Dog Joint Support

[SuckerForHorses]

I’m a skeptic of oral joint supplements for animals, given how few are backed by double-blind studies in the horse world, and I’m guessing also the dog world. My go-to in the past for both horse and dog has been injectable Adequan.

We adopted a 6 year old Belgian Malinois in September '23 from a rescue in Maine. They saved her from a high euth shelter in southern California. She is quite literally the best dog and other than really worn down teeth (which is a topic for another day - I think she was kenneled excessively and wore them down either chewing on hard objects or the kennel itself) she is in fantastic condition and is an easy keeper. No food sensitivities, healthy, etc. Picture for tax.

Anywho - in an effort to get a jump on age, we started her on Adequan … or attempted to anyways. I’ve always done my own shots, several dogs prior were on Adequan, none of them even noticed the poke (doing it in the buttcheek - not sure of the anatomically correct muscle name but as directed by the vet). She is VERY dramatic about them So, rather than traumatize her with twice a week shots for 4 weeks every six months, we’d rather just give up on the Adequan shots and try an oral joint supplement on the grounds of “can’t hurt, might help” outlook.

What are the oral joint supplements that are most likely to do what they say they do in the doggie world? Are there any? I’m out of the loop. Help!

[Knubbsy]

VOSM did some sort of internal study (I forget the design, but it’s going to inherently have a limited population size since I believe they kept it to their clients) and have recommended Dausaquin Advanced. They have an ongoing study on it for elbow osteoarthritis too, not sure when that study will be complete. The website is totally different than the last time I looked in 2021 so not sure where their page on on-going and published studies went.

[widge]

My vets have recommended dasuquin for off track greyhounds who probably have a little arthritis. My former grey had a trick hock that would stick or give out at variable intervals; the dasuquin lessened those intervals and his condition did not degenerate further. My current grey was pretty stiff off the track but much more lightly raced and younger, so I give him cosequin just for maintenance. He does seem looser now (had him about a year) and has no trouble contorting and bounding around to play.

[mommy_peanut]

Chiming in with another recommendation for Dasuquin.
First started using it some years ago when Cosequin wasn’t quite cutting it anymore for one of our dogs.
I’ve had nothing but good results with it.

[tabula_rashah]

My big guy is also on Dasuquin paired with Wellactin. I’ve been very happy with it

[Bonnie2]

My vet says to give dogs adequan sub-q. Tent the skin on the back of the neck and pop the needle in. Much easier on everyone!

[thatmoody]

@Knubbsy

VOSM did some sort of internal study (I forget the design, but it’s going to inherently have a limited population size since I believe they kept it to their clients) and have recommended Dausaquin Advanced. They have an ongoing study on it for elbow osteoarthritis too, not sure when that study will be complete. The website is totally different than the last time I looked in 2021 so not sure where their page on on-going and published studies went.

Our dog with elbow arthritis is on both this and the Adequan. He’s 14 and still walks over a mile a day on his walks and runs around like a nutter with the new puppy.

[thatmoody]

@Bonnie2

My vet says to give dogs adequan sub-q. Tent the skin on the back of the neck and pop the needle in. Much easier on everyone!

Yes, we give it sub-q. Makes it so much easier.

[stargzng386]

Dausaquin with msm has worked for my two. I actually took them off when I ran out about a year ago and noticed an actual difference which shocked me. It’s def worth trying.

[bingbingbing]

I just started my agility dog on Yumove. He is young, three years old, but is a big guy and I’d like to get a jump on the wear and tear of the sport.

[DMK]

Another yes to SQ adequan, I’ve been giving my horse adequan (dosage adjusted) sq to various older cats and dogs for 20+ years and it’s always had the best results and always shown significant improvement over cosequin. One cat was always on cosequin or dausequin since it helps with cystitis, but when I added adequan, BIG difference. Right now the 9 yr old corgi is on cosequin. He has no discernable discomfort, but he’s an intense, hard knocking, high energy 110% kind of dog, so I figure his lifestyle is going to catch up with him eventually and maybe this will stave off the adequan a few extra months when it does. I tried dausequin, but it really Did. Not. Agree. with his digestive system. I tried to palm it off on my sister, but she tested a small dose on her Aussie, same problem. So cosequin it is.

