Just got back from the vet and it has been suggested that she start on a growth supplement as she recieved a break to her tib and fib when she was a few weeks old.  Shes a boxer cross (from rescue not bred on purpose). 

Just reading the leaflet on the supplement (synoquin) and says its used for dogs prone to hip dysplasia and osteochondrosis I know a lot of you on here have dogs with these ailements does anyone use a supplement?

I have never used this so nothing to offer really other than to say I wonder if their web site will offer more information than the leaflet.

Synoquin is simply Glucosamine and Chondroitin which they charge an absolute fortune for. I compared labels and bought the exact same thing (only difference: no zinc added) from a health food website for humans and ended up paying *ten times* less, and my dog got the exact same benefits. :) My vet agreed there was nothing wrong in doing it that way.

I supplement my large breed and giant breed with Glucosamine and Chondroitin too. Again, I could see little difference between the products I buy and Synoquin except for a huge cost saving!! Check out this site, it's the cheapest I've found.

I use http://www.vitaminsdirect.co.uk as they have capsules and it's easy to sprinkle over the food. I buy the high strength and it's normally £9 for a tub of 120 capsules but they frequently have offers where you get 2 for a tenner and no postage added. :) My mum and my dog share the same capsules. :D

Ah I didn't realise it was the same, although the zinc may be an important catalyst.  I have tried taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin myself a couple of times but had to give up as it made me extremely queezy so you perhaps have to be alert to a similar effect on your dog if it doesn't agree with them :)

I have 2 elderly dogs on synoquin with good results.  My insurance pays for it tho....

Im paying £28 for 180 tablets which I dont mind paying at all.  Spender Im glad you have had good results from it.  I would rather pay the money and hopefully ward off any problems in the future.  Also cheers for the website Im going to see if they suggest it for puppies who have had breaks because the leaflet only says for larger breeds that are prone to hip dys etc.

I cant get her covered on the insurance as she broke the leg before she was insured.

Im lucky I dont have children so the dogs get all my money :-D

Edited to say: Just been on the website it will cost 31p a day for her to be on it, but it says its for LARGE BREEDS now Lilly is a (at a good guess) a cross Boxer and BC is this a large breed? I would say medium.

Edited again to say: Its for joints so why would my dog need it for a broken bone??? confussed.... Maybe the vet thinks Lilly is going to be the size of a mastiff (oh dear lol)

I can't see how it would help a dog with a healed break. I personally wouldn't give her anything if she's not in any pain or limping and if the break has healed properly. You may as well flush the money down the toilet or even better, buy your puppy £28 worth of doggie treats and toys. :D

I have used glucosamine several times on my dogs with good results, but always for joint problems. I always used the Health Rack ones for humans, but they now do doggie ones too.

Phoebe

This is what I thought...... either the vet thinks shes going to be a large breed.... or she is giving odd advice about a healed broken leg.  Shes a boxer collie cross (as best we can guess) would you agree thats a medium size breed maybe she thinks the boxer bit of her needs the supplement.  But she did say that because she has had a break she needs it and she called it a "growth hormone"........

I think your vet is talking rubbish to be honest - growth hormone? If your child broke a bone, would you trust a doctor that wanted to give him/her a growth hormone? I have a giant breed and the last thing you want to do is artificially promote growth in a puppy as that would be more likely to aggravate the healed bones and start problems. Not that synoquin promotes growth or contains any hormones anyway. I personally wouldn't trust a vet if they came out with that load of claptrap to me!

Your puppy is probably going to be medium, possibly large, when fully grown. As long as she's having a balanced diet and the break is healed, she shouldn't need anything else. She may get arthritis when she gets old, but it would seem prudent to begin treating her then rather than now.

I think the vet is just trying to flog you an expensive but useless in your dog's case potion. He/she's playing on you wanting to do the best for your puppy, is misleading you to screw money from you and that's unethical if you ask me.