here comes another of my argumentative posts

My minpin seems to do better with MSM than with gluc/chond.

I know my CHD lab did better on it, but if it just worked b/c it was a pain reliever or b/c it did something more, I can't say.  I know I feel it if I don't take my chon/glucos suppliment.  A friend of mine mentioned it was good to rotate so I got some Cetyl M for my older dogs (8&9 year old basenjis, both are active agility dogs).  I haven't noticed any really dramatic changes, but it's only been a week or so.

I've always used Gluc/Chon or shark cartlige,which is a natural source of both, as a preventative rather than a cure.I havnt had a dog yet develop arthritis,which to me is proof that it does work.

I use glucosamine and MSM. We've never used chondriotin. I have no idea why. It was just a feeling I had.... I thought we'd do fine, without it, and we have.

Buck is 11 1/2 (golden retriever) and he has arthritis in his hips and spine.  Makes him a little slow getting up and down, but once up he is always in "trot mode".  I had been giving him 2 MSM/Gluco (500 mg. of each ingredient) in the morning and 1 at night.  My vet said  the other day that it was samf to go ahead and give him 2 at night as well, so we just started that.  However, I did notice that he did start moving better after being on them for a couple of months when I started him on them about 2 years ago.
 
KayCee has been on the Gluco/MSM since she was 16 months old and had her first luxating patella surgery.  After having her other knee done 14 months later, I also added SynoviG3.  This is more a delaying action for arthritis as we know she will get it soon enought--she will be 7 next month.
 
I havee rheumatoid arthritis and I take the same ones as the dogs, and hubby has a bad shoulder and back and he also takes them.  We think we feel some better since we started taking them.
 
On another all breed board one posted she had "cured" her dog's  luxating patella with Gluco/Chondr, and another said she cured her dog's luxating petalla AND torn ACL with Ester C vitamins. In my opinion, those dogs never had those conditions, or they were not cured.  I know my vet does try rest and meds for ACL UNLESS it is totally blown.  If there is no improvment within a certain time, surgery is called for.

I was given to understand that the levels present in dog food are minimal and may or may not do any good and since there are no definite studies on its efficacy, the AAFCO cannot reccomend an amount.
 
I never think to take it even though I've got a weird spot in back and a torn intermedial cartilege in my left knee, a knuckle that I broke once and never took care of.
 
Shadow is part lab but shows no outward signs of Hip Dysplasia and he is now 3 years old. I don't know enough to say one way or the other.
 

 There is this on the second page;
 
The study found that in a subgroup, consisting of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain, 79 percent of those who took the supplements together improved compared with 54 percent of those who took a placebo.
 
 
Some experts dismissed the findings in the subgroup while others thought they were real. I've read that glucosamine sulfate was more effective than glucosamine hydrochloride, which was the type used in the study. This study is certainly very interesting but dissapointing since the supplements are safe and there have been serious side effects from many OTC and prescription pain killers for arthritis.

I know of a lot of horses who are dead lame without their glucosamine supplement, completely sound with it. Some folks have recently been telling me that hyaluronic acid works even better.

ORIGINAL: jessies_mom

There is this on the second page;

The study found that in a subgroup, consisting of patients with moderate-to-severe knee pain, 79 percent of those who took the supplements together improved compared with 54 percent of those who took a placebo.


Some experts dismissed the findings in the subgroup while others thought they were real. I've read that glucosamine sulfate was more effective than glucosamine hydrochloride, which was the type used in the study. This study is certainly very interesting but dissapointing since the supplements are safe and there have been serious side effects from many OTC and prescription pain killers for arthritis.

Was this a double-blind study?

I know of a lot of horses who are dead lame without their glucosamine supplement, completely sound with it. Some folks have recently been telling me that hyaluronic acid works even better.

I know that my horse has some arthritis and the only supplement that works amazingly for him is high in MSM (also has glucosamine and chondrotin).  Other supplements w/ just gluco. & chon. didn't work too well.

I should have added that my basenjis are on joint suppliments for preventitive measures.  I'm on it b/c I have some joint ache/pain.

I had a lab/cocker X that started developing arthritis when he was about 12. He slowed down to where it seemed he could hardly put one foot in front of the other.  Since I was taking glucosamine w/chondroitin for arthritic knees, I started giving him some and I noticed a real difference within about 2 months.  He was actually walking faster and farther at 14 than he was at 12. He was still setting a pretty good pace when he got sick (liver & kidney failure) at we lost him at 15-1/2. The last time I was at Costco looking for my usual glucosamine w/chondroitin I couldn't find it so I grabbed some "Move Free" by Schiff.  It has hyaluronic acid in it and I could notice a big difference in a couple of weeks.  Since Max is a big dog, I'm thinking of maybe starting him on some just as a prevention.

Joyce

Was this a double-blind study?

 
I reread the entire article and can't find anywhere that says whether it is or not but I would assume so since that is the best way to do it.

My dog had FHO surgery at the age of 1.  Her other hip is bad but not bad enough for surgery, it also developed arthritis.  At night her leg would be stiff.  Someone suggested Glucosamine and Chondroiton.  She has been on Osteo Bi Flex for about 7 years now and she is no longer stiff.  She does great on it. 
This year I also put her on MSM.  I stongly believe in Glucomsamine Chondroitin as I have seen the results.

My 16 year old cat takes a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement.  It works very well for her.  I haven't tried using either ingredient separately.