Glucosemine for dogs?

[alberta eye guy]

I hope a knowledgeable member can help me here. Some back ground information first,

I have a 9 year old, 75 lb male unfixed yellow lab. He was a kennel cast off because he didn't fit their training regimen. I was lucky enough to have numerous field trial trainers to help train me and my dog ,Scout. This year he did not do any hunting and only limited hunting last year ( very low upland bird populations from cold and wet springs ) When we were training we were out four times a week at least and Scout turned into a machine for hunting a true pleasure to hunt over till last year. I noticed that his back end was tender after exercising. This year it has gotten worse but have been managing the discomfort with slow release aspirin.
What is a good dosage of glucosemine to start giving Scout for his joints?
Is there an additive that I need to watch out for or include?
I thank you in advance for your time to answer these questions.

Geoff

[Ned]

My guess is thats its arthritis. Rimadyl will cure/help this for a few years. My FIL's dog had the same thing happen at about that age. He started him on rimadyl(sp) during hunting season only and he continued to hunt until he finally had to be put down @ age 16... Hunted right up to the end.

RIP TJ!

[T Mac]

Certainly worth a try.
I use it on myself and our dogs (currently 6 and 12yrs old).
It helps me. It seems to help our dogs.
Neither of these dogs exhibit signs of joint pain, even after hard hunting.
We have used it on prior dogs as well... when they got up in years.

[Tim_Kelly]

My old spaniel started getting really stiff after a days hunting, from when he was about 8. I gave him a daily dose of glucosemine, condroitin and fish oil in a combine gell tablet from the normal health food shop and it transformed him. Worked up until 11 and still came out with us until a few weeks before he died at 14. Totally impressed by the tablets, they really transformed his recovery from a day out.

[alberta eye guy]

Guys thank you for the information. I will start Scout on Glucosimine and Shark cartilage and look forward to the results.

Geoff

[rodmandvm43]

Don't be discouraged if you don't see results right away. Often times glucosamine takes a month or more to notice a difference. If you don't see improvement, x-rays would probably reveal the problem.

Rod

[High Ball]

You will want to keep hime off of any concrete type floor, if he does not have an arthopedic cushion or bed to sleep on at night, then this will be an asset to his feeling better during sleep periods.

We give an older dog we have in our kennel, "Buffered Aspirin" for pain this will not upset or cause a problem with the lining in his stomach like plan aspirin will. He also has a thick foam he sleeps on in his dog house. This is on top of "cedar shavings" keeps the dogs free of any fleas and also helps in hot weather with flies too. We have 22 dogs, only have 2 in the house with the wife and I.

[Noah Cantell]

Independabntly wealthy I suppose. . . and hopw big is your crap bin? :)

You can adopt me if you like. I'm 68 next month - so I won't mooch offin ya for too long.

[sault eyes]

One thing you need to make sure your dog is getting is omega 3 fatty acids which comes from fish oil. This will help with inflamation in the joints. Generally speaking if you do not see any results after 6 weeks with glucosamine and chondroitin then you are unlikely to see results at all. I also second a good dog bed.

[sault eyes]

Since you are from Alberta, look up you closest Pet Valu and look into Performatrin Grain free. It has all alot of this already in the food. It is a Canadian food too!

[alberta eye guy]

just checked this post and want to follow up with results. I started Scout on 2000 mg of glocosamine tablets and 400 mg of Shark Cartridge for two weeks than backed down the Glucosamine to 1000 mg. The difference isa amazing I wish I had started it sooner. I have only given him one asprin in two weeks and that was after a twenty minute run in wild pheasant cover. I just went to Wal-mart to buy the meds and followed the dosing directions off the internet for dogs. It was 500 mg of glucosimine per fifty lbs. of dog and double the dosage to start the first two weeks with. All in all I'm very happy with the results.

My two labs are hunting dogs but also our indoor dogs also so they get some of the most comfortable sleeping areas in the house, anywhere short of couches and beds!

Thank you

Geoff