glucosamine & chrondrotin sulphate

[rioone]

Hi I have a 8 1/2 year old GSPointer . On recent visit to vets I was advised to put her on Glucosamine & Chrondrotin . She has been on them for 6 weeks now but I haven't noticed any improvement in her general movements. Is it advisable to keep her on these tablets now that I have started. Also could cod liver oil be of benefit to her? She is not good at taking these tablets but loves the c of o capsules!

[rioone]

Hi again. Just to report that after about 8 weeks my pointer seems to be more agile. She jumps into the boot of my car even after a very long hike. At the end of the day she manages to leap up onto her bed, whereas before I use to lift her back legs up.
She's also regained her fav. position of sitting on  my husband's lap!
I will now def. keep giving her the tablets...may even try some myself...lol (not that I want to sit on my hubbys lap!!!!!)
Regards Rioone.

[ginger899]

That sounds like more or less the right dosage for her weight. I think it's best to keep on with giving her the Glucosamine/Chondrotin. It certainly won't do her any harm. It is basically a natural product, extracted from shellfish, so it isn't harmful.
It could be that it'll take a while to really kick in. Dogs are like people. Some respond quicker to medication like this, some slower and more gradually. But I would definitely keep her on them. I intend to keep my dog on her supplement all of her life.

[rioone]

Hi Ginger899,
My girl is 36kgs (80lbs) The vet perscribed Dorwest G & C . These are Gl 400mg Ch200mg. My dog had 4 weeks at 3x tablets per day, she is now on 1 1/2 tablet a day. Today she caught & killed a rabbit so maybe the tabs are working ...lol
I think I will carry on giving her them because it poss could prevent any arthritis in later life.. Thankyou so much for your input.
Liz

[ginger899]

I'm surprised Glucosamine/Chondrotin didn't seem to work for her. Are you using the right dosage? I give my dog (who weighs 28lbs) 500mg Glucosamine, and 200mg Chondrotin every day without fail.
(So you could calculate the correct dosage for your dog's weight, from that.)
In her case she had an intermittent limp in her right leg, which was a throwback from a broken leg about 6 years ago. As soon as I started her on the supplement, after about 5 days (!) I noticed she didn't limp anymore. And in 1 year, she hasn't done so since!
I have heard though, that Glucosamine and Chondroitin can take quite a time to work. But I would have thought after 6 weeks, you should have noticed some difference.

I THINK cod liver oil is OK for dogs....maybe you could ask your vet about that? If she likes it, and it's OK for her to have, then I cannot see the harm. It could well help with arthritis.
You could also try feeding her a food which is low in cereal content.