The vet suggested today that I start my 14 month old lab on Glucosamine for her mild hip dysplasia.  He recommended tablets that they sell called
Cosequin DS which come from marine/fish derrivative.  However when he told me the price I almost passed out there and then.  Surely this can't be right 95.00 for a bottle of tablets?  I also thought that it is better to give Glucosamine in a liquid form as with most other liquids it absorbs better into the body.

Can anybody advise me as to whether they use Cosequin for their dogs and whether they are happy with it?

Also alternatively what would you recommend and is there a liquid Glucosamine?

I understand that the Glucosamine derrived from marine and fish oils is best is this true?

Thank you for any help.

You can buy glucosamine in liquid form from Holland and Barrett.

I give my dogs the tablet form once  a day and it seems to help as they haven't limped since being on them.

I think Holland and Barrett do a liquid that one that contains MSM aswell which is apparently supposed to work wonders. Very good for dogs with arthritis.

I use Synflex for one of mine.  This is a liquid form of glucosamine.  The last bottle I bought was about
£20.50 including p & p

Sue

Hi Sue
I just wondered whether you saw a difference with the Synflex you use on your dogs?  I just read about it on their website and it sounds very interesting.  Also what made you choose the liquid form over tablets?
best wishes

Ebony is doing well on the Synflex.  I had tried the tablets but did not see much improvement. I read about Synflex and decided to give it a go.  Ebony had a major operation on her back when she was 3 years old (she is now 10 1/2) and I think the Synflex and a magnetic collar help her.  She hasn't got the best of movements but she can at least trot round our field even if she can no longer go for walks.

Sue

I am so glad Ebony is doing well on it.  I am sorry she had to have an op.
I am going to check out the Synflex further and thank you so much for the name of it.
Van

Hi Goat,

Haven't used either of the remedies you're referring to but Holland & Barrett are advertising on TV at present they are discounting Glucosimine by about 70% (sale runs for another week I think)  - so it may be worth stocking up :)

Regards, Teri

Aren't the Holland and Barrett ones for humans though?

Most herbal and homeopathic treatments used on dogs were originally designed for humans :)  Just check the dosage - i.e. the recommended mg from your vet against those in the tabs from health stores.

As I said I haven't had need to use this particular product but others I've used have just needed the dosage "tweaked".  Perhaps someone else who's replied having used them can give you more definitive advice.

Regards, Teri :)   

Yes. It has more or less saved the life of my Golden with severe HD. I refused to pay the £54 the vet wanted for Synoquin, and instead pay either £9 for 120 capsules OR when there is a sale, £10 for 240! I buy online from     http://www.vitaminsdirect.co.uk and it is Glucosamine with Chondroitin Hi strength. My mum takes the same capsules and she feels better too! :D

Marianne PS Edited to say, I open the capsules and sprinkle them over his food! 2 a day.

hi I am going to check out that link

I give one of my oldies GAGS which is a mobility supplement.. contains glucosamine chondroitin and MSM.  See www.hellenia.co.uk

There's a lot of controversy regarding the quality of Glucosamine and Chondroitin and it hard to know which brand is better.  Some argue that patent brands are more potent than generic.

I've seen some of the independent (well, they're supposed to be independent but ...) scientific studies from comparing Cosequin DS and Synoqiun with an NSAID.  The increase in mobility was the same although it took longer for an effect with Cosequin/Synoqiun.  I haven't heard that any of the generic brands have undergone trials.

I have a 9 yr old GSD with HD.  I have her on Synoquin and she's doing very well on it.  I used to buy it from the vet but it's really expensive. 

You can get Cosequin and Synoquin on www.bestpetpharmacy.co.uk for a lot, lot cheaper than the vet.  www.furrypharm.co.uk also stock it at similar prices.

PS. Some generic brands use the theory that liquid Glucosamine is better absorbed into the body.  However, some manufacturers compared the use of a liquid to the use of an enteric coated tablet, hence their theory.  Enteric coated tablet were found not to work very well at all and therefore not used. 

Glucosamine is better absorbed in the HC form rather than the more common sulphate.  You can use human preparations with no problems, usually combined with chondroitin, marine source is better than bovine but some people are allergic to this and there is even a vegetarian form of this produced by Healthspan.

I would also supplement with fish body oil capsules and Vitamin C, all of these will work synergistically and maximimise your dog's health.

HTH

"Flexicose" is a liquid Glucosamine joint support product containing:

Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine HCL
Chondroitin Sulfate
MSM
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Manganese Ascorbate
Aloe Vera
Boswellia Serrata (Boswellin)
Niacinamide
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Bromelaine
Yucca

See their website, www.flexicose.com, for more info.

Van

Is she not insured ?

Duds is on Synoquin which we get paid by our insurance :)

Lucy
xx

Good point Lucy.  :-) I believe most insurance companies will cover Synoquin and Cosequin DS.

I give one of my dogs Glucosamine daily from here

Have you tried the magnetic collars too?  I bought one rather sceptically for my GSD bitch as she had arthritis and hip issues.  I also put one on my other GSD when she developed CDRM and I have to say that in conjunction with the Glucosamine I received remarkable results!  They certainly seemed to have a lot more comfort than previously displayed.
Linda

The cheapest I  found is from www.Healthy direct.co.uk. They do a selection of supplements especially for dogs including Glucosamine for the grand old price of £6.99 (90 tablets) This also includes free delivery. This is the cheapest you will find!!  My boxer sufers from Elbow OCD and this suplement works a treat.It is also free from any additives and is made for animal consumption so you dont have to worry about giving human supplements where the dosage isnt always suitable for dogs!!

Try this http://www.naturesbest.co.uk/product.asp?pricing=INC&pf_id=546&cid=TRU7ZP754WFQKVCALI4N5KE2ZJRWF5Y7

Natures Best are professional quality supplements, high potency and acceptable fillers! ;)

Cosequin, Synovi, and Missing Link are very good joint health products.  http://www.vetdepot.com has the best prices I have found. They also have information on joint health I saw and other joint health products for pets and horses.

Hi be careful with Glucosamine as it has peculiar side effects.I tried to take them for my leg joints but I started having various problems,not realising that Diabetics should not take Glucosamine and people or animals with some kidney disorders,also older dogs.When I was on them my arthritis pains eased but I could not understand why my blood sugar levels were rocketing,I stopped the Gl and everything calmed down.
Going slightly off topic,our Vet told me off one day for not checking with them to see if our "human"pills can be safely given to dogs.I had given one of ours ibuprofen for a leg joint problem,anyway he told me that just one dose of ibuprofen even in the paediatric version could irreperably damage a dogs liver and give them internal bleeding.They do give nsaids to dogs but it is in liquid form specially made for them.

Have been giving our Lab (now +12) glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate, 900 mg, twice a day for going on four years and swear by it.  We buy whatever is on sale in capsule form (capsules are the powder in a little gel package) and take the same ones ourselves. 

Have OK'd this with our Vet. who says the dosage is correct for our dog's weight and it is of the type recommended in at least one veterinary study he has read.  Our Vet says the use of this supplement is still fairly new and there is not consensus on which is the best type to take so he says go ahead with the human variety.  You pay a heck of a premium on the veterinary variety and mostly just to get a bit of beef flavouring. 

P.S.  we do look for whichever pharmaceutical company makes the stuff WITHOUT shark cartilege in it as we have learned that shark populations are becoming threatened by this kind of use and chicken cartilege is readily available as a by product of that industry.  I know, I know, chickens bred for processing live horrible lives, caged up all their short lives, so I guess we are hypocrites but chickens are not endangered as a species.