bc soul sista Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I am looking to put my BC with hip dysplasia and our older dog with some arthritis problems on a good joint supplement.. My question is...is there a HUGE difference between the fancy expensive brands(Consequin, Dasequin, Synovi) and just a generic Glucosamine supplement. If the fancier stuff really has better results I will spend the money... Also...can you OD it on the Glucosamine?? I would like to put our younger one on a general dose of glucosamine, suggestions?? AAANNDDD one more ?...they all are given omega 3 fish oil pills...how do you feel about pills vs the oil that's squirted onto there food?? And is buying HUMAN versions of these supplements a bad thing?? I just buy the generic fish oil capsules from Target.. THANKS!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum24dog Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 The orthpaedic specialist I use won't stock G & C supplements because to sell them would imply that he believes they work and there have been no well conducted trials carried out so far that demonstrate that they do - rather the opposite. Seems to me like most of the "evidence" that they work is anecdotal or comes from the manufacturer. It's no coincidence I'm sure that studies carried out by or on behalf of the manufacturers produce better results for the product than those that are independent. He is happy to recommend fish oil though as there is evidence that it can have an anti-inflammatory effect. The problem with it is that nutraceuticals have no standard by which dosage can be measured so you don't know how much you are giving. Often the labelling on the package gives an incorrect level of active ingredients when tested. I'm giving my 13 year old that had a cruciate op 3 months ago a couple of squirts of Grizzly Salmon Oil each day but I won't be using any other supplements. My current dogs are 6, 8, 9, 11 and 13 and despite years of agility none is troubled with arthritis and they've never had any supplements. Anecdotal in itself, I know, but until I'm given a good reason I won't be changing what has worked so far, especially if it would cost me money. If I had a dog with HD I'd be looking at keeping the muscles in good order with controlled exercise including hydro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc soul sista Posted November 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Yes, the reason i'm skeptical is I had the HD dog on Dasequin for a couple years at $100 a bottle...no lameness issues...took him off it for a year...no change, still no lameness issues ever.. I do keep him in excellent shape...lots of exercises to stengthen his rear and core....and LOTS of swimming.. Mostly worried about the old guy who is starting to show the wear and tear of a VERY active lifestyle on his hip with plates and pins in it from an injury when he was younger....short of putting him on anti-inflammatories/pain killers...hoping there would be something else that might make a difference... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I have a weimaraner mix with really bad elbow dysplasia. Her mobility is still really good - she is addicted to frisbee. At this time surgery is not an option because the operation would probably leave her with less mobility than she has now. Our vet recommended fish oil and glucosamine. I have a hobby of running - done it for years. Have read enough about glucosamine that says it isn't proven to do anything. End result - put her on fish oil pills only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 Anecdotal only but I noticed a huge difference with Missy when I had her on a glucosamine supplement. A couple times I ran out for a few weeks and in that time she would get quite stiff. When I put her back on it within a couple weeks she would be moving much better again. according to my vet a basic human supplement is just fine for a dog. I'd in ahead and try a human grade gluco supplement with msm and see if it makes a difference. You should be able to get a months supply for about $10 code in that time you should be able to tell if it helps your dog or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeri Jessee Posted November 29, 2011 Report Share Posted November 29, 2011 I've never used it on dogs but I used MSM on my 27 year old quarter horse and it made all the difference in the world. Before MSM he was almost crippled in the hind end and on MSM he could run like a colt. My vet said sometimes it works and sometimes not but I had nothing to lose at that point. I had my Reno dog on Dasequin for arthritis and I couldn't tell any difference at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrecar Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I used a glucosamine/MSM mixture that I purchased online from a greyhound rescue for my Dachshunds. My Vet basically told me that it might not help but it wouldn't hurt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjones Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 I have my older dogs on Advanced Cetyl M. Belle, who is now 12 has been on it for quite a few years. She has bad hips, didn't want to play like she used to didn't want to come out of the house, but I was hesitant to try any kind of joint supplemnt as I wasn't sure they would even work. Cetyl M came out during this time, so I decided to try it. Within the first month Belle was acting much happier, willing to go outside, starting to act more like her old self. With extended use she started wanting to play and run around again. Annie, now 13, takes it as well and isn't as stiff especially in the knee where she had an old injury. I experimented with another joint supplement with Annie, that the vet recommended but the stiffness started coming back, along with giving her really strong smelling urine, so went back to Cetyl M. Cetyl M has worked well for my dogs, but thats not to say it will work for every dog, I think with joint supplements you might have to try a few before you find one that works well for your dog; what works well for one, might not work so well for another. It also takes time for the joint supplements to build up for any noticible changes in the dog, so something to keep in mind. Samantha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Festerling Posted November 30, 2011 Report Share Posted November 30, 2011 i have my old gal on JointStrong together with YoungAtHeart. It works well for her. Seems to give her some relief. she actually has a bunch of issues from an auto immune to lots of wear and tear over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simba Posted December 3, 2011 Report Share Posted December 3, 2011 Glucosamine- the best evidence currently suggests that it's no better than a placebo for humans, and there's no good evidence of benefit for dogs either. NSAIDS work but have some side-effects. For fish our dogs get a tin every so often (tinned in oil), plus when we eat oily fish we give them a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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