After reading some advice given on here I sent off for some glucosamine sulphate tablets which arrived this morning. They are 600mg tablets, has anyone any idea what dosage I should give? I was going to give 1 tablet a day mixed in with food to each of my dogs. I think this should be ok but could just do with a little reassurance. Both dogs are adult GSDs weighing 43kg and 38kg.
Thanks
Lisa

We have been giving our old yellow lab these tablets for a month or so. The ones we got were 400mg, we gave her two of these a day for the first week and now give her one a day. She weighs around 30 kg. We give them with her food and there have been no promblems at all with them.
Richard

Hi Lisa I think it was me told you, re the glucosamine , mine are 500 mgs so im sure you are fine. I should be taking 2 but find one is enough .sophie [collie] has one but ive been told to increase if necessary . if you are worried give half tablet twice daily.I hope you are as pleased with the results in time as I am mari

Thanks for that.

I have started him on them yesterday so will let you know how he gets on. I am also giving them to my bitch as she is sometimes a bit stiff on cold mornings so fingers crossed.

Lisa

Well I think I have been witness to a miracle! This morning my boy charged up the stairs two at a time and leapt onto the bed from a standstill. He had been plodding up the stairs one foot at a time and although he could still get on the bed it was a very clumsy attempt - front legs first then one back leg at a time and he often needed a helping hand. I cant believe the difference in him and after only 5 days!

Thanks for the recommendation I couldnt be more thrilled.

Lisa

I'm pleased for you too Lisa. Glucosamine is one of the few supplements that manufacturers say that if you don't feel the benefit within one month, then it's not for you. I know very few people who have felt no improvement. It certainly keeps me more mobile and comfortable!
Glucosamine is normally made naturally in the body but as we (and our dogs) get older, then our natural manufacture lessens. All you are doing is replacing a natural substance for him. And affordable too.
Good, isn't it!

Hi Val

Yes its fantastic stuff, my boy was having to rely on steroids to help him, yes they worked but I was very concerned about the side effects of using them long term and for a 40+ kg GSD they were proving quite expensive. Glucosamine seems to have had a marvellous effect on him, my bitch has also improved 100%, she was just a little stiff after her walks but is now bouncing like a kangaroo. I am about to start on them myself!

I recently started taking this for myself - when I saw my doctor she said that it often takes three months to really feel the effect

Christine

My old cat (in her early 20's) take extract of mussel instead of steroids as she is so old and it has done wonders for her. Not sure if dogs can take it though, but thought I would mention it as a matter of info! Gina

After reading about Glucosamine here I decided to buy some for my husband who was run down by bikes on the pavement just over a year ago. He broke four ribs, collar bone and bones in his foot. Everything has healed now except his foot, not being able to walk very far etc. He has seen so many doctors . Like the dog in this thread, after just a few days on Glucosamine Sulphate he is telling me that his foot is so much better! He can go up on his toes and stand on ladders (we're decorating) things he couldn't attempt before and he can now walk a fair distance without his foot acking! This is the man who usually tells me that these sort of cures are all in the mind!
I am now thinking of giving some to my twelve year old cat who can't jump anymore (three vets say they can't find anything wrong with him). Is there any reason why a cat shouldn't be given it? ..or should I try the Extract of Mussel as Gina suggests.
Liz

Hi liz glucosamine is to me a miracle I tell everyone about it, for us for dogs for cats , for all pets, my daughter gives it to the shetland pony . So feel free to give it to the cat . mari

Hi Lisa,

Is that just glucosamine, or glucosamine and chondroitin? I've been feeding the latter to my mother, husband and old dogs with great results. I'm a human doc, and very sceptical of 'alternative' therapies, but this stuff works. If its just glucosamine, can you, or the people who advised you please tell me if they think glucosamine alone is better?

Thanks, Sharon

Hi Sharon
I know that the question wasn't directed at me but thought I would just let you know that I have been feeding my husband Chondroitin/Glucosamine Complex (Joint Maintenance from Holland & Barrett). Luckily it was the first thing I saw on the shelf with Glucosamine and it works!
I have started my cat on Glucosamine Sulphate only. He has only been having it for a couple of days so it's too early to say if it's working.
Liz

Hi Liz, thanks for the reply. The question was directed at anyone, and its good to know that at least I'm not poisioning the humans :-).

I'm off out to get some of this magic stuff. Val suggested it for my mam with back problems and I have arthritis in my hip from an old injury so thought I would try it first and if it works I would get some for my mam. She is very sceptical about taking anything drug or homeopathic wise so guess I'll be the guinea pig ;-) I presume I get it from a Health Food Shop ? What exactly should I be asking for ?

Thanks.

Hi Sharon

My dogs are both on just glucosamine sulphate and it is a human form that I am giving them. The difference im my dog is truly remarkable. Am not sure of the added effects of chondroitin as I have read in a number of places that most animals find it difficult to absorb (not sure about humans though) and the addition of chondroitin seems to add a considerable amount to the price. The tablets I am using were ordered over the net and cost only £7.90 for 180 days supply. I have always been quite sceptical about using this sort of thing but the results speak for themselves. My order came in two tubs which has proved unfortunate as my mother has now pinched my second tub after seeing the effect they had on the dog!

Lisa

LOL Lisa :-) Good for your mother! I'm using the horrendously expensive Cosequin because it is supposed to be formulated for better absorption. Heaven knows if it is any more effective, but it is working so well with the oldies that I'm scared to change.

