What, if any, supplements  can be given to young healthy dogs, which may help prevent joint problems as they age.  I've been wondering if there is any point in giving cod liver oil, or glucosmine etc., or whether I'm better off just saving my money.

Any advice either way?

Thanks

I certianly wouldn't use cod liver oil as you are over-loading on Vit D by doing so. I don't think there is any evidence (or ever suspicion) that glucosamine/chondroitin have any prophylactic effect. I've never given my young, healthy dogs anything to prevent joint problems. Some have had arthritis in extreme old age but it hasn't been a problem for most of them.

Well I DO give Cod Liver Oil and Glucosamine and chondroitin to my Giant Breeds!! They also have Vit C, Zinc and Star Flower Oil and Garlic paste. Glucosamine HAS been shown, in Human trials, to have a substantial effect on cartlidge renewal...I should know as an ex-Nurse and a 46 year old with severe arthritis in my spine and other body arts!(2 major Ops on spine, now held together with metal rods) and I have had 2 Hip replacements in the last 4 months(one in July and the other on 6th Dec) so I do my research! I don't see how you can overdose on Vit D???

All the best, Dawn

>I don't see how you can overdose on Vit D???

You can, apparently, vit A & D can cause a syndrome known as hypervitaminosis if supplemented to excess in dogs. 

Glucosamine and chondroitin has in some trials been compared with the use of an NSAID for arthritis and proved to be just as effective. 

According to my GP, glucosamine has only been proven in double-blind studies to be effective in cases of arthritis of the knee. It may be different in dogs, though. :)

According to my Orthopaedic surgeon(note how I try to pull rank???? LOL) Glucosamine and Chondroitin DO have a positive effect and clinical trials support this...

Yes an overdose of COMBINED A and D...but not Vit D alone...lots of things combined can have ill effects...horses for courses...just stating what I give my Giants...feeding and supplementing that way following a lot of research in the USA and the Newfoundland Club of America, for many, many years...just giving my very humble opinion and what works for me! :D

Yes an overdose of COMBINED A and D...but not Vit D alone

This is simply not true I'm afraid.

Yep, I've heard of those too, these were doggie trials apparently....... Its ages ago since I read about it, I must have another look........

There was one double blind trial of Chondroitin/glucosamine in dogs that I know of because my orthopaedic specilist vet was part of the trial. But it was done on dogs with damaged joints and the results didn't show any effect of the treatment. Nevertheless the results from human trials are suggestive and I will continue to use it on dogs with OA problems.

You are right JG. Nevetherless, the fact that it does have an effect demonstrated by a well designed double blind study in OA knee is suggestive. It's enough to make me use it in dogs with OA. I just don't see any point in giving it to normal dogs.

I don't see how you can overdose on Vit D???

Dawn you should look up the effects of both hypervitaminosis D and the results of acute intoxication. They really are rather serious!

Some human trials have indeed shown an effect on cartiledge regeneration with chondroitin/glucosamine and I do use coseqin in dogs with joint problems. But I'm not aware of any study showing that it has a prophylactic effect on normal joints.

Excess Vit D can be extremely harmful causing calcium deposits to form in the internal organs... heart, lungs etc.  Healthy dogs make their own Vit D anyhow........

I did read somewhere that Synoquin and Cosequin have both been trialed and patented.  I do know that Synoquin makes a growth formula for puppies........ But I don't know how effective it is????

Eukanuba have glucosamine chondroitin added into their puppy & junior large food, wonder why?

So does Nutro, both puppy & adult. Skinners as well.......

>Eukanuba have glucosamine chondroitin added into their puppy & junior large food, wonder why?

No doubt to support healthy cartilage growth. ;-) :-D

Glu & Chon is more effective when the joints still have living cartilage cells :-)

Ah right, guess thats why some manu`s supplement their foods with it then Spender ;) :D

I would not give CLO to dogs, too much Vitamin A can be extremely toxic to the liver.  It is unecessary.  Far better is to supplement with Fish Body Oils which are high in DHA and EPA, these have been proven to be anti inflammatory, ease joints as well as improve brain function in dogs and humans.  It is suggested that EPA actually prevents harmful changes happening in the first place.

You cannot OD on FBO like you can on CLO (bear in mind that if you feed most commercial diets they will have added Vitamin A and if you feed raw, liver once a week provides plenty of Vitamin A).

As the use of FBO depletes the system of Vitamin E I would suggest that you combine the addition of FBO with high quality natural (as opposed to synthetic) Vitamin E, they have a syngergistic effect. 

When you purchase FBO look for the brands that state the amount of DHA and EPA, Healthspan is an excellent brand available on the net.  To determine natural v synthetic Vitamin E look for a label that says d-alpha tocopherol as opposed to dl-alpha tocopherol.  Natural Vit E is more available to the body and requires no conversion.  Hence why it is better to avoid flax seed oil as it requires conversion to have access to ALA, some dogs and humans cannot successfully convert FLO also it has no anti inflammatory effect.

I would also use EPO.

Look at circa 1000mg of FBO/EPO and 400 i u of Vitamin E if large, 200 iu if small.

Vitamin C also has an important part to play in collagen production and maintenance which is part and parcel of joint health.  I give 100mg Vit C per day with bio flavenoids.

HTH