glucosamine & chondroitin

[kelsey]

my 6 months old girl was on Canidae kibbles but we switched to Nutro Lamb & rice due to the glucosamine content in the kibbles but she won't finish Nutro and she is itching everywhere. We are switching back to Canidae and giving her supplements of glucosamine instead.

we are thinking about the glucosamine & chondroitin capsule / pill to prevent joint problems. is it too early? is there any adverse effects on this in the future?

[Goldenglittergirl]

The glucosimine in the dog foods isn't even enough to matter. It is such a slight amount that it wouldn't even help. I think its more of a marketing gimmick then anything.

[clement's golden rule]

I don't know if there's an age issue, with it, but I"ve been giving jaeger, and now goodwin, "missing link" with it, in it.. they seem to thrive, and all the extra goodies, make for nice coats, teeth, and provide stuff, that the nutro LB adult wouldn't.
I kept Jaeger, on the ground, so to speak as much as I could for 18 months, and am trying with goodwin, but he's got some bad habits, that we're working on... my vet recommended not letting them jump down, from things, whenever possible, as young dogs.. When Win first came to us, his hips, felt wobbly.. I was concerned, but also knew that he wasn't getting any exercise at all. now, muscly as he is, they're less so, but you can still "feel" them, when he sits... hopefully he'll not have major issues, later..
I'm anxious to hear what others have to say , about the G an C,
Jenn, jaeger and goodwin

[CaynCher]

I started my dog on the liquid Glucosamine & Chondroitin when he turned 10 yrs. as a preventitive for future problems and thus far shows no sign of any. Many of the pet food companys are adding it; but unless they add it after processing, it is probably worthless. I could be mistaken but I don't believe that you need to feed it to a young dog unless it has begun to have hip/joint problems. I don't give the liquid to my pup at this time.

[Cassidy'sMom]

I always thought that G/C combo. acts to repair damaged cartledge or the "wearing away" effect that natually occurs with age in any dog not just for HD. So in a young, healthy dog I don't think it is necessary. I plan to start Cassidy on it either at 9-10 years or when artheritis (sp?) starts to appear.

This is just what I THINK. Any other thoughts? :confused:

[CanadianGolden]

Supplementing with G/C in a young dog is pointless and may be harmful in that if the dog is always on these supplements, they will be less effective if used when the dog develops an actual issue like arthritis. Supplementation with these things (like Glyco-Flex) is okay starting around 7-8 years, but no younger. Many people supplement and don't really know why or what they're giving the dog, and that's not good.

[kelsey]

thanks all for your reply. my girl is exercising well based on her age and she dont have woobly hips or anything. a friend commented she has "muscles" :p , that must be due to the walking.

lucky me i have not bought any G & C supplement. so looks like she will be back on Canidae & semi barf prepared food.

thanks again. you all have been truly helpful

[KilasMammy]

Kila is going on G&C supplements and she is only 8months but it is specifically due to her having HD. I dont think a young golden should need G&C unless they are HD.
My mam is also on G&C for artritis in her knees :) so we will compare how they both get on ;)

[GoldenBlaze]

Could someone please tell me what the difference is between G/C combo and G/S salfate? I have Blaze this daily even though it is in his food. I thank you all for any info you have on this matter.
:)

[CaynCher]

Do you mean Sulfate? If so, that is the full name for Glousamine Sulfate & there is Chrondroitin Sulfate. These usually are used together as a combo and some add MSM besides.

[GoldenBlaze]

Do you mean Sulfate? If so, that is the full name for Glousamine Sulfate & there is Chrondroitin Sulfate. These usually are used together as a combo and some add MSM besides.

Yes sorry about the spelling..... Is that the same thing as G/C. I read alot about given Glucosamine
some say to do so and others say not. Any advise would be great, Blaze does not have HD that I know of yet but I was told given this can help.
Thanks
Lorie

[CaynCher]

If your pup does not have hip/joint problems, he doesn't need this supplement. I am giving it to my soon-to-be 12 year old golden because of his advanced age as a preventative so he won't get arthritis. My pup doesn't take it as his hips and joints are fine.

[GoldenBlaze]

I was told to give it now at a young age to help if they get HD and it can not hurt if given. my Lab had HD very bad in both hips at 2 yrs of age and I think I'm just worried about Blaze now. Thanks for your help.

