Does anyone give their dogs (or cats) glucosamine for arthritis? If so has it helped at all?

Our 9 year old girl is sounding a bit clicky and I noticed that one of her joints looks bigger than the other.

We buy from vetvits, seems to help Mollie. The vet has a supplement we used to get but price went through the roof so we get tablets (very palatable she happily eats them) and they seem to work just as well.

Thanks molliepops, will have a look at vetvits. Everything at our vets seems to be really expensive. She's not riddled with it so I thought a more natural cure would do the trick.

I tried my dog on this when she first became arthritic, but didn't notice much effect. I guess all dogs are different!

What really helped her was hydrotherapy - I took her weekly for a few months, and then monthly, and she really responded well. It helped prevent muscle loss by allowing her to exercise without pain, which in turn improved her mobility.

She's too old to cope with hydrotherapy now (at 17.5 years) but still enjoys the shower jet being played on her hips and spine - not as a bath, just as a kind of massage - and of course I can do this at home whenever she looks uncomfortable. If your dog likes water it might be worth trying - I do keep her warm afterwards so she doesn't get chilled.

I think it can depend on the dog and also how soon you begin to use the supplement, Mollie started really early as she has slight HD as a youngster, so we had her on it from 4 years old, she is 12 now and hips are very little worse than when we started on it the vet is amazed as it was predicted she would be much worse by now.

I've been giving Sheena glucosamine (also from VetVits) and it really does seem to be helping a lot. She's 8, and earlier this year suddenly got all limpy after a walk; it's come and go over since, and the vet's diagnosed arthritis, but it's definitely been "coming" less and "going" more since she's been on the pills.

Thanks all, will get an order placed from vetvits.

Is there any damage that can be done giving them just normal glucosamine tablets?

My housemate's staffy occasionally has a limp if he's been playing with the puppy and hurt his hind leg (it's a once in a blue moon thing and related to an old injury he had), and when it starts she just gives him a glucosamine tablet in with his food until he stops limping. It's usually 2 or 3 days max, but he does seem to show improvement after a few hours.

Most dog meds are mixed with other stuff to help them and may not be suitable for humans, human tablets are designed for adult bodies at doses we can tolerate, I would be unhappy giving a human adult dose of anything to a small dog.

I gave my old lad glucosamine tablets when he had arthritis. I also bought him a magnetic collar. Not sure of the reality of it but they did seem to help.

Yes. We give ours a powder that we sprinkle on their food in the morning. We buy it from Zipvit which has a pet section.

I don't know if it helps ... and im too scared to find out. They started on it about 3yrs ago now when both of them suffered a little with their joints.

Our vet gave us Seraquin and I now buy off Amazon. It's made a world of difference.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seraquin-Tab...aquin+for+dogs

Thank you for this link. When my boxer had arthritis the vets medication was £70 for 30 tablets and this was about 4 years ago so dread to think how much they are now This is so cheap and the same name

My dog get these twice a day, they work wonders

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Synoquin-Joi...in+large+breed

We had some of these left over from our previous boy who we lost so gave her a couple of tablets while we decide what to order. She improved after one dose!! Will probably stick with these now.

I've sent you a PM.