together, the findings showed improvements across several measures of both discomfort and everyday physical function.

Some differences appeared in just two weeks

Significant differences in walking and running appeared by week two.

Additional differences became apparent during weeks four and six.

So while the headline result comes from the end of the six-week study, some of the differences between PEA and placebo began appearing much earlier.

What about safety?

All 50 dogs completed the six-week study.

Among the 25 dogs receiving PEA, researchers reported no adverse events.

Within this controlled six-week trial, PEA was well tolerated.

What should dog owners take away from the study?

The numbers tell the story clearly.

76% of dogs receiving PEA met the study’s criteria for successful treatment, compared with 40% receiving placebo.

Dogs receiving PEA showed significant improvements in:

• Walking

• Running

• General activity

• Getting up from lying down

• Multiple measures of discomfort

Some differences appeared within two weeks, and no adverse events were reported among the dogs receiving PEA during the six-week trial.

For dog owners interested in supporting everyday comfort and movement, the results give PEA a compelling body of clinical evidence to consider.

Why we use PEA in Amiquip

PEA is one of only two active ingredients in Amiquip.

Each Amiquip soft chew provides 200 mg of micronized PEA, alongside 6 mg of PQQ.

We chose a focused formula intentionally. Rather than filling the label with a long list of ingredients in small amounts, Amiquip was designed around two ingredients selected for complementary roles in whole-body comfort and healthy aging.

PEA is included to support a healthy inflammatory response and everyday comfort, while PQQ supports cellular and mitochondrial health.

Research like this 2026 controlled trial helps show why PEA has earned such an important place in our formula.

Frequently Asked Questions About PEA for Dogs

What is PEA for dogs?

PEA, or palmitoylethanolamide, is a naturally occurring fatty acid compound found in both humans and animals. The body produces it as part of its natural response to inflammation, stress, and injury. Supplemental PEA has been studied for its role in supporting healthy inflammatory responses and comfort.

Has PEA been clinically studied in dogs?

Yes. In a 2026 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 50 dogs experiencing joint pain, 76% of dogs receiving the PEA formulation met the researchers’ criteria for successful treatment after six weeks, compared with 40% receiving placebo.

Did PEA help dogs move better?

Researchers found significant improvements compared with placebo in several measures of physical function, including walking, running, general activity, and getting up from a lying position.

How quickly did PEA work in the study?

Some statistically significant differences in walking and running appeared after two weeks. Additional differences were observed at weeks four and six.

Was PEA well tolerated?

All 50 dogs completed the study, and researchers reported no adverse events among the 25 dogs receiving PEA during the six-week trial.

About the Study

Briskey D, Craddock E, Rao A, Mills PC. Levagen+ (palmitoylethanolamide) alleviates joint pain and reduces the impact of joint pain in canines and felines: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2026;13:1703143.