[Cheyenne]

Can anyone tell me if they have really noticed any big difference since giving their dog Gluc? My pup who is 10 months now had a leg injury and was just diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia. Someone recommended to give a supplement with Gluc in it to help and possibly stop any further damage but I am wondering if you can noticeably see a difference. Right now she cannot exercise or play for any length of time without really having trouble getting up and sometimes does not want to put any weight on her leg. I give baby aspirin to her when she seems to really have a hard time getting up and it seems to help but i really want to make sure I am doing everything I can for her so that she won't be in pain and to try and prevent the condition becoming worse. It makes me so sad that an otherwise very healthy and active puppy can be so young and already have issues like this and while I know it can be common to the breed, etc it just breaks my heart to see my little girl have trouble getting up off the floor and stuff. Any information or opinions anyone has I would be grateful for. Anyhow thanks for listening (reading). It helps just to be able to tell someone who understands the issue and feels like your pup is really your kid. I think of Cheyenne as my little furkid :)

[Karefl]

Our Annie (mix) was diagnosed w/hd as a pup. We had her on glucosamine supplement most of her life & saw very little pain in her 12 years. Sometimes when she did seem stiff, especially when it got cool out & when she got older, we would give her a baby aspirin. I suppose that it would also depend on how severe the h/d it. I agree that the amount of gluc. in foods probably isn't enough. Get a supplement. I know from my husbands experience taking gluc. himself, he definately CAN feel the difference when he runs out & doesn't take it for a while!

[MegM76]

I've seen quite a few different glucosamine supplements at the pet stores. I'm sure they aren't all created equally. Does anyone have an opinion on which brand of supplement is the best?

[MegM76]

I'm sorry your pup has HD. Did your vet recommend medications for your puppy? Also, did your vet talk to you about the surgical procedure, TPO? It seems to be pretty successful for dogs under 1 year of age. I understand how you feel...I wouldn't be able to see my dog in pain either.

[Cheyenne]

Thanks Megm. I have not heard anything about TPO. The vet suggested a supplement may help and also Rimadyl when in a lot of pain but that it wasnt something to give on a day to day basis. I will have to try to research and find out some more about this surgery you mentioned. If anyone has any info please let me know.

[MegM76]

Here's a couple of decent sites:

http://www.grr-tx.com/resources/osteotomy.htm

http://www.gcvs.com/surgery/triple_pelvic.htm

Since your puppy is showing clinical signs, I would definitely get back with your vet and discuss a treatment plan, whether it be surgical or non-surgical. You may even want to seek an orthopedic specialist's opinion. I wish you the best!

[Cheyenne]

MegM..thanks very much for the websites. I just took a look at them and it sounds like something worth discussing with our vet. I was going to take Cheyenne in next week to have her checked again so I will definately bring it up while I am there. Thanks again for the information. It's appreciated!!

[SteveR]

From what I've read about these supplements the best form to give is liquid for maximum absorption and the most beneficial ingredient is the glucosamine. The chondroitin and MSM may help but they are not necessary. I use a brand called Flexicose which is a liquid, it stacks up better than syneflex and is cheaper by the dose. Do an internet search and read about it.
Cheyenne, I have read on a couple of different sites where vitamin C can do wonders for a dog such as yours. If you can find an 1000mg Ester-C supplement (liquid or powder), you can give this along with the Glucosamine. The Glucosamine will help keep the joint lubricated and the Ester-C will help rebuild the joint. Before you opt for very invasive and expensive surgery you might want to give these a 6 week tryout. It is tragic that your poor dog has such problems at such and early age.

[MegM76]

Steve...do you mix the liquid in a special treat so that your dog takes to it?

[Cheyenne]

Steve, thanks for the tip. I didn't know about the vitamin C but it would be worth a try. Especially, yes before any type of surgery. I do not really want to have to put her through a surgery and all and was very relieved when she didn't have to have it for what they thought was a torn ligament so anything else I can try that will not harm her would be worth a shot. I am upset that she has problems but I am willing to do whatever I can for her. I hate it that she is so young and this seems like a big issue. She is a trooper though. I hope to get her picture out here soon. Thanks again for all the suggestions. With so many different supplements and things out there its hard to know sometimes what's good unless someone has tried it out and likes the results.

