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Animal Health > Consumers Guide to Glucosamine Products for Pets
Glucosamine is
a very promising treatment for
Arthritis and hip dysplasia in pets
and is backed by numerous
double-blind, placebo-controlled
studies. In these studies,
Glucosamine has been shown to
rehabilitate cartilage and reduce the
progression of arthritis,
significantly lessen pain from
arthritis, and increase mobility in
dogs and cats. However, one
glucosamine product can be very
different from another.
When your pet's pain
relief and health is at stake, you
need to know how to choose between
competing products and see through
the marketing hype. There are six
factors that you need to take into
your decision before purchasing any
glucosamine product. These are:
- Amount
of glucosamine per daily dose
- Type
of Glucosamine
- Quality
of Ingredients
- Delivery
System
- Synergistic
Ingredients
- Price
Per Day
-
It is very
important to compare
price per day and not
price per product, as
many companies try to
fool you by providing 60
capsules or 32 oz. and
not telling you until
after you purchased that
you must use 6 capsules
or 2 oz. per day. Be
careful to always compare
price per day.
Did
you know that the absorption rate and
bio-availability of the glucosamine
in pills is significantly less than
that when glucosamine is delivered in
liquid form? The "claimed
fact" that pills are the only
and best way to obtain glucosamine is
simply not true.
According
to the Physician's Desk Reference
"only 10 to 20% of vitamins and
minerals in any pill form is absorbed
by the human body." Furthermore,
the National Advisory Board states
that 100 MG consumed in tablet form
translates to a minute stabilized 8.3
MG or 8.3% concentrated in the blood,
as compared to 98% in liquid form.
Glucosamine
provided in liquid form is absorbed
more quickly, much more fully, and
provides greater and longer lasting
relief.
Due to
this, we have given two ratings for
the capsule products since we need to
be comparing apples with apples. The
overall rating is a rating that is
compared to all products. The capsule
rating is a rating as it stands among
only products which provide
glucosamine in pill form.
Here
we review the leading liquid
glucosamine products, prices in
US$...
-
Syn-flex™
Amount of Glucosamine
per daily dose for
10 pound pet: 156 mg
30 pound pet: 312 mg
75 pound pet: 625 mg
125 pound pet: 1250 mg
Type of Glucosamine: both
Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine
HCL
Quality of Glucosamine:
Pharmaceutical Grade
Delivery System: Liquid
Synergistic Ingredients:
Chondroitin Sulfate, Boswellin, Yucca
Powder, Manganese Ascorbate,
Bromelaine, Vitamin C, Omega 3 Fatty
Acid, Omega 6 Fatty Acid, Vitamin A,
Vitamin E
Price per day for 10 pound pet:
$0.11
Price per day for 30 pound pet:
$0.23
Price per day for 75 pound pet:
$0.46
Price per day for 125 pound pet: $0.94
Rating Rationale: A combination
of both glucosamine sulfate and
glucosamine hydrochloride delivered
by liquid will ensure maximum
absorption. The high quality
glucosamine, and eleven nutritional
synergistic ingredients Chondroitin
Sulfate, Boswellin, Yucca, Manganese,
Bromelain, Vitamin A, C, and E, and
essential fatty acids Omega 3 and
Omega 6 combine to make a high
quality, yet inexpensive product.
Manufacturer: Activex America,
Inc.
Availability: Activex America
will ship Syn-flex worldwide direct
to you door. Free shipping in U.S.
and Canada. You can order from their
website.
Overall Rating: 8 stars
Website:
Order Synflex for Animals
- Vet-Flex™
Amount of Glucosamine
per daily dose for
10 pound pet: 100 mg
30 pound pet: 100 mg
75 pound pet: 100 mg
125 pound pet: 100 mg
Type of Glucosamine:
Glucosamine Sulfate
Quality of Glucosamine: not
known
Delivery System: Liquid
Synergistic Ingredients:
100 mg. of MSM, 300 mg. of
Mucopolysaccharides
Price per day for 10 pound pet:
$0.62
Price per day for 30 pound pet:
$0.62
Price per day for 75 pound pet:
$0.62
Price per day for 125 pound pet: $0.62
Rating rationale: There is a
very low amount of glucosamine,
unknown quality of ingredients, a
lack of dosage information, and an
unproven system of Chondroitin
delivery. There is a reason why the
price is low, because the product has
very little in it besides flavoring.
The only thing this product has going
for it is that it is in liquid form.
Manufacturer: One Source Plus,
Inc.
Availability: Available direct
from website
Overall rating: - 1 Star
Website:
http://www.cortaflex.com
A note on MSM:
There is
little credible evidence that this
substance is of any value. Worse yet,
many MSM containing products are
contaminated with DMSO, a substance
that should not be taken orally.
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an
industrial compound that has been
touted as a relief for inflamed
joints. While it may give temporary
relief, it is unproven and may cause
skin irritation and diarrhea.
Interestingly, the claim to fame for
MSM is that it supplies the body with
extra sulfur. Glucosamine Sulfate and
Chondroitin Sulfate products contain
plenty of available sulfur.
- The Capsule Products
Reminder:
Glucosamine
provided in liquid form is absorbed
more quickly, much more fully, and
provides greater and longer lasting
relief.
Due to this, we have given two
ratings for the capsule products
since we need to be comparing apples
with apples. The overall rating is a
rating that is compared to all
products. The capsule rating is a
rating as it stands among only
products which provide glucosamine in
pill form.
Arthrix™
Amount of Glucosamine per daily dose
for
10 pound pet: 150 mg
30 pound pet: 300 mg
75 pound pet: 600 mg
125 pound pet: 850 mg
Type of Glucosamine:
Glucosamine HCL
Quality of Glucosamine: not
states
Delivery System: capsule pill
Synergistic Ingredients: MSM,
ester-c, arthrix, trace of Omega 3
Price per day for 10 pound pet:
$0.47
Price per day for 30 pound pet:
$0.93
Price per day for 75 pound pet:
$1.30
Price per day for 125 pound pet: $2.33
Rating Rationale: Arthrix is a
fairly expensive capsule product.
With the glucosamine in powder form
delivered in a capsule, the
glucosamine will not be fully
absorbed and it may take 6-10 weeks
to notice relief if any at all
occurs. This product lacks a number
of nutritional ingredients that are
essential to a well-balanced, fully
effective treatment for arthritis in
dogs and cats. Furthermore, the
glucosamine used in Glucosamine HCL,
a less expensive and not as fully
studied as Glucosamine Sulfate. Also,
the dosage of glucosamine is less
than optimal. A 125 pound pet should
be receiving about 1250 mg, not 850
mg, for example.
Manufacturer: Kala Health,
Inc.
Availability: Available