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BY ANDREA S. MULLEN, DVM
My
older dog and cat patients often suffer from arthritis.
I’ve found they frequently respond well to natural remedies,
often for extended periods of time. I
prefer natural remedies when they can give relief to ailing patients.
When started early, these supplements can not only improve you
pet’s current condition, but also retard the progress of arthritis
so common in aging pets.
These
are my favorites:
--Glucosamine
and chondroitin sulfate.
Glucosamine repairs cartilage cells while chondroitin prevents
the destructive action of the enzymes in the synovial fluid that break
down cartilage.
They
take about 20 to 40 days to start working.
I recommend the following dosage:
For
cats: 125 mg. of each for each cat, twice a day;
For
dogs: 500 mg. for each 20 lbs. of dog, twice a day of each.
I
have found that either product works well, but together they work
faster and more effectively.
There
are hundreds of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations available. Because chondroitin is expensive, the stated amount per
capsule is usually FALSE. Most
products with just glucosamine usually have the declared amount. A recent study of 30 “combo” preparations revealed that
only three actually contained the amount of chondroitin sulfate and
glucosamine claimed.
For
this reason I ONLY recommend the following preparations because I have
personally seen good results from using most of them:
·
Adequan
injections: up to twice a week (that you can do at
home) for four weeks.
·
Cosequin
(or the human counterpart Cosamin, available at Savon).
·
Glycoflex
from DVM or some pet catalogs (this is green-lipped muscle).
·
Move
Free (aka
Pain Free) by Schiff available at most drug stores.
·
Glucosamine
/ Chondroitin Double Strength available at
Walgreens.
·
Nature’s
Bounty Chondroitin with Glucosamine.
·
Osteo-Bi-Flex
Glucosamine / Chondroitin by
Sundown.
·
Spring
Valley Glucosamine /Chondroitin available at
Walmart stores.
Other
high-quality products are listed www.consumerlabs.com.
Most
of the pet formulations come as tasty chewable treats or a powder to
sprinkle on food. Glucosamine
and chondroitin are very effective and your older dog will feel and
act much younger.
--MSM
(Methlylsulfonylmethane).
MSM is a great and powerful anti-inflammatory, one I use myself.
This wonderful and safe substance has many more uses in
addition to being an anti-inflammatory.
The
dosage is: 500 mg. per 20 lbs. of pet, twice a day.
--Omega-3
fatty acids. Made
from fish oil, cod liver oil or flaxseed oil, these products activate
the immune system, help fight cancer cells, and act as an
anti-inflammatory. They
soften and moisturize the skin and have potent “anti-itch”
properties.
The
dosage is: Omega 3 EPA 250 mg. (Eicosapentaenic Acid) along with Omega
3 DHA 167mg (Docosahexaenoic Acid) per 20 to 60 lbs. per day.
--Super
Oxide Dismutase (SOD).
These
intracellular antioxidants remove toxins from the body that are stored
within the cells. One of
the by-products of inflammation are “superoxides.”
These substances cause more inflammation.
Super oxide dismutase is an enzyme that breaks down superoxides,
thus decreasing the pet’s discomfort and pain.
The
dosage is: 500 IU/50 lbs. once a day, but the dosage can vary with the
specific product.
--Vitamin
E. This
acts as an anti-inflammatory, decreasing swelling in the joints and
musculoskeletal system, as well as softening and moisturizing the
skin.
The
dosage is:
Cats/small
dogs:
50 units with 5 –10 mcg selenium per day
Medium
dogs:
100-200 units with 25 mcg selenium per day
Large
dogs:
400 units /30 lbs. body weight with 50 mcg selenium per day
--Vitamin
C.
The dosage is 500 mg/30 lbs. of body weight, twice a day.
Decrease the dose if diarrhea occurs.
--D-L-phenylalanine.
This is usually used with acupuncture or acupressure.
It indirectly helps relieve pain by prolonging the effect of
the body’s own painkillers. It
blocks the breakdown of endorphins.
The
dosage is: 500 mg. twice
a day for each 30 lbs. of body weight.
--Du
Huo Jisheng Wan. A
classical Chinese herbal formula, this works well for both dogs and
cats. I usually will
prescribe this in conjunction with acupuncture.
It comes in tiny black pills that resemble BB pellets.
It contains ginger, cinnamon, angelica, licorice and Chinese
foxglove. Improvement
is usually seen in just a few days.
The
dosage is:
·
2 to 3 pills/cat twice a day
·
3 pills/30lbs of dog twice a day.
·
Use for 3 weeks, then use as needed.
Glucosamine,
chondroitin sulfate, MSM and Omega-3 fatty acids should be considered
the minimum for your older suffering from arthritis.
My 12-year-old Sheltie and my 13-year-old Springer-mix get
these and have no problem holding their own with their two-year-old
companion (at least for short time periods).  |