[MunchingonHay]

@SuckerForHorses

My go-to in the past for both horse and dog has been injectable Adequan

This is what I do for my senior dog (started at age 12). Its been almost a year (now 13) of monthly pelvic injections and I think this fall/winter, we are going to have to go to every 3 weeks. Prior to the monthly injections. I was giving him Dausquin Avanced.

I see a huge difference in his movment and his want to walk around the property/stairs right after a shot verses when he is due for his shot.

I go to my vet to so the Adaquan. They inject it deep into his hip area along the spine. I asked if I could do it SQ but she said this deeper way of injecting it is better for his hips. ???

[DMK]

@MunchingonHay

They inject it deep into his hip area along the spine. I asked if I could do it SQ but she said this deeper way of injecting it is better for his hips. ???

I’m not a vet, nor do I play one on TV, but unless she’s injecting it IA, that doesn’t make sense. Adequan not done IA should have the same pathway to the joint regardless of what part of the body the non IA shot happens, which is why IM in the equine neck is pretty awesome for hocks and stifles, all a long way away from the injection site! Also, FWIW, SQ adequan in the scruff was pretty awesome for my older Maine Coon’s hips

[jherold]

Yep, try the adequan sq. Also, after the loading doses, I was told to just give it once a month for maintenance. I think cosaquin has helped along with fish oil.

[MunchingonHay]

Its a super long needle. Nearly 3 inches.

They usually take him into the back to give it, she did it in front of me once and I can usually handle stuff like that, but this made me a little uncomfortable. She said its more effictive than SQ this way.

I will ask if adding a SQ along with the monthly one would be beneficial to him.

OP, sorry for the slight derail.

[SuckerForHorses]

I am willing to give this a try. I have only ever done Sub-q for an insulin injection for a cat, so when my vet friend is home in July I’m going to have her show me for the pup before I try it myself.

[SuckerForHorses]

I don’t think there is any studies that support the use as a monthly dose, but I know that many many people do follow that regimen both with horses and dogs. We are opting to follow the labelled dosing instructions for now. As she gets older we might administer more often to see if it makes any difference.

[Pico_Banana]

I used to use Cosequin, then switched to Dasuquin. When that seemed to no longer do enough, we switched to Flexadin. That seems to be working well but – one of my dogs now refuses to eat it (after eating it for 1+ years). I bought some Lubrisyn to try with him as my vet didn’t think Adequan worked that great for dogs, but I might have to try it after reading this thread.

[DMK]

My reasoning for doing the monthly dose is that it does a really good job keeping the cat or dog comfortable, doing the things they want to do (climb stairs and get on my bed). I can see why a monthly dose for a pet would be more reasonable than the same dosage protocol for my horse, primarily because when I give adequan to my horse, it’s because he’s competing at a high level in a very tough sport. I imagine if his job was to toodle around the pasture and come into the stall when he wishes, like my early retiree, my (and his!) adequan needs might be different there as well lol. Equally, I can see where an older, really arthritic larger dog may benefit from more than once a month injections, especially if that dog had a working career earlier and it’s life.

I wonder if the vet is doing the canine equivalent of an SI injection in the horse, the one that gets it in the sheath, not the ultrasound guided IA version.

[EquestrianRunner]

What is the difference between Cosequin and Dasequin?

We have had my girl on Cosequin Max Strength for 7 years now (when she first did her ACL at age 5, the surgeon said start her on this forever). We have kept her on the loading dose (they just pee out whatever their body doesn’t need) and it makes a huge difference. She runs and plays like a pup, I love it. I notice a little slowing down (still VERY active for any dog, especially 13 year old), just from age, but not from joint pain.