[SteveR]

Cheyenne, definitely give the ester-c a try. I think the glucosamine and C together are a very good combination. Meg, the brand I use, flexicose, is grape flavored. Since the dose is only about a 3/4 tsp I just add it to his food. He'd lick it up plain if I let him. I also supplement him with a lower dose of vitamin C powder (about 400mg) just as a precaution. This is the regular ascorbic acid version of vitamin C. If I was to give him the full 1000, I'd give him Ester-C to prevent any stomach upset.

[KilasMammy]

Hi Cheyenne,
We have a 9 1/2 month old with bad HD in both her hips and having discusssed options with her specialist we decided on non-surgical treatment for lots of reasons. Her specialist who at the end of the day makes his money from surgery has stopped/limited doing the TPO operation as he doesn't like the guess work involved such as using a 10,20 or 30 degree plate to re-align the pelvic bone...as I remember he said 20 degrees is the norm but there is nothing to say that should be the same for every dog.
He also noted that 70-80% of dogs self heal and do not need any surgery once they hit 2 years old so for the small percentage that do he would prefer to do a THR dealing with older stronger bone rather than soft puppy bone. He said that although it is common practice he also does not like the FHO operation as there is no way back from chopping the top of a bone off! Which when you think about it....would you opt for such a procedure on yourself...I would not :)
So Kila is on a mix of Cod Liver Oil capsules (same as us humans take) which she just loves holding in her mouth as it disolves :rolleyes: Cosequin currently on 3 tabs a day for the initial loading period. Cosequin is expensive €100 for 120 capsules which during the loading period doesnt last long but he recommended Cosequin specifically as they have conducted research on their product while the others have not and there is no governing body over these companies to ensure the label is what is in the tabs. She has the chewable kind (although another capsule wouldnt be a problem with Kila) and eats them happily. He also has her on Rimadyl and having read what I have on this site we will check up on the Rimadyl with him on Tuesday at her 6 week update chat. I had not heard of the Vit C thing before....SteveR is that the same Ester C that we humans take or a special doggie version?
Her weight is kept in or around 25 kilos and she is exercised 7 days a week to keep her muscles strong.
Kila is slow getting up but she doesnt need to drag herself up like you mentioned your pup doing well except when trying to get on the bed! She rarely hops up like I would expect a non HD dog would.
All in all Kila is doing well and sometimes its hard to believe she has such bad hips (but I have seen the xrays), she has a great spirit.
I wish you and your puppy all the best, we like you know the heartache that finding out such news can bring...it doesnt matter how long you have your Goldie your in love from the very first day :) or before if you have to wait for your baby!
I hope all goes well for you....we are pretty much at the same point with our dogs age wise so it would be nice to have a comparison on both sides.
Talk to your vet about all the options....we have a wonderful vet and specialist who both answer our questions with care and understanding and make sure we understand rather than just plying us with information.
If you have any questions I have not answered in this long winded message Private Message me :)
All the best,
Marie

[SteveR]

Yes the ester-c as well as the Flexicose I mentioned are human supplements that can be used on pets. I'm having a little trouble finding ester-c in powder or liquid so I'm using a powdered version of regular C at a lower dose for now since Sinbad has no visible signs of any pain.

[KilasMammy]

Thanks SteveR, much appreciated :)

[Cheyenne]

Thanks KilasMammy for your message. I appreciate the information you provided. I am very sorry to hear your pup also has HD at such a young age too!! It's really troubling especially when they are so young, but it also sounds like according to your vet they may be able to self heal in a good number of cases so I would like to sit down with our vet and go over everything all of that as well some more in depth but I am ready to get her on some of these supplements and help her feel better!! I don't want to have her in surgery unless its the last option and right now thanks to the info you guys have provided I think we can try some of this other stuff first. I found a catalog with products which I think I will order some of the C and Gluc from. There are many to choose from so we'll give it a try and see what works best for my pup. Thanks again SteveR and KilasMammy I hope your baby continues to do well. Thanks for all the info and support. Keep in touch and I will keep ya'll posted. Thanks thanks thanks