Dog Community

Glucosamine supplement question.

Posted : 8/11/2008 1:01:32 PM

We took Buster and Lady (both 14) to the vet today for their yearly checkup. I expected it to be expensive, but not almost $400 expensive!!! Buster got his blood work done, they both had fecal samples checked, and the normal $40 fee per dog. But she wants the dogs on a glucosamine supplement which is all well and good except that the bottle costs $87!!!! I just don't think I can do that every month. There are 120 capsules but Buster gets 2 a day and Lady gets one a day.

Now for my question. Can I get these pills anywhere else for cheaper?? They are Cosequin DS and I think they are 905 mg. Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

Oh, yeah, the vet says they are both doing great, which made me oh so happy! They do both have a condition with their eyes where their pupils don't dilate so they don't have depth perception...which helps us understand her problems with the stairs.

cakana

Posted : 8/11/2008 1:09:46 PM

georgie4682

Now for my question. Can I get these pills anywhere else for cheaper?? They are Cosequin DS and I think they are 905 mg. Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

My best friend had back surgery almost 2 yrs ago but still has some residual pain and her surgeon recommended the Cosequin DS for her. I believe it's the only one that has been FDA approved but yeouch, I was shocked at the price myself. I'm pretty sure you could use a less expensive formula. I use Move Free for my older girl (and myself) and it's not cheap either but we get it at Costco. If I were you, I'd print out the ingredients in the Cosequin and then start comparing it to other brands and see what comes closest.

calliecritturs

Posted : 8/11/2008 3:41:12 PM

There are MUCH cheaper solutions --

First, if you want - email me and I will send you my arthritis information. The first thing I would do is start them on Knox Nutra Joint ($9 a can, lasts a 20-30 pound dog about a month or a bit longer). It's in the Jello aisle of the grocery store. If you email me (don't PM me -- It's an attachment), the article explains the difference but g/c are only "hydrators" and just plump up existing cartilage. Nutra Joint actually helps the body *replace* that cartilage and re-grow it. Takes a while but it truly helps.

You can give human g/c and you'll have to look around. Some of them are mostly sugar, but some of them are ok. Pet stuff can be really pricey and not necessarily higher quality.

But there are a lot of different things you can do -- many which bring a large measure of relief pretty inexpensively.

georgie4682

Posted : 8/11/2008 7:36:17 PM

Thanks sooo much! I thought I had to stick with the brand. I looked it up online and it was about $45, which is better but not great. So I'll have to look for those $9 bottles.

DogPark

Posted : 8/21/2008 4:23:11 PM

I don't remember exactly how much I pay but I buy the large bottles of the human version at Costco. My vet told me that it would be fine as long as I got the right dosage and it isn't mixed with anything but condrotin (spelling?)

BCMixs

Posted : 8/21/2008 10:05:37 PM

I use the liquid human supplement from Costco. I like the dosage it provides for the price. Some might have a problem with the sweetener it contains ( Sucralose ) but I'm comfortable with it and the dogs haven't had any issues with it so far. I've been using it for several months.

DogPark

Posted : 10/2/2008 11:46:01 AM

My vet told me to get the human version from Costco as well. I can't remember how much I pay but the bottles are huge and the price tag never seems to freak me out as much as anything that comes from the vet.