Glucosamine for dogs, advice please.

[tulip*place]

Mr K the blue dog is 12.   Have noticed his back legs are showing signs of arthritis, and he  has slowed done a bit. I would like to start him on glucosamine but have looked on the net and chrondrotin & MSM were mentioned  also.  Can anyone suggest what I should buy and the cost.  TIA.

[bright.ton42]

I suggest getting cartrofen (sp?) injections via the vet.  They only give them every

3 months so it's affordable and did make a difference to my old dog with 

arthritis.  

also I believe glucosomine can be given to dogs but you would need to know 

the dosages.  Good luck.  

[monstersinthedungeon]

Cartrophen injections make a huge difference. They do a course of three first up, then one injection every three months (although our old GSD was on monthly injections for the last year of his life). They are not expensive.

Tango was also on Glucosamine (human grade) and fish oil capsules. The fish oil capsules are good in conjuction with the Glucosamine.

You can find some Glucosamine mixes that also contain condrotion & MSM I think, but don't know the cost of them.

[twinkles**stars]

Sashas Blend.....wondeful for aging dogs

[lyndal1838]

You can check the prices and buy on line from The Chemist Warehouse.  The Chondroitin makes the tablets quite expensive and is more likely to cause side effects than the straight Glucosamine.  Check with your Vet as to whether Glucosamine and Chondroitin is recommended over Glucosamine and ordinary Fish Oil tablets.

[monman12]

I researched the use of glucosamine a year or so ago (for myself) and noted these comments from an Australian Medical Association publication:

https://ama.com.au/ausmed/node/1452

AMA

"A meta-analysis of randomised trials involving more than 3,800 patients has found no clinically relevant effect of glucosamine or chondroitin (alone or in combination) on joint pain in cases of hip or knee osteoarthritis or any impact on narrowing of joint space."

"But, if patients really believed that they gained a benefit from using glucosamine or chondroitin, in light of the absence of any evidence that they were unsafe, there was no real reason actively to discourage them from taking the preparations as long as they can cover the cost"

British Medical Journal

"Conclusions Compared with placebo, glucosamine, chondroitin, and their combination do not reduce joint pain or have an impact on narrowing of joint space. Health authorities and health insurers should not cover the costs of these preparations, and new prescriptions to patients who have not received treatment should be discouraged."

I am extrapolating the above findings/conclusions to include animals, but realise that is not scientifically definitive until acceptable veterinary trials/information are presented.

I Will search.

[vampire-teddy]

i personally have bad side effects from glucosamine and can't take it.  it may be different with dogs but consulting a vet would be a good idea.