Any Vets in ? - Dog arthritis supplements question

[Grey Ghost]

My Golden Retriever is starting to struggle to get up when he has been laying down for a while and then takes a few minutes to "free up" his back legs before walking normally. I have used the "joint sticks" advertised on TV however I'm not convinced they deliver what they promise having used them daily for several months now.

Having done a bit of research on "tinternet" I am aware of the benefits Glucosamine could offer if introduced into his diet and am also aware of products such as "Cortaflex" and "Synflex" which can be delivered in pill, powder or liquid form and appear to be easily available without prescription.

For reference "Fred" is 11 1/2 years old and perfectly healthy (with good appetite) apart from this little issue that I want to help him with. I don't want to trouble my vet currently as I know my dog well and will take him there if he starts to struggle more.

So the big question is which product is best and where can I get it without prescription ?

[Dilligaf10]

don't know if it is any help but Glocosamine has helped Mrs D with her arthritus in her knees, (No she is not a dog before anyone jumps on that!!)

You will need to get the highest dose you can probably health food shops are the best bet. Try a can of pilchards in oil once a week in his diet as well.

[robinhood21]

Glucosamine definitely works, my knees are testament to that. I take 1000mg a day + fish-oil, so will have to scale down for woofles.

[Jasandjules]

Agreed as above.

Also, cortiflex (sp?) is good too..

[Eggman]

Our local dog expert recommends feeding cartilaginous material like raw chicken feet and wings to arthritic dogs. (Note that's absolutely definitely RAW - cooked chicken bones are dangerous).

She may be as mad as a hatter, but has a pack to rival Cesar Milan's and does seem to know a thing or two about dogs!

[jagracer]

We give our 12 YO GSD dog Glucosamine and Condritin 1000mg (spelling) tablets from Tescos. It has made a world of difference to how well he gets about.

[CatherineJ]

Our 15 year old GSD has degenerative arthritis in his back legs. The vet keeps giving him products to help but quite frankly they don't.

[kVA]

We have a dog that suffered from arthritis and was on Metacam for a while until we switched to Hills Science Diet J/D (Joint Development?) food. She was on that (without Metacam) for about 18 months and is cured!!! Has been on normal food for the last two years, with no evidence of arthritis - and she's now 13 (going on 13 months... LOL)

[CatherineJ]

kVA said:

We have a dog that suffered from arthritis and was on Metacam for a while until we switched to Hills Science Diet J/D (Joint Development?) food. She was on that (without Metacam) for about 18 months and is cured!!! Has been on normal food for the last two years, with no evidence of arthritis - and she's now 13 (going on 13 months... LOL)

Metacam, that's the stuff. It didn't do jack.

[BGB autosport]

My Staff had a lot of problems with his back legs, arthritis or ligament damage was suspected by the vet, after many months on steroid injections, daily doses of metacam and dramatically reduced walks, i tried him on Glucosamine, codroitin and MSM, (stopped all other medication from the vet).

After a week he was a different dog, back to being like a puppy. He hasn't had the same problem since and its 4 years on since we started him on it, he now leads a perfectly active life. The only time he is now stiff is if i have taken him for a really good walk or run, (5 miles +)and only for a minute or so after first getting up after being laid for a while, (Most relativly fit people would be!).

Give it a try, what have you got to loose?

You cant OD on it, I was told to give the dog double the recommended dose for a week then go the the recommended human dose. With a lab/GR I would do the same, if a small dog I would half it.

Oh just to note, my vet (at the time) tried to pass it off and does not beleave in common "suppliments" but the results speak for them selves. If my pup carried on the route the vet was taking, i expect he would have screwed kidneys by now.

Edited by BGB autosport on Sunday 27th December 14:14

[jagracer]

CatherineJ said:

kVA said:

We have a dog that suffered from arthritis and was on Metacam for a while until we switched to Hills Science Diet J/D (Joint Development?) food. She was on that (without Metacam) for about 18 months and is cured!!! Has been on normal food for the last two years, with no evidence of arthritis - and she's now 13 (going on 13 months... LOL)

Metacam, that's the stuff. It didn't do jack.

It's mainly a painkiller I think although all it did for our dog was give him the sts.

[Rouleur]

My Springer had a problem with one of his wrists during winters months, so instead of forking out for Rimadyl from the vets I took the advice of a couple of people and changed his feed to Wellbeloved, started using a magnetic collar and also gave him organic cider vinegar every day.

I've never been one for believing that magnetic/copper bands have any effect, but the combination of those three things transformed him. Maybe only one or two of them made any difference, but I thought I might as well try the whole lot and blitz the problem!

[becksW]

Glucosamine and chondrotin, needs to be at least 500mg per tablet those containing tumeric and maybe green lipped mussel are better.

All these products take at least 6 weeks at a loading dose to work then you reduce the dose for a maintenance level.

