"Joint support" for younger dogs??

[Josh's mom]

I've been wondering about these products. Do you think there's any benefit to starting glucosamine on a young dog with no evidence of HD?

[N Smith]

I've always given my dogs, no matter the age, Nupro, salmon oil, and vitamin E.

I definitely noticed a HUGE difference in my dogs 5 and up, with their movements, agility and endurance. I haven't noticed it as much with the younger dogs, but I view it more as a preventative.

[Emoore]

Yes. There was a study done. . . I'll try to dig it up, I believe it was done on sled dogs. . . where dogs who were fed joint support their entire lives had significantly better mobility and less pain than dogs who started on joint support in their older years. I didn't star Rocky on joint support until he was older, but Kopper started on it at 6 months old.

[carmspack]

preventive is always better than corrective --- not just glucosamine , ingredients which are for lean muscle , cartilage and ligaments - global anti oxidant, anti inflammatory
Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[Josie/Zeus]

I've been giving Koda Glucosamine/Chondroitin everyday since he got here in late Aug.- only because he is a big dog and I don't want to take any chances. He also gets Krill Oil, salmon oil and vit e (Krill and salmon on alternate days). He gets a number of vit and minerals daily.

[jocoyn]

My breeder was doing it 1500mg glucosamine + MSM and I questioned my vet about so much for a young puppy and she said "absolutely" Evidence of repair damage during growth.

[df1960]

How do you give the supplements to your dogs? Just mixed in with their kibble or do you mix in canned food or other food....
If my guys can see the supplements they spit them out on the floor, so i'm looking for a way to give them their supplements without them knowing.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by jocoyn

My breeder was doing it 1500mg glucosamine + MSM and I questioned my vet about so much for a young puppy and she said "absolutely" Evidence of repair damage during growth.

Great info....thank you. I think I will start Sherm on it since he is going to be a bigger boy.

Originally Posted by df1960

How do you give the supplements to your dogs? Just mixed in with their kibble or do you mix in canned food or other food....
If my guys can see the supplements they spit them out on the floor, so i'm looking for a way to give them their supplements without them knowing.

With Sherman, he just gets fish oil now...but I just put it on top of his kibble, he always picks them out first and pops them in his mouth, he loves them. Kaos however I have to put all of his in his kibble and disguise it with wet food. However he is quite a bit older and takes more meds.

[N Smith]

Originally Posted by df1960

How do you give the supplements to your dogs? Just mixed in with their kibble or do you mix in canned food or other food....
If my guys can see the supplements they spit them out on the floor, so i'm looking for a way to give them their supplements without them knowing.

I use Nupro and HIGHLY recommend it!

It has Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM and Ester C - so everything - and comes in a dessicated liver powder. You add water to make a stinky(to me) but delicious(to the dogs) gravy. It tells you on the side of the jug how much/weight. I also add a double dose of salmon oil (grizzley salmon oil) and Solid Gold SeaMeal. Then I add whatever we are feeding that night(kibble or raw), then any fresh foods we are going to include as well.

The Nupro is about $90/5lbs, and lasts my 5(4 large, 1 small) dogs about 3 months. The grizzley salmon oil lasts about 2 months and the Sea Meal goes for $130 for 5lbs and last about 6 months.

[jocoyn]

My dogs eat whatever I throw in their kibble. I did have one dog who used to spit out everything (Toby)