As a Senior Dog, it was recommended that supplements need to be added on my diet.
One of these supplements is called Glucosamine.
My mom has been doing lots of research about Glucosamine when we won some I Love Dogs Glucosamine & Chrondrotin with Green Tea sponsored by All Things Dog Blog. We won this prize way back in May and started with it last June. I was very lucky that I LOVE Dogs provided me 90 pills = 3 months of supply.
After I consumed all the chewable pills, we still have some unanswered questions.
We consulted again my Vet. Also, we are so fortunate that
Dr. Mark of Ask The Vet from All Things Dog Blog, provided us some answers too. Here’s his response …
Not all glucosamine supplements are created equal. The main problem on the nutraceutical side of the house is there is no regulating body, like the FDA, to make sure that the product does what it says it does. This makes sticking with a reputable brand VERY important. This is the most important thing to consider when purchasing a glucosamine supplement. The only glucosamine supplement for dogs that has been evaluated in a clinical study is Dasuquin with MSM. In my book, it is the best. Other name brands that I have had good results with are Phycox and Glyco Flex III. These are the only 3 that I would ever recommend. You absolutely get what you pay for. Getting the giant bottle at Costco for 5 dollars is literally a waste of money and will not help your dog at all. The 3 supplements I mentioned all have MSM. I would not use one without it. MSM is a natural anti-inflammatory and improves the efficacy of the supplement.
I do not routinely recommend a glucosamine supplement unless there is an underlying issue that will lead to arthritis sooner in life, such as known hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, medial patellar luxation, or some other condition that causes instability in a joint. In this situation, the sooner they start getting the supplement, the better. Any kind of joint instability will lead to arthritis much sooner than it would normally happen.
Giving the supplement once or twice a day does not matter. When I have a dog that needs it, I give it once a day.
Any individual of any breed can have joint problems. Large breeds tend to be over represented with hip dysplasia, yet small dogs have hip problems as well, we just call it something different. So, I take each case and evaluate on a case-by-case basis. I do not routinely put German Shepherds on these supplements just because they are the poster children for hip dysplasia. It needs to be diagnosed, or at least be suspect because of limping, first.
On a final note, there are MANY options for managing arthritis in dogs, a glucosamine supplement is only one. Non-steroidal anti-inflamatories, steroids, pain medications, Omega-3 fatty acids, Hill’s J/D diet, Adequan, and acupuncture are other very helpful options.
Lots of Golden Thanks Dr. Mark …
your answer definitely coincides with my Vet.
Hope these information were helpful and informative.
I will share next time what kind of supplement
my mom decided to give me.
Lots of Golden Woofs
Hey Sugar, I take that too!
Good info! We take some, too, that our VET suggested 🙂 And get acupuncture on occasion!
Hey, Sugar, stop by our blog today for some EXCITING NEW!
Cheers!
The Road Dogs
That is wonderful information to know! Thanks, Sugar!
Sam
Thanks Sugar! We have heard about this before and since I am also a senior dog, have considered adding it to my diet.
Your pal, Pip
P.S.: I loved your duck tape collar!
This is wonderful and important information Sugar! Thanks for sharing!!
Hey Sugar!
Wow, great information! I saw my peeps taking notes for when I become a senior pooch. Thanks for sharing!
Grr and Woof,
Sarge, COP
We make sure Tori takes hers!
Stop on by for a visit
Kari
https://dogisgodinreverse.com/
This is some great information Sugar! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 Have a marvelous Monday!
Thanks for the information, Sugar!
Stewey
Thank you and your vet for this great information Sugar! I need to start taking this stuff and Mommy was confused on what to get. She saw the stuff at Costco (and it was more like $50 here) but she didn't get it and is glad now for that.
Woos,
Sadie
Thanks for posting this as this is an issue with our Little Bit. I'll ask our vet what he thinks is the best way to go.
Have a woof woof day Sugar. My best to your mom. 🙂
Grrrrreat Info Sugar..
and.. CONGRATULATIONS you won the Artsy Duck Tape prize pressie from the Road Dogs!!!
Hey Sugar,
Great info. – I have a question, well 2 questions actually….
I'm just a young pup – 1 and a half – am I too young to take them, my breed can be prone to hip problems just like you….. ?
Also, and probably more important – do they taste good? I'm a very fussy eater – Mum's really struggling giving me my antiobiotics at the moment (cos I wasn't well last week) – as they taste REALLY yukky!! No idea why they can't make them nice tasting?
I hope you're having a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Arthritis seems to have passed Kendra by…she has other problems though. However, SHE has to to take glucosomine!
XXXOOO Daisy, Kendra & Bella
Great info, Sugar. Maggie was born with hip dysplasia and also has some arthritis. We have been giving her Dasuquin with msm for over a year now and it has helped her tremendously! Before she could barely walk at her young age of 1, we were devastated. After much research and help from our bloggie friends, we decided to put her on dasuquin with msm and could not believe the difference it made, you would never know she has hip problems. It has truly been a miracle for us! BTW, We find that Amazon has the best price. 🙂
Hope this helps, best of luck!!
Miley and Maggie
I'm on Glycoflex and I started last year when I was only 1.5 years old. I had my left hind leg broken when I was 8 weeks old and some laxity in my anterior cruciate left ligament… my knee. The vet thought it would rupture, though it never has and I swim, run, jump, you name it… I don't have many problems but once in a while when I was running, I would pick my leg up and scream bloody murder… the Glycoflex has helped a lot!
-Corbin
Very helpful information 🙂 Thanks for sharing it.
Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar
That's a lot of great information, Sugar! Thank you! We both get Liquid Health Level 5000.
Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
I've been taking the Glyco Flex III for a while now. My vet said the same thing that they are not all the same and you have to be careful which one you choose.
Slobbers,
mango
my sugar pie my boy is in glucosamine too his case that bad hip displacia he was diagnose when he was just 3 i was going to breed him and well as a good owner i did his respective health test and we found his displacia was hereditary he was the only pup in his littler with hip displacia i new he was special but didn't know why anyways thanks for this post it helped me to answer some of the same doubts your momma had … take care my sweetie pie and give mom a big hug from us
kris and kovack (the golden)
The pains of getting older. I take glcoflex and good to know that is is one of the three products that's in the good list.
hey Sugar,
Very informative post! My human gave her last dog (the one before me) glucosamine and chrondrotin for two years before he passed and it made a huge difference in his life. Seemed to really eliminate any pain and discomfort he had been having. She also bought dog food that had added glucosamine and chrondrotin. He really liked the food. It was nice to see his quality of life improve. She still misses him, but I never met him.
Glad you did your research, Sugar! Very important to check it out and research all the alternatives. You are very smart!
Suka
Thanks for the super postie, Miss Sugar! Dillon had some glucosamine (he has arthritis and some sort of damage to his hip) but it didn't make him feel better. We also had some foods with glucosamine that was supposed to help but it seemed to make him feel worse. Now we have different foods and he seems to be doing better, as long as he doesn't nap on the floor too long when it's cold! We will definitely keep this informashun in mind if he starts having problems again, it's good to know which supplement is best.
Luvs,
Jackie
Thanks for the all the info about glucosamine! Our Big Brother used to take that as he had terrible arthritis. He didn't really like it…but he took it anyway…maybe we will too…when we get a couple years older. Hope you are feeling ok!! xoxo Chloe and LadyBug
my sister in law used to give this to her dog when he was in his senior years. It really helped him
Very important stuff to know, since my furry sister Nala is gonna be 13 this Friday! 🙂
Woofs & hugs, <3
~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)
Our older horses get this too, can work very well if you find the right balance 🙂