Do any of you guys give your dogs glucosamine pills/chews for joint/hip support? I am curious to what most of you guys use. There are so many options out there. I have a 4 year old yellow lab, female, who seems a bit stiff at times and am looking for some good supplements for her. I feed her Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food. Thanks for any info!

Yes, after 2 cruciate surgeries, and 1 miniscus surgery mine gets glucosamine every day and a shot of chondroprotec weekly.
It all helps as he is very active.

Robby

Robby,,, you might want to consider Adequeon,(sp?) therapy also. It was highly recommended to me by my dogs surgeon.

Angie

I don't give the supplements as my dog food already includes it. My understanding is the amount in the food is sufficient for maintenance purposes (for a dog that hasn't suffered joint injuries).

To the op,,, Yes I supplement all my personal dogs regardless of their age. Many of my clients send supplement along for us to give their dogs.

Angie

Angie, the chondro is the same as adequan, only cheaper.

Most dog food has some amounts of glucosamine, but most people use supplements because of the active lifestyle. The Vets have always told me that it can't hurt.

There have been studies on this subject-some you can search on RTF

Robby

Thanks for the info Bobby. I did a quick search and this is what I found. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&C=299&A=2157&S=0

I'll dig around about Chondro some more.

Angie

Any specific "brand" you guys/gals are using of the glucosamine supplements?

Go to sams and get there brand

I feed a supplement called Fido vite flexx. http://www.fido-vite.com/products.html

It's cheaper then Missing Link and does not have to be refrigerated.

Angie

I've been using Sam's Club's Glucosamine HCL+MSM (human type) on my labrador with BAD hips since she was two years old. She will be twelve this spring and goes pretty well for an old dog.

Dosage is two pills (1500 mg. each of glucosamine and MSM)daily either thrown down her throat, or put in her kibble.

I use Vedco Flex 2500 Soft Chews...has worked well with my old lab.

We use:

http://www.amazon.com/Synovial-Flex-Soft-Chews-240-COUNT/dp/B000H44SUC/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Most foods do contain Glucosamine now, but none of the over the counter foods contain it to a level that is therapeutic. The only foods that have a therapeutic level of Glucosamine are the prescription foods like J/D by Hills or Mobility support by Royal Canin. (I am sure Eukanuba and Purina have their own prescription forms too).

Adequan is basically an injectable glucosamine. More testing and standards go into the injectable form which is why some choose to go with it rather than the orals which have an iffy track record in some medical communities.