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Glucosamine and Chondroitin treats for stiff joints?

post #1 of 12
7/29/11 at 3:31pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure if this should be here or in the Nutrition forum, but here it is.

We've noticed that Dororthy seems to walk like she's stiff when she gets up from a nap or even just lying in the same spot for a while. So yesterday I bought Zuke's Hip Action treats with glucosamine and chondroitin. The bag says 1 treat per day for cats up to 11 lbs, and Dot's about 11 lbs so I gave her 1 yesterday and 1 today. Do you think it will help at all? Has anyone here tried them? Thanks for any info or opinions!!
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post #2 of 12
7/29/11 at 6:43pm
Not an exact comparison - but I have a Lab (70# @ 7 years) who has arthritis. Zukes did help her a bit, but I ended up getting Zoom treats from my vet - higher dose gluco/chond.
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post #3 of 12
7/29/11 at 9:07pm
Thread Starter 
Interesting, well I'll probably mention the treats and the stiffness to the vet next time I have to take Dot in for bloodwork for the hyperthyroid, which is in 2 months or so I think. Or if I think of it I'll mention it when Genever goes for her rabies shot in a few weeks.
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post #4 of 12
7/29/11 at 9:48pm
Many people expect results quicker, with Coco is took 4 - 6 weeks before I saw any difference. And I know when I was talking to the vet clinic they said a lot of people don't notice any difference until they take their pet off gluco/chond supplements.
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post #5 of 12
8/1/11 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
Jeez... Dorothy decided today she doesn't like those treats anymore. Genever ate it instead. So, what should I do? Keep trying with Dot in hopes she may change her mind and like them again? Let Genever have one every few days or so?
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post #6 of 12
8/1/11 at 5:47pm
We used to give Callie Cosequin. We'd mix it in her wet food.
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post #7 of 12
8/2/11 at 1:17pm
We give Sven Cosequin too. Used to give him Liquid Max, but it didn't work as well as Cosequin. BTW, I certainly don't think it would hurt to let Genever eat them, if they are simply Condroitin/Glucosimine, but you could always call your Vet and ask them, couldn't you.
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post #8 of 12
8/2/11 at 2:28pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I'll talk to the vet about it when Genever goes in for her rabies shot and check-up in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'll keep trying with Dorothy...
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post #9 of 12
8/3/11 at 7:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkMavis View Post
Yeah, I'll talk to the vet about it when Genever goes in for her rabies shot and check-up in a few weeks. In the meantime, I'll keep trying with Dorothy...
Hmmm... I know the dosages for dogs but have never had the hip and joint issue with any of my cats yet <knock on wood>. I know the dosages of G&C needed for dogs but your vet will be able to give you more info.

Someone mentioned Cosequin which would be my choice as well. I'd hide them in a feline Greenies Pill Pocket. You can find info about them here http://www.greenies.com/en_US/Produc...llPockets.aspx or maybe you could grind them up and put it in her food. Or hide it in another treat she might like.

Good lick with this issue and try to do an update after your vet visit if you have time. I, for one, would be interested in what the vet has to say.
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post #10 of 12
8/8/11 at 11:43am
Thread Starter 
Thanks Mike. Well, Genever loves Pill Pockets (she gets her prednisolone in them), but Dorothy won't touch them. So for her methimazole tablets I smoosh them in a moist Wisker Lickins treat. She gobbles it up, no problem. If I end up giving her anything else, I will try the Wisker Lickins for that too.

So the reason I'm posting today is that Dot will now eat those treats again. It take a while, but I think it's the texture that gets her. She seems to have trouble chewing them up enough. They're soft, but hard. I know that makes no sense, but they are! So with patience and holding my hand under her mouth, I can get her to eat them. I break it in half and she eats them, spits them back out in my hand, tries again, spits them out, and eventually she gets them all. I will still talk to the vet about it though. Even though she was running around the house like a mad woman last night, so she's not always stiff, but she looks stiff when she gets up from a nap, and waddles a bit at first.
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post #11 of 12
8/12/11 at 4:03pm
Glad she's back on the treats DM! This is good news! One of my cats does not like semi moist treats either and she hates pill pockets. I have not had to yet; But if I ever have to give her actual medication in pill form I'll have to resort to a pill shooter.
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post #12 of 12
8/23/11 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 
Well, since Mike wanted an update, here it is. Genever had her yearly checkup nad rabies shot last week and I forgot to ask about the hip treats. Then yesterday I tyook Dorothy in becuase the growth on her neck got scratched open an I wanted to make sure it wouldn't get infected or anything. (it's fine) Since she was due in a few weeks for her thyroid blood tests, we just did that yesterday too. When we got home from the vet, I remembered the treats and that I forgot to ask about them. D'oh!

I did remember to ask today when the vet called with Dot's test results, which were great!! Anyway, she said there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that glucosamine helps joints in people and animals, but not a lot of scientific double-blind study evidence. But it's a good start, it might help and won't hurt. She also said fish oil can help too, and if Dot's stiffness gets worse there are other things to try too, but for now, from what I described with the waking-up stiffness but still happily running laps around the house at times, the treats and maybe fish oil should be fine.

I actually have some fish oil capsules I got from the vet a year ago for Genever for dry skin, but she wouldn't go near that stinky stuff! I may try it out on Dorothy...
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