Glucosamine for your Dog

[Dogmeat]

I just thought I'd post this info, as I don't know if a lot of people know about it.

Anyways, many of you might have heard of supplements you can buy that help with joint pain, arthritis, etc ... AKA, Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, etc ... Some people swear by this stuff, some people don't.

I actually take a supplement myself that has all 3. I don't know if I need to take it, but I think with all the weight lifting I do it helps.... but, this thread is not about us, it's about dogs

Anyways, our family dog of 11 years was really starting to slow down a lot in the last year or so. We were getting pretty worried about her. You could tell she just wasn't as happy as she used to be, was moving more slowly, limping, etc....we're pretty sure she developed arthritis.

As it turns out, glucosamine works wonders for dogs ... it was even recommended by our vet.

We started her out (keep in mind this is a 35 pound dog) at 1000 mg a day for 5 days then backed her down to 500 mg a day ... after a month, it was amazing what a difference it made for her. It was almost like she had a new lease on life.

You could see she was a much happier dog because of this...stopped limping so harshley, was much more feistey and active, she just "looked" happier. She's going to be 12 this year and doing really well.

Anyways I guess for some reason 94fordman's post got me thinking about old dogs being in pain and this stuff really seemed to give our dog a lot of help so I thought I'd post about it.

You can buy pet-specific glucosamine for a lot of $$$ or you can go to walmart and buy a bottle of it that will probably last you 6 months for $10.

 

[Ex-Member]

My parents have been doing this with their dog for quite some time. Does work well

 

[Blisteringsnorider]

I'm gonna have to try that on my Lab that's getting up there, she's starting to get stiff and not as frisky as she used to be maybe that will help.

 

[Mafesto]

"Pedigree" makes a dog food with it already added.

Yes, it does help!

 

[CleElum Sledhead]

We gave Glucosamine pills to our older Malamute for many years before we had to put him down. It does do wonders.

We feed our current younger Malamute "Nutros" brand dogfood, where Glucosamine and other good ingredients are already added.

 

[Dogmeat]

Hey, that's a good idea, I didn't know they made dog food with glucosamine already added .... might have to try that out and see how she likes it.

 

[Superjag]

I too have had really good results using this with my current lab (8 years old) and previous labs. The dog I have now has shown pretty remarkable improvement in joint stiffness using the stuff. I use the Cosequin brand, but it is one of the most exepnsive, and just about any of them that have at least 500mgs of glucosamine will probably do fine. (You can save a ton of $$ buying it off the 'net.) One thing to keep in mind, in most cases it takes 4-6 weeks to see results, so it is important to dose your dog consistently and not miss days or go long periods with no dosing.

 

[sleddinhusker]

Yep, started giving my 14 yo brittany Cluco/Condro last year because she could hardly make up the stairs, jump in the pickup, or even walk last year. Acts like a 6 yo dog now. Very good stuff. No need to buy expensive food or pills, just like mentioned above, go to Walmart and get a big bottle for practically nothing. I think i get 800 mg pills, break them in half and give one a day.

I thought i was going to have to put her down last year. Now, should be a while longer, and that is all that matters.

 

[Sled169]

I have a 14 year old Aussie cow dog that started to really slow down. We got some stuff at the local farm sore called MSM. It is a powder that you sprinkle over there food. It has made all the difference in the world for him, we thought we were going to loose him two winters ago and this winter he is doing great, can't hear a damn thing, but he gets around real good. Sometimes he even plays with the other dogs, for a minute or two anyway.

Long story short, suppliments do seem do work very well on dogs and can really extend there life and really up the quality of life.

 

[vmaxfrank]

How do you give it to your dogs? Do you hide it in cheese, etc? My dog has a bad knee and could probably use it.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

I use Osteo Bi-Flex triple strength and cut the tablets in 1/2. I then crush it into her food and add water to make the food softer. She eats it up!

She is a 6yr old Pug that has hip displatia. The glucosamine really does help!

I can't take it because of a shellfish allergy and it has some of that!

 

[Gainster]

How do you give it to your dogs? Do you hide it in cheese, etc? My dog has a bad knee and could probably use it.

On our 13 year old Pyrenees I just dab the pill in butter & she eats it right down. Tried the cheese thing & she was way to smart for that..... Ate the cheese & spit the pill out every time.
One day I figured she liked butter because she likes toast but wont eat it if its not buttered. Globbed some butter on the first pill & she took it with gusto & then spit it out, Gave me a stupid look & smelled the pill then picked it up & swallowed it down & she has taken her glucos for years that way. Really makes her act like a pup again & again. Great stuf for my Tazzie dog!

 

[wildcard]

Gluc is GREAT for dogs and humans both. I did term paper on it for biochem a few years back. Here is the news. DONT waste your money on gluc with condroition, it is not absorbed. The gluc has to be converted by the body to become condroitin (spellin is goopd tonight!) and all the mixes do is triple the cost. It takes about two weeks of double dose and then what you will notice is that, you dont notice the pain, tweeks and twinges. Awsome stuff! Down side is it gives me stomach pains and lots of gas. Still worth it.

 

[H2SNOW]

dang good info right there ...thanx

 

[Nate]

I got just a pup so when the time comes thanks for the info

 

[crazymf]

Ok,
Glucosamine doesn't appear to hurt so if you guys think it's doing stuff, that's great. Myself, I've yet to see any tangible effect from glucosamine or even talk to anyone who has when you really get down to it. It's like an after market pipe manufacturing all that horsepower. Most of it is imagined. Ay best, glucosamine is a good preventative measure. So before I get slammed, here's what really works .... Metacam. It's a painkiller/anti-inflammatory. It's what really works if your pet has actual pain problems related to joints such as hips or shoulders. Metacam is really expensive though and must be prescribed. Therefore, the generic stuff is called Meloxicam and costs drastically less. Even less expensive is the human version called Mobicox.

Just my 2 cents .....

 

[Tackbtch]

Ok,
Glucosamine doesn't appear to hurt so if you guys think it's doing stuff, that's great. Myself, I've yet to see any tangible effect from glucosamine or even talk to anyone who has when you really get down to it. It's like an after market pipe manufacturing all that horsepower. Most of it is imagined. Ay best, glucosamine is a good preventative measure. So before I get slammed, here's what really works .... Metacam. It's a painkiller/anti-inflammatory. It's what really works if your pet has actual pain problems related to joints such as hips or shoulders. Metacam is really expensive though and must be prescribed. Therefore, the generic stuff is called Meloxicam and costs drastically less. Even less expensive is the human version called Mobicox.

Just my 2 cents .....

I wont flame ya...but the glucosamine works wonders for me, took more than a month for me to see any effect , but I swear by it now...and only dooing half of the recommended dose. This is good info...never entered my mind to give it to the 12 year old shepard. Started giving the pooch glucosamine yesterday Time will tell. Dino

 

[KITIMAT TOM]

What would be a good daily starting dose for a 70lb Lab?