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
