Canine Joint Supplements

[drawstraws]

Anyone have any good recommendations for a canine joint supplement that works but won’t break the bank? I’ve got a 10 year old Australian Cattle Dog that seems to have gotten a bit stiffer in the past few months, especially in the hind end. He’s had a harder time jumping up onto my bed to go to sleep or jumping into the tailgate of my SUV and watching him lie down and get up I can tell is a bit more of an effort than it used to be.

I’ve done lots of research on equine joint supplements and would assume glucosamine would be the same go-to supplement for dogs but don’t know the appropriate amount he should get or what other supplements should go with it. His food is shipped by SmartPak so adding a pill from them wouldn’t be a problem or I can easily pick something up at my local Farm & Fleet or PetSmart. He’s between 50-60 pounds (stocky and very solid but not overweight).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[arabiansrock]

I use a joint med for my dogs made by HOrseTech (same people who make Glanzen 3). I can’t remember the name of it off the top of my head but it is on their website. It is a comprehensive supp, and reasonably priced. It is definitely helping our one dog who may have hip issues.

[Simbalism]

I use the joint supplement from Horsetech also.It is called Hylasport.

[SarahandSam]

I started my older dachshund on Wholistic Pet’s Canine Complete Joint Mobility as soon as we got her–she was 6 at the time (11 now) and we were told she had some hip/back issues. She was also 21 lbs at the time (14 now) and barely moved. Don’t know how much was getting the weight off her and how much was the joint supplement, but between the two factors, she was way more active after a month or two–we’ve even been doing very low, easy agility classes for a year now.

Last week I ran out of the joint supp and she was off it for a couple of days while I waited for a new order to come in–and she woke up one morning so lame that she couldn’t walk and we had to rush her in to the vet. Joint supp came in, and now she’s back to normal again. So though I’m generally a little skeptical of oral joint supplements, I am a believer in this one. (:

SmartPak carries it, in SmartPaks or in containers–since we just have two small dogs, I get the $35 container, which lasts several months for us. I was looking at switching to a more intense one recently as my old dog slows down, but using the SmartPak comparison chart, this one had higher amounts of everything I was looking for than the other supplements they had… so I’m sticking with it.

[cowboymom]

I worked for an ortho vet specialist last year and they recommended a simple mix of supplements you can buy at walmart, I get mine Nature’s Valley.

I’m going off of memory and will confirm the dose if you want but right now she gets:

600 mg calcium
2000 mg glucosamine
2000 mg fish oil

I throw them in with her dinner and she eats them up. She’s a 50 lb aussie/golden mix.

[Ride_On]

I use Cosequin and it works really well on my 12.5 yr old Aussie.

[fooler]

Last year the Vet said our 10+ year old English Springer had changes in her stifles. Plus we had noticed she was less active.

Since my mare had responded well to the Equine Conqer I tried Conquer K9 pills. Amazing the difference with and without the pills. Available at the our local tack store and reasonably priced.

[EquineLVR]

I use Platinum Canine.

I also have heard that injetions of Adequan work great too…

[wireweiners]

I had good luck with the Foster & Smith brand level 3 joint supplement with my old Catahoula.

[BoldChance]

Not sure if you can get it where you’re at, but my parents feed their older lab Zuke’s HipAction glucosamine treats. They were significantly less expensive than the pills the vet recommended (vets also suggested these treats) and have made a HUGE difference.

http://www.zukes.com/woof/hip-action.html

[Mali]

Cox Vet Labs makes a great canine joint product called Acti-Flex Canine. It’s a beef flavored liquid you add to their food. Within 3 days of starting it, my old lab was walking up & down our steps again without any issues! It’s also very reasonably priced.

[Rowdy_Corgi]

I use a product for my dogs with hip/joint issues from Hilton Herbs…its called Mobility. They have products for horses and dogs. Its great, it has several ingredients in it. They are great with shipping , deliveries arrive faster that the one I get from the US. Hilton Herbs is in the UK (i think).

Makes a big difference in mobility for my dogs. I use their horse products also.

[LoriO]

I use Hylasport Canine from Horsetech. Basically the same thing as the one for horses just in canine dosage. Works great on my 2 senior dogs. They get about a scoop with their food and they eat it right up.

http://www.pupsup.com/Canine-HylaSport.htm

I bet this is the one that Arabiansrock was trying to remember the name of

[MsM]

Anyone else’s dogs have stomach issues from the joint supplements?
I have tried two different bands (not mentioned here) and both of my dogs have , um, given them back! They dont do much good that way!

[Beckham03]

I have had good luck with Conquer, Cosequin, and for the past few years I have been using Fluid Action HA, the liquid, for dogs, cats, and horses. One container is about $28 and lasts my two 50 lb dogs about 5 months. I give 5 ml per day per dog. They are both around 10 yrs old and just had checkups and my vet is amazed how agile they both are. I have never heard the orthopedic surgeons at work recommend anything…maybe I should ask them sometime too to see if they have seen anything work well. I know we sell Cosequin and Adequan at the clinic.