Nutramax Said Cosequin Would Help Your Dog Jump and Climb. Science Said Otherwise, California Buyers Can Now Claim Up to $150.

Nutramax Laboratories agreed to pay $11.5 million to settle claims that it falsely marketed Cosequin dog joint supplements with mobility and cartilage health benefits that the science did not support. California residents who purchased qualifying Cosequin dog products for personal use between May 3, 2016, and May 6, 2022, can claim $25 per unit purchased — up to $150 per household — with no receipt required. The claim deadline is July 21, 2026.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$11,500,000
Claim Deadline	July 21, 2026
Who Qualifies	California residents who purchased qualifying Cosequin dog products for personal use between May 3, 2016 and May 6, 2022
Payout Per Person	$25 per unit purchased, up to $150 per household
Proof Required	No — self-certification only
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved — Final approval hearing August 13, 2026
Administrator	Lytle v. Nutramax Settlement Administrator
Official Website	CosequinCASettlement.com

Where things stand:

• The $11.5 million settlement received preliminary approval from the court on February 2, 2026.
• The opt-out and objection deadline is June 22, 2026 — three weeks before claims close.
• The Final Fairness Hearing is scheduled for August 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM, Courtroom 6D, First Street U.S. Courthouse, 350 W. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Payments go out after final approval and any appeals are resolved.

Nutramax Marketed Cosequin as a Joint Health Solution. A Published Study Found No Meaningful Benefit.

For years, Nutramax sold Cosequin dog supplements with packaging claims that the product supports “mobility, cartilage and joint health” and would help pets “climb stairs, rise and jump.” The products contain glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, and MSM — ingredients widely sold in both human and animal joint supplements.

Plaintiffs Justin Lytle and Christine Musthaler filed a class action lawsuit (Case No. 5:19-CV-00835-FMO-SP, U.S. District Court, Central District of California) arguing those marketing claims were false and misleading. According to the lawsuit, a study published in the British Medical Journal’s VetRecord found that dogs receiving Cosequin showed no significant improvement in gait analysis or subjective assessments, and owners reported no meaningful changes. The lawsuit alleged those claims violated the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act and related consumer protection statutes.

Nutramax Laboratories Inc. and Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences Inc. both deny wrongdoing. As part of the settlement, however, the companies agreed to more than just writing a check. Nutramax agreed to remove certain claims from its Cosequin packaging, including that it supports “mobility, cartilage and joint health,” “supports mobility for a healthy lifestyle,” and “use Cosequin to help your pet climb stairs, rise and jump!” The company may, however, continue to plainly use the statement “Joint Health Supplement” on Cosequin products.

Which Cosequin Products and Which California Buyers Are Covered

You may qualify if:

• You resided in California at the time of purchase
• You purchased one or more of the seven qualifying Cosequin dog products for personal use
• Your purchases occurred between May 3, 2016, and May 6, 2022

The qualifying canine Cosequin products are: Cosequin DS Maximum Strength Chewable Tablets; Cosequin DS Maximum Strength Plus MSM Chewable Tablets; Cosequin Maximum Strength Plus MSM Chewable Tablets; Cosequin with MSM Chewable Tablets; Cosequin DS Maximum Strength Plus MSM Soft Chews; Cosequin Maximum Strength Plus MSM Soft Chews; and Cosequin with MSM Soft Chews.

Important limitations to know:

• Cat products are not covered — only dog formulas listed above qualify
• Only one claim form per household (defined as all persons at the same physical address)
• Purchases made outside California do not qualify even if you now live in California
• Products purchased for resale or commercial purposes do not qualify

Related article: Kroger Had a Discount Prescription Club. Insured Customers Say They Never Got the Benefit — and Overpaid Every Time.

$25 Per Bottle, Up to $150 — No Receipt Required

The payout structure is simple: class members who submit a timely and valid claim form are eligible for a settlement payment of $25 per unit of Cosequin products purchased between May 3, 2016, and May 6, 2022, up to a maximum of $150. That means if you bought six or more qualifying units over those six years, you can claim the full $150.

You do not need a receipt, invoice, or any documentation to file. You self-certify the number of units you purchased under penalty of perjury on the claim form. However, if total valid claims exceed the available net settlement fund, payments reduce on a pro rata basis.

Here is how the $11.5 million fund breaks down:

Category	Amount
Attorneys’ fees	Up to 33% of the settlement fund (~$3,795,000)
Service awards to class representatives	Up to $7,500 per representative
Settlement administration costs	TBD
Payments to class members	Remainder of net fund

How to File Your Claim Before July 21

Step 1 — Go to the official claim portal at CosequinCASettlement.com

Step 2 — Complete the claim form with your name and California address

Step 3 — Enter the number of qualifying Cosequin units you purchased during the class period — no receipt or documentation needed

Step 4 — Submit your claim online by July 21, 2026, or mail the printed claim form postmarked by that date

Step 5 — Save a copy of your submitted claim for your records

By mail: Lytle v. Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. et al Settlement Administrator, PO Box 3167, Portland, OR 97208-3167

By phone: 1-888-899-7783

By email (opt-outs only): [email protected]

Estimated time to complete: 3–5 minutes

Key Dates in the Lytle v. Nutramax Cosequin Settlement

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	May 3, 2016
Class Period Ends	May 6, 2022
Preliminary Approval Granted	February 2, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 22, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	July 21, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	August 13, 2026
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval and appeals

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. Class counsel from Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC and Levin Papantonio represent all class members at no cost to you. You file directly at CosequinCASettlement.com in a few minutes without any legal help.

Is this settlement legitimate? 

Yes. This is a court-supervised class action pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, overseen by the Honorable Fernando M. Olguin (Case No. 5:19-CV-00835-FMO-SP). The official settlement website is CosequinCASettlement.com. The administrator’s toll-free number is 1-888-899-7783.

When will I receive my payment?

 No payment date is confirmed yet. The Final Approval Hearing is August 13, 2026. After the court grants approval and any appeals are resolved, the administrator will process all valid claims and issue payments. Payments are unlikely to arrive before late 2026 at the earliest.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 The deadline is July 21, 2026. Claims submitted after that date will be rejected and you will receive nothing from this settlement. If the opt-out deadline of June 22, 2026 has also passed, you will also give up the right to sue Nutramax separately over these claims.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Possibly. Settlement payments classified as consumer reimbursements may or may not be taxable depending on your situation and whether they exceed your original purchase cost. Consult a tax professional if you have questions about how to report this payment.

I bought Cosequin for my dog in California but I no longer have the receipt. Can I still claim?

 Yes. No proof of purchase is required. You simply certify on the claim form how many qualifying units you purchased during the class period. One claim per household applies regardless of how many family members bought the product at that address.

My cat also uses a Cosequin product. Does that count? 

No. This settlement covers only the seven qualifying Cosequin dog formulas. Cat products and any other Nutramax supplements fall outside the class definition entirely and cannot be included in your claim.

What changes did Nutramax actually agree to make? 

As part of the settlement, Nutramax must remove specific marketing claims from Cosequin packaging going forward. The company can no longer state that the product supports “mobility, cartilage and joint health,” “supports mobility for a healthy lifestyle,” or that it helps dogs “climb stairs, rise and jump.” Nutramax may still describe the product as a “Joint Health Supplement” in plain terms.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website — CosequinCASettlement.com
• Court-Authorized Settlement Notice — U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.