Cheaper products such as Holland and Barrets own can be used but they use lesser quality ingredients so may get poorer repsonse.

What you may need to do initially is combine it with a NSAID initially for a more instant effect. E.G. Metacam, Carprofen, zubrin, Previcox etc there are many out there, some work better for one then another. For this you will need to see a vet first, they may want to ck kidneys via a blood test. (You do not want to give NSAID's if dodgy kidneys) vet will discuss options available (and confirm it is arthritis) The other tx is cartrophen injections, 1 injection per week for 4 weeks then thats it for at least 3 months we use this a lot at our place.

NSAIDS reduce the inflammation caused by arthritis thus reducing immediate discomfort.
Glucosamine etc works on trying to repair and replace cartilage damamged due to arthritis.

There are also some good diets out their with products in to help. Hill J/D diet and RCW mobility support diets are worth trying.

To be honest it will be better to see your vet sooner as an inflammatory tx will work better if used in earlier stage and will reduce damge being caused sooner. You prob won't need to use it permanently too start with, just for a few days then try without, using glucosamine at the same time.

Arthritis responds so much better to tx if dealt with earlier

Edited by becksW on Sunday 27th December 15:51

eta Whilst I do think NSAID's are very useful in the tx of arthritis I strongly believe good quality glucosamine products are worth there weight. My cat is currently on Arthraid (a liquid version) as he shouldn't have metacam (except in emergency and that would be just a one off dose!)

Get some basic advise from someone who knows re: physiothrapy and massage, keep exercise regular smaller more frequent walks better than one long walk. Don't let him lie around for hours, even if he just gets up to potter around the house every couple of hours, some dogs will lie around for hours if allowed so they stiffen up more.

Edited by becksW on Sunday 27th December 16:02

[Jasandjules]

jagracer said:

It's mainly a painkiller I think although all it did for our dog was give him the sts.

Yep and same with our pooch. But cortiflex seems to have worked rather well on her and with no side effects.

[CatherineJ]

Sadly for us, I think this Christmas will be the last for our old boy. He has in the last 6 months really gone down hill. His biggest problem is that he won't sit down and rest.

[Grey Ghost]

Thanks for all the input folks I'll pop down to the local "pet superstore" and see what they have in stock that contains Glucosamine in the dosage levels mentioned above.

I will of course take him to the vet if he gets any worse but I would rather try some of the products discussed here that other owners have used and seen results than resort to Metacalm etc. I strongly believe supplementary medicine is better than dosing up on pain killers for ongoing issues such as arthritis.

[BGB autosport]

I would leave the pet specific products alone, you will be paying alot more than if you went to your local human health type shop and got them there. We have used both tablets, just crushed up and put on his food and also capsules, just by peircing the end and squeezing the liquid over his food.

Edited by BGB autosport on Monday 28th December 10:28

[Grey Ghost]

BGB autosport said:

I would leave the pet specific products alone, you will be paying alot more than if you went to your local human health type shop and got them there. We have used both tablets, just crushed up and put on his food and also capsules, just by peircing the end and squeezing the liquid over his food.

I've bought a box of tablets from my local Pet Superstore. They contain the specified Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Green Lipped Mussel and have enough in the packet to last 8 days at the prescribed dosage which falls in line with that recommended by our resident Veterinary Nurse - thanks

I've also checked on web sites such as H&B and they appear to have human supplements containing the same balance of ingredients for significantly cheaper prices so will be a regular visitor there going forward.

Thanks for all your input so far, Fred (see profile) was very happy to receive his first lot of tablets hidden inside a home made sausage roll

[becksW]

Grey Ghost said:

BGB autosport said:

I would leave the pet specific products alone, you will be paying alot more than if you went to your local human health type shop and got them there. We have used both tablets, just crushed up and put on his food and also capsules, just by peircing the end and squeezing the liquid over his food.

I've bought a box of tablets from my local Pet Superstore. They contain the specified Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Green Lipped Mussel and have enough in the packet to last 8 days at the prescribed dosage which falls in line with that recommended by our resident Veterinary Nurse - thanks

I've also checked on web sites such as H&B and they appear to have human supplements containing the same balance of ingredients for significantly cheaper prices so will be a regular visitor there going forward.

Thanks for all your input so far, Fred (see profile) was very happy to receive his first lot of tablets hidden inside a home made sausage roll

Hope he feels a lot better soon. The cheaper products tend to contain lesser quality ingredients but if you get him started on a higher quality product you should be able to get a good continued response on the cheaper ones afterwards, cheaper quality is better than no product

[Dan7357]

My 10 (near 11 year old) collie has 'Vitapet' R~A Joint Formula. (from a good pet store)

Just pour it over her food, she don't even notice (shhhhh)

I give it to her for a 3 weeks, then have 3-4 weeks off. The reason for this I don't want her to depend on it till we have too.