[fowlballs]

My 65 lb 2-1/2 year old female lab was recently diagnosed with a slight tear of her anterior crucial ligament in her left knee. My vet placed her on anti-inflammatory meds for two weeks along with zero activity. (that was allot harder than it sounds). She has also recommended a supplement routine along with gradually increasing her activity level through the early part of the summer. This will hopefully work so I can get her ready for the upcoming season. If this doesn't work then surgery might be on the horizon, but this is a another can of worms that I do not want to open at this time.

So for all you hunting dog owners and trainers. Do you use supplements for joint/ligament care and if so what brand. What make up do you use or recommend? IE. Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Vit-C, or MSM. What MG do you use or recommend. Any information, opinions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

Frank

 

[Orion]

Frank,

Don't know about for dogs, but I have been taking Glucosamine and Chondroitin for a couple years. It has done wonders for my knees. They don't make noise any more. My understanding is that G&C help cartilage formation and maintenance, so I don't know how well it would work on a ligament injury.

-Kevin

 

[pintaildreamer]

My 10 year old is on Joint Care Plus MSM by Fosters & Smith and my 1 year old is on GF II 300. Both are Glucosamine products.

 

[duckgal]

<P>A great joint supplement is Cosiquin, only sold through your vet. </P>

 

[CMDUX]

<P style="MARGIN: 0px">My soon to be 10 year old lab, the one in the avatar, blew out her knee last summer while training.&nbsp; Then, because I was an a--hole and not quite following my vet's instructions, she subsequently tore her meniscus (cartilage) in the same knee in March.&nbsp; She is doing great now, gets to swim nearly everyday and will probably run in those hunters' trials out atCrooked Creek&nbsp;and South Cuyahoga this fall.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">I have her on CVS store brand G&amp;C "double strength."&nbsp; One whole pill/day (1500mg of Gluc.&nbsp;and 1200mg of Chond.) for a month and then 1/2 a pill/day for the rest of her life.&nbsp; If you watch the sales flyers you can get two big (180 pills) bottles for the price of one!&nbsp; At the advice of the orthopedic specialist I started my 3 year old on the same G&amp;C regimen.&nbsp; He also said that research shows that vitamin E helps the body process the increased G&amp;C intake.&nbsp; Regular CVS store brand works fine.&nbsp; The vet sells all the supplements out of his office, but the guy was very up front&nbsp;with me&nbsp;saying, "you can buy the dogs' G&amp;C wherever you buy your own.....same stuff."</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">Good luck managing your dog's injury.&nbsp; Do what the doctor says.&nbsp; It hurt me deeply to see my huntin' buddy hobbling out of the vet's office with one of those ridiculous collars on, her leg shaved clean, and 22 staples holding the incision closed.&nbsp; They are athletes and it is tough to slow them down.&nbsp; They might be hurt and in pain, but I think it hurts them more to actually show it!</P>