All the best, Sharon

sharon that is extortion its all the same if it is £7 or £60 .animal stuff is always dearer thats a known fact, and as long as you want to give your vet that money his hand will be out for it. if all of our dogs are doing fine on the glucosamine sulphate we are using then im sure yours will as well . try it for a month , and see . :) mari

Hi mari,

I know it's extortion, but where the dogs are concerned I'm a complete mug :o. But don't blame my vets who are wonderful. The ones reponsible for the extortionate price are the manufacturers and UK suppliers.

But after reading the comments here, and actually counting up how much I'm paying for Cosequin (I try not to think about things like that, and it sinks into the monthy vets bills), I've decided to change all the dogs except Storm to the same stuff that I get for my husband and mother tomorrow.

Sharon

Hi Claire,

The stuff I shovel into the humans is made by Nutravida and you can order it online at http://www.nutravida.co.uk/products/details.jsp?product=2777. It costs £6.49 for 60 tablets. But the *dogs* get Cosequin DS Chewable (roast beef and cheese flavored) from the vet, at £ 66.55 for 160 tablets :-)

I've just counted up, and I'm doling out 15 tablets per day, plus 4 Cosequin Chewable for Cats and Small Dogs at £ 35.95 for 90 tablets. So if anyone is using something cheaper with good results, please tell me, and my bank manager will be eternally grateful.

My ma loathes doctors, hates taking pills, is scathing about alternative therapies - and seems to think that I got my medical degree by correspondence course for all the notice she takes of my advice :-) So I more or less had to force feed her the tablets for 10 days until they started to work. Now you can't shut her up about how wonderful they are .... though she doesn't seem to remember who shoved them into her in the beginning. (Note: it is unwise to administer pills to mothers in the way that you give them to dogs. Dogs are usually well behaved. In my experience some mothers bite.)

Seriously, the Ma was so crippled that she couldn't walk 20 yards on bad days. The glucosamine and chondroitin hasn't cured her - is having an ankle replacement soon - but it has improved her mobilty enough to make life worth living in the mean time. As for the dogs, I have 5 oldies, 17 & 18 year old shelties, 10 & 13 year old deerhounds, and an 11 year old wolfhound, all with some degree of joint problems. Before I started using the Cosequin they were getting far more Rimadyl than I was happy about. Now all but one only need Rimadyl occassionally, and Storm sheltie who was suffering so much with arthritis in his shoulders that we were wondering if it would be kinder to put him down, has a new lease of life.

All the best, Sharon

For ClaireB & Sharon. Have a look at www.naturesbestonline.com. It's the same company as Lamberts who supply practitioners. Excellent quality, value and service. Your order will arrive the next day. And no I don't have shares but I do deal with Lamberts!

Thanks guys, I'll take a look at those websites and let you know how I get on. :-)

Hi Val

Naturesbestonline is where I got mine from and I was very pleased with the service, the price (£7.90 for 180 600mg tablets) and most of all the results!

Lisa and the rejuvanated GSDs

I get my glucosamine from www.hellenia.co.uk
Worth a look as they also have a dog section
but haven't tried any of those.
JAQ

This is a great forum. I have been looking into giving my 8 year old Lab bitch Glucosamine. She is fine at the moment, but thought it would be pro-active for the future. I was trying to find out if I could give her the 'human' form of Glucosamine, as most of my family take if and found a good supply from www.bs4health.com where you can get 365 tablets, a years supply (750mg) for £14. I have studied the prices of the canine supplements and although I want to give my dog the best, if I don't have to pay extortionate prices, I won't. I am now going to get online and order my years supply after reading all your comments on giving dogs the human tablets.

Lisa, I'm so pleased to hear about your rejuvenated GSDs:) My three year old GSD is also on Cosequin DS as he has hip dysplacia:( Can you tell me, are your dogs stiff or do they have arthritis? I have been thinking of changing Foggy to Glucosamine for a long time now as the Cosequin is becoming so expensive. I had to change my pet insurance soon after getting him (problems with the insurance company) but by this time his dysplacia was already a pre-existing condition so new insurers won't pay out for his Cosequin. I am under the impression that Cosequin helps maintain cartillage - is this what Glucosamine does? Any advice will be greatly received.

Hi June

Oscar has suffered with arthritis from quite an early age due to OCD problems as a young dog. He is still doing extremely well on glucosamine and has had no shoulder lameness for well over a year now so it certainly seems to have done the trick for him!

My bitch Katie was put on it as she can sometimes be a little stiff on a morning and she has also improved considerably. I would recommend it to anyone as it has really helped my two and is so reasonably priced.

Lisa
xx

Thanks for the info Lisa. Foggy is nearing the end of his supply of Cosequin so I'm going to invest in some Glucosamine. If I notice the difference in him, I'll get myself some:D

I asked my dad this (who is a pharmacist back in Canada) and he says that the glucosamine becomes chrondoitin in our bodies, so it really isn't necessary to get the combination - he said it's a way for the companies to make more money:) He just recommends the glucosamine on its own and does highly recommend it. Again, he was one of those who didn't buy into a lot of the homeopathic remedies, but this is one he does know works.

WEndy

Hi, I too give my dogs Glucosamine but I give a glucosamine complex liquid called Synflex and it really is a miracle juice. I swear by it for my dogs and people. I have been recommending it to family and friends and those that have used it have all reported amazing results and at £24 for a months supply it is relatively cheap as well.