Glucosamine for my poochie?

[the_poochies]

My poochie is a very active dog who enjoys running, jumping, swimming, etc. She just turned four and occasionally, I find her limping for a 2 or 3 days after a strenuous workout. Our vet gives me some rimadyl and after a day or two, she is back to normal for another 6 months.

My cousin recommended giving her glucosamine supplements to help her joints remain healthy and to ward off any hip dysplasia that may develop as she ages.

I personally think that most dietary supplements for humans are expensive quackery (as long as one eats a healthy diet) and based on what I've read, I doubt the efficacy of glucosamine for people and my poochie.

Does anyone have any different experiences with the stuff, either for a person or a dog? Thanks in advance.

[mikebw]

Had a powder that we mixed into the wet food for our 16 year old cat and it seemed to help for a while, never tried it in a human or canine.

[Racer X]

did wonders for my next door neighbor's chocolate lab.

Helps me quite a lot with my arthritic hip (physically worn out)

Glocosamine was originally for race horses' knees. It works best in conjunction with fish oil to cut down on inflammation. Most well stocked pet stores will have fish oil in large pump top bottles. A squirt or 3 on the dog or cat's dry kibble is like adding gravy for them. We used it for our cats' dry skin. We used this, purchased locally http://www.amazon.com/Alaskan-Bear-Treat...B000H57EA2

[Wags]

I swear by glucosamine. Broke my wrist playing basketball about 20 years ago. 5 years later I started getting traumatic arthritis at the injury site. It got so bad that it would wake me up at night. I began taking glucosamine and after about a month or so I was pain free. A couple times since then I stopped taking it for a month or two and the pain began to come back. After starting up again the pain went away.

I'm not saying its a miracle cure. Probably won't work for everyone, depends on what's causing the pain. I've know people who have given it to their dogs with good results. I've never heard of any harmful side effects. I've been taking it once a day for at least 15 years. Wouldn't hurt to try it but you might ask a vet or go online for better advice pertaining to dogs. In my experience it takes 4 to 6 weeks to kick in.

[cbelt3]

Mrs. cbelt3 and I have been using it for over a decade now. Together with a general vitamin supplement, and other specific things.

We did an experiment last year, and went off it for a month. Then returned to using it.

There was a marked difference in joint discomfort without the supplement.

Now.. that's just us, and YMMV, every person is different. But we've gotten recommendations for Glucosamine from six different doctors including the head of Orthopedic Surgery for our local Level I Trauma hospital.

The stuff helps. Use it.

[NewtonMP2100]

....if you have a POOCH showing......I would recommend diet and exercise......

[vicrock]

My vet suggested that fish oil is better.

[bik]

Gave glucosamine to our golden retreiver for years. Was hard to tell if it was helping, but we kept it up.

One thing that we could tell definitely helped was Adequan.
http://www.adequancanine.us/

[guod]

Dasuuquin (a brand of Glucosamine supplement)

We have been giving it to our Old English Sheepdog for about 4 or 5 years so far. (He is now 12) It has definitely helped him.

We recommending it to my mother in law for her Black Lab that is now at least 13, and they report that it has helped him as well.

[DRR]

Fish oil -

Many pet supply stores carry the pump as Racer X suggested - it is much more cost effective to buy the caplets at Costco and throw one in with daily food. Less mess too.