I noticed that Cosequin now comes in pellets. Does anyone know of any recent (and independent) studies on glucosamine, ASU, Chondroitin, or Cosequin? I bought it once but decided that it was too expensive a powder to end up on the ground. Also, my understanding was the positive data came from internal Nutramax studies.
There’s generally very little research on horses. However this kind of thing is researched extensively on people, and as far as I know there’s no strong evidence for nutraceuticals to help arthritis in humans. Unfortunately.
The Cosequin study did some from Nutramax, but IIRC it was actually a valud study.
Low molecular weight HA also has proof behind its value.
An eight hour car ride with nothing to do but read hasn’t helped convince me to spend the money.
Only personal experience here, but I took my 18 year old (with a traumatic past hock injury) off of Adequan after I started him on Cosequin ASU last year. He’s moving better than he ever has since his injury.
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The positive anecdotal accounts, along with the promising studies, make me think it’s worth for my bestie, but then I hesitate, thinking I should probably squirrel that money away for when/if he ever needs injections. Well, I guess it doesn’t hurt to try it once. I still five hours to go on this road trip, so I’ll probably change my mind a few more times before home.
I had found the Cosequin ASU for like 1/2 price last year, so figured it was worth a shot to try it. As well as Remy is doing on it, I’m fine paying full price now - tho I still shop for deals if I can find them.
We’re hoping to hold off injections until we just don’t have a choice anymore.
Not Cosequin, but I have had really positive results with SmartFlex Senior for my 20 year old gelding. He is a former goat roper and has arthritic hocks. In recent years he has developed a pronounced tightrope stance in the back. On SmartFlex Senior he is standing square and moving much more freely. A few months ago I ran out of the SmartFlex and was questioning whether it was the thing that was really making the difference. Within a couple of weeks the tightrope stance was back. I put him back on the SmartFlex and he returned to standing square.
This is, of course, a very non scientific study of one, but it’s good enough for me. I had used Pentosan in the past with no obvious positive results. I am not sure why this is working so well for my guy but it is working.
I will also say that my husband has arthritic knees and gets good relief from LubriSynHA, so sometimes oral supplements do make a difference. I also have a 12 year old Labrador that gets markedly more stiff and sore if taken off of her daily Dasuquin.
I don’t know if this helps or hurts your dilemma :lol: But ActiFlex 4000 also has a large anecdotal database, has a nice amount of HA (though I don’t know its molecular weight), and is inexpensive. Big D Web typically has a free quart when you buy a gallon. It’s a liquid, so I don’t know if that matters to you
To the OP: Since Cosequin and joint injections are close in price, why not just do the injections now or when deemed necessary by your vet? To me that would be a more productive spend of your money than doing a feed through supplement that you (and many others) aren’t convinced do what they claim.
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