September 26, 2010

When the dog bites/When the bee stings/When I'm feeling sad/I simply remember my favorite things

We all have favorite things for ourselves and of course, our dogs. If you are so inclined, please take a look at the new Favorite Things page - a running list of items: tried & true favorites, recommended, wish list. Expect it to evolve. We'll kick it off with....

Joint Support Supplements

There are many good reasons why my border collies benefit from joint support supplements. They are very active dogs - indoors and outdoors. Though they do not compete in agility, flyball, disc or herd sheep, they move just like athletes (run, jump, start/stop, turn quickly, etc.). After strenuous exercise, they are sore and limp around for a few hours or days. Josey, more than Lucas, will also show stiffness in her limbs. Osteoarthritis? No. Well, maybe not yet.

This is where I believe supplements are extremely helpful (in addition to rest periods). Table below lists joint support supplements I've given to my dogs and a couple of new ones to try. We've had excellent results with all but prefer powder over tablets (simply add to food every day for maintenance & load up (double) as necessary). Rotating between different brands & formulations makes sense, too.

I look for three key ingredients: Glucosamine HCL or glucosamine complex, Chondroitin Sulfate & Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM). Powder forms are made with flaxseed, bee pollen, spirulina, kelp, garlic and yeast providing an array of whole foods w/ naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Tablet forms contain fillers (dextrose, cellulose, silicone dioxide) and flavorings. More expensive or advanced supplements contain these ingredients: Perna canaliculus (green-lipped mussel), Dimethylglycine (DMG), Hyaluronic Acid and manganese. Dosage amount will vary per product & weight of the dog. Dosage amount shown is per day for a 40 lb. dog.
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Product                       Form          Dosage          Glucosamine     Chondroitin     MSM   
/Manufacturer                               Amount           HCL                   Sulfate                       

NUPRO Silver           Powder      1 oz.                500 mg              Unknown       300 mg
/Nutri-Pet Research                     (≈ 3 tbsp.)

Longevity                  Powder       8 g.                 398 mg              398 mg           398 mg
/Springtime Inc.                           (≈ < 2 tsp.)

Joint Health               Tablet         2 tablets          500 mg              350 mg           600 mg
/Springtime Inc.

HylaSport                   Powder      5 g.                 750 mg              500 mg           500 mg
/PupSup Products                        (≈ > 1 tsp.)

Missing Link Plus      Powder       2 tsp.              334 mg              Unknown        Unknown
/Designing Health

GlycoFlex II               Tablet          1 tablet          750 mg              Unknown        500 mg
/Vetri-Science

Run Free                   Powder        1 scoop         800 mg              800 mg           800 mg
/The Wholistic Pet                         (≈ 1 tbsp.)

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Notes
Vitamin C may be considered "controversial" in joint supplements so here is more info:
* NUPRO Silver: Ester C 300 mg;  Glucosamine is a proprietary "complex"
* Longevity: Vitamin C 198.95 mg, Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex 198.95 mg 
* Joint Health: Ascorbic Acid 250 mg, Citrus Bioflavonoid Complex 200 mg 
* HylaSport Canine: Vitamin C 75 mg; Hyaluronic Acid 10 mg 
* Missing Link Plus: No Vitamin C  
* GlycoFlex II: No Vitamin C; Perna canaliculus 600 mg, DMG 100 mg, manganese 10 mg
* Run Free: Calcium Ascorbate 150 mg

These supplements come in every price point. A favorite BC rescue recommends Trader Joe's Glucosamine Chondrotin for Dogs - $9.99 for 100 chewable tablets (Glucosamine HCL 250 mg/tablet, Chondroitin Sulfate 200 mg/tablet, no MSM). Liquid joint supplements are also popular but I have not tried any yet. If you are a stickler about quality of the ingredients, testing and auditing of products, purchase from manufacturers who are members of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC).

Disclaimer
I am not a veterinarian. I do not have any formal training in any medical field. This information is not meant to replace a vet's advice or prescribed medications. My only intent is to share experiences with supplements based on my research and my dogs' conditions.

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