A friend of mine at our club who is definitely NOT computer literate (we tease him for only being able to cook microwave sausages! lol) has asked me to get him some liquid glucosamine for his shepherd, who is really starting to suffer with his joints, poor lad - he's a darling.

Does anyone have any recommendations or experience of any suppliers or any idea on what I can expect it to cost?

Thanks

Firstly, microwave sausages are really good lol. Secondly, dont know about liquid Glucosamine but I give my old lady glucosamine and clondroitin tablets from either Asda or Tesco. They cost around £4.00 for a months supply.

its cortaflex liquid in a 236ml that you need if you google it ,it will come up

I use Synlfex (for people & pets), but it looks as if the place I get it from have replaced it with a UK manufactured version called Flexwize (same ingredients as Synflex + a few more).

I used after it being recomended to me by other dog owners who have all had great results. I'm not the only one that has been able to stop giving my dog Metacam, after such great results with it :)

ETA, just to add that Buster was on Metacam for ED, we never had the ED opporated on, but he no longer needs Metacam, he only has Synflex :)

Hi, Have a look at the Zipvit site. www.ZipVit.co.uk. Good luck

On this topic, my 8+ year old GSD has very bad hips and is on Carprodyl for the pain for life, but I am scared to try any joint supplements as she also has Inflammatory Bowel disease and is also on permanent Metronidazole, and I have to be very careful on food as many things set her off. I know from past experience that evening primrose made her very ill ( caused spleen to bleed ) so stay away from most oily type medicines. Keeping her IBD in check is like walking a tightrope and I have to watch like a hawk everything she eats. Do you think glucosamine would be bad for her or can you suggest anything else that might be gentle on her.

Thanks all, will have a look and order him some.

> Do you think glucosamine would be bad for her or can you suggest anything else that might be gentle on her.

Before I put Buster on Synflex, I found the list of ingredients on-line, printed them off and got the vet to check them to make sure they were OK, he assured me they were all fine and would not cause any problems with the Metacam he was on, so I suggest you find a Glucosamine suppliment that you are interested in and get your vet to check the ingredients over :)

Glucosamine suppliments also come in tablet form, so again worth checking with your vet if it would be best going with a tablet rather than a suspension/liquid.

Tell him to have a look at green-lipped mussel capsules. The Denes make have glucosamine in them as well as the green lipped mussel and they are very good.

Mastifflover: can you give the Synflex/Flexwize alongside Metacam when you are phasing it out?

Has anyone tried Synflex/Flexwize themselves? My fingers and knees are giving me gyp at the moment.

> can you give the Synflex/Flexwize alongside Metacam when you are phasing it out?
>

Yes, but be aware there are a couple of versions of Synflex, only the 'original' version of Synflex is OK for pets, this original version is fine when on Metacam. Flexwize, I've not used yet, but will be getting that instead of Synflex as I know the company are quick with delivery and it is just basically the UK made version of Synflex.

> Has anyone tried Synflex/Flexwize themselves?

Not tried it myself (no joint problems yet), but I am always quick to recomend it to people after seeing how much it's helped Buster - but they don't listen :(  I have tasted it though and it tastes a bit rank!

Buster enjoys the flavour and will lick it off a spoon, but I have heard other people need to mix it into food for the dog to eat it.

Thanks for that, nothing can taste as bad as apple cider vinegar YUK.  If my old girl refused anything I would be worried!

Ive got a BC that has had OCD and an op and has been on Glucosamine from 8 months old. We buy it from Petmeds online a bit pricey but we use the capsules that you pull apart and sprinkle on each meal, he stopped eating the tablets but clears his plate on the sprinkle ones. No tummy problems either and he is very very active.

I use Asda own Glucosamine and the Fish Oil too on my 12 year old girl who has 3 legs :)

I have found the liquid Glucosamine Complex from Holland & Barrett very effective for both my dogs and myself. And it's not that expensive either; a bottle costing £11 (and sometimes there are offers) lasts a good month for a lurcher and a Pyrenean mountain dog.

Other supplements to consider are green lipped mussel extract, devil's claw and salmon oil. A McTimoney chiropractor might also be an option.

Vera

My old arthritic cat has flexadin.

There has been a report published which my vet told me about recently. The report said that Glucosamine tablets sold from most outlets contain an artifical version of glucosamine called glucosamine sulphate. To stablise the glucosamine sulphate the tablets had high doses of salt added, (in some cases the salt level was well over the daily amount recommended for an adult human being)! The best form of Glucosamine is the glucosamine HCI as it comes from a natural soucre of glucosamine.

The glucosamine tablets tested were a mixture of veterinary and human tablets sold from a variety of sources.

So once again it seems wise to read the labels.

> To stablise the glucosamine sulphate the tablets had high doses of salt added

D-Glucosmine is a natural product, however it needs stabalising, it is stabalised either with potasium or sodium (salt!) to make D-glucosamine sulphate or with hyrocholic acid, which makes D-Glucosmanie hydrochloride/HCL. Apparently some manufacturers of glucosame sulphate (even gluc. sulphate that is made with potasium) are 'filling' with table salt
Glucosamnie HCL is made from shelfish or veg sources.
Glucosamnie sulphate is made either from shelfish sources or is artificial.

Glucosamine HCL is also more effecxtive than Glucosamie sulphate, I think it's something like 85% of the Gluc.HCL is 'effective' compared to about 65% of Gluc. Sulphate, which means to get the same effect of 1500mg og Glucosame HCL you need a LOT bigger dose of Glucoasmie Sulphate (my vet told me this was the reason they supply only Glucosamine HCL and NOT sulphate).

It would be good to see that vet report in full as it could make many people, who are giving a good quality, safe version of Glucosamine Sulphate, panick. But, that said, it think it wise to stick to supliments that are labeled as safe for pets. I have come accross a few glucosamine supplimets that seem fine for pets on the face of it (allthough they are intended for humans), but when investigating the ingredients have found there to be worrying contra-indications for dogs, especially ones on NSAIDs - just the sort of dogs that may be given the suppliments in the first place.

I toook the ingredients list to my vet first to get the all-clear, it only takes a moment and he was happy to help, worth the trip for peace of mind.

That's really interesting.

I think I'm going to go to Crufts on Thursday so I'll have a look there to see if anyone's got any offers on.  It seems that the liquid is pretty expensive online (must compare the size with the H & B one).

Thanks for all your replies, I'm sure Barney (LC GSD) will appreciate all the effort that we've gone to :-D