I have a young bitch aged 13 months. I have had her hips scored early because I feared there might be a problem based on her sire's sisters from an earlier mating. My bitch's results have just come back at 4/20 and I've been recommended by the vet to try her on Synoquin. Does anyone have experience of using Synoquin, and, more to the point, is anyone able to evaluate its impact on their dog over a period of time? Thanks for any help/suggestions.

It was suggested by my vet to use synoquin for my girl who has severe HD.( overall score 97)

I started on it but looked at the cost and decided that a good diet with oily fish included, fish oil tablets , green lipped mussel extract and moderate excercise including swimming was the way to manage the condition.

She is now 10 1/2 still going strong and very rarely needs any pain meds. My vet has commented on how strong here muscle tone is and how fit she is for her age never mind with her condition.

To me it is important to look at an overall view of diet , excercise to manage a condition like HD. Bog my rescue came with synoquin because of ED and HD and changed him over to the same regime ( he was on restricted lead walking) and he is now a fit active agile boy. My vet was amazed by the change in him after a six week check up and said Iudt be doing something right as he was a changed happier dog !

I'd say Synoquin is the worst rip off ever. I asked my former vet about it as he had recommended it, and he said buying any Glucosamine with Chondroitin at a literally a tenth of the price would do the exact same job -which it did for the dog in question (whose score was 96).

Thanks LJS and Goldmali, that's really interesting. My lot are on a 'home' diet, raw predominantly, with a lot of fish, veg, fruit, gluten free kibble in addition to the bone, offal and other meat they get. I'll increase her oily fish and as she adores swimming it won't be hard to persuade her to do more. The alternative I was looking at was Flexadin and Ester-C. If anything these are a bit pricier that Synoquin. What do you think about doing the initial loading phase and then tailing off to allow diet and exercise to take over, or is this not likely to achieve anything?

No I would go with what you do already.

JAY15

You may want to consider trying this.  I've lost my old girl now (Beardie age 14) but she did marvellous on these for several years.

http://www.simplysupplements.net/product/37/glucosamine-500mg-chondroitin-400mg/