Re-evaluating Glucosamine Chondroitin

[dh8]

No studies show harmful side effects as far as I know. Older studies showed effectiveness. Newer studies show no appreciable effectiveness except for one (GAIT Study) that shows improvement in pain/symptom relief with moderate disease state.

What are your thoughts? Personal experience for you or your dogs? I'm leaning towards stopping when our current supply runs out and evaluating. We take it as well as give it to our dogs.

Appreciate your input!

 

[JanS]

Interesting! I haven't been giving it to the dogs, but Hubby takes it everyday. His doc says he can't really endorse it, but his wife is on it and it certainly won't do any harm.

 

[iceman]

I used to give regular glucosamine tablets (for pain relief) to my previous male after the age of nine when he developed arthritis in his rear legs..
From what I could see, it did help up to a point and give him some relief...

but unfortunately it doesn't do miracles.

 

[MeadowCat]

I noticed a very big difference for Simon when we put him on a supplement. However, we used Glyco-Flex III. My vet said that the human formulas do not work as well in dogs and the dog formulas have specific formulations that make them more effective. I think the addition of MSM really makes a difference, too.

For dogs that are having serious issues I would look into Adequan injections (which you must get from your vet).

 

[titan1]

Hmmm... The whole reason why I developed my own joint supplement for dogs. I have done a LOT of research and even have had the South western Research Institute look at papers on the herb used in my product and glucosamine.

 

[dh8]

My vet said that the human formulas do not work as well in dogs and the dog formulas have specific formulations that make them more effective.

My vet said the opposite. They are the same but human varieties are much more reliable and less expensive. It would make sense because glucosamine is glucosamine.


This is a short synopsis of the GAIT study:

Johns Hopkins: Arthritis on glucosamine, chondroitin: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts

Still nothing shown to be harmful but no benefit shown in either phase of a major 2 year NIH study. Like many other supplements, I have to wonder how much glucosamine can actually get to the joints once the liver has metabolized it and the remains travel through the blood stream. We spend billions on nutraceuticals annually in the US alone. The new stuff is heavily promoted with little/no research. Manufacturers ride the wave until there is some reliable research sowing lack of efficacy and/or negative long term side effects. Then the next wave of super nutraceuticals is advertised.

Would really like to see a more specific glucosamine sulfate study.

 

[MeadowCat]

Very interesting! I think the conclusion is that the science is still not there. I figure it doesn't hurt, so why not?

 

[Harriett9396]

I have been researching a lot around the idea of glucosamine for dogs and also spoke to my veterinarian who said it is definitely important to use one solely for dogs and not humans since the formula is different, as mentioned in a comment above, and that it benefits the dog much more. I have yet to read too much stating that it is at all harmful so I am thinking about starting to use it within the diet to aid one of our older dogs who is suffering from acute arthritis.


Some articles I just read which may be useful:

• http://dogcare.dailypuppy.com/quickly-glucosamine-work-dogs-6073.html

• http://probioticsfordogshq.com/glucosamine-for-dogs/

 

[Archer]

We use Synovi G3 daily. It's glu/chond/MSM plus some other supplements and the stuff is awesome. I've been using it since before I ever had Dobies in my life and my husky mix had much success with it.

Human or animal version it is important you dose it properly. If you use the human version verify with your vet as to how much to give.

I also second the use of Adequain injections is chronic cases. We use it on Faustus for his non surgical torn ACL and it helps him greatly