Dog arthritis

Question
Hello Patti-
I have a 13 year old black lab/dalmatian. She has been taking Hip and Joint Supplements with Glucosamine and Vitamin C by Nutri-Vet for years now and it has done wonders for her, but as of late I'm noticing she's having more trouble with her hind legs and getting up.  I was looking at my Drs Foster & Smith catalog and was reading about their Joint Care Premium 3 formula and was wondering if you've had any experience with it?  I think it may be time to change her supplement to something either stronger or with more minerals and vitamins to aid her worsening condition. I will not put her on prescription meds of any kind and thankfully her vet is aware of that and stands behind my choice to use natural supplements, there's just so many out there I'm not sure what to pick.  The Foster & Smith Joint Care is quite expensive, if you're aware of another brand that may have similar ingredients and may cost a bit less I'm open for suggestions.  If you speak highly of it then I am willing to spend whatever I can to make my girl feel better and get around easier.  She has so much life left in her and is a happy wonderful girl, I want to do what I can to safely help her.  Thank you for any help or advice you can give, I truly appreciate it.

Answer

Hi there,

Supplements and vitamins can be very helpful (for some dogs) in slowing joint degeneration, but unfortunately, it does not stop degeneration, nor do they prevent pain.

For a large 13 year old dog with joint pain, I do not understand your stand against prescription medication of ANY kind. While some medications commonly used to restore mobility and prevent pain in arthritic ailments, such as Rimadyl, can have some significant side effects (and not every dog experiences adverse reactions!) for a 13 year old dog, your focus is not on the longterm use of these medications, as it would be with a dog that's half your dog's age. Your dog's quality of life should be a major consideration at this point of her life.

Diet supplements and nutriceutical treatments do have a place, but by themselves the do not offer the relief your dog deserves.

As far as what to look for in a glucosamine supplement, the two most important factors when researching a good product are the quality and form of the glucosamine. A high quality natural dog arthritis medication will have pharmaceutical quality glucosamine in a liquid form. Pills and capsules may cost less, but in reality you get far less absorption for your money. The liquid form allows for a more immediate and complete absorption of the active ingredients into the places where the dog needs them the most.

You may find it cheaper to buy a human grade glucosamine supplement. Glucosamine hydrochloride(HCl) and glucosamine sulfate both work equally well in dogs.

As far as a glucosamine supplement made for dogs, Cosequin a brand that's manufactured following standards similar to those practiced by the human pharmaceutical industry. Other well respected veterinary brands are Arthroflex, Gluco-Tabs, Glyco-Flex.

There is a prescription version of injectable glucosamine called Adequan that your vet would have to administer. Some dogs show immediate dramatic results after the first injection, other dogs may need 2-3 injections before seeing positive results. These injections need to be given at set the intervals. You can read more about Adequan here: http://www.adequancanine.us/

Lastly, many swear by acupuncture, and indeed it works for some dogs that have both acute and chronic pain. In studies somewhere between 50% and 90% of pet owners who use acupuncture on their pets still need additional pain relief but less potent medications can sometimes be used or lower doses of stronger medications. You can locate a veterinary acupuncturist here:

http://www.aava.org/php/aava_blog/aava-directory/

I hope I've been a help.
Best of luck,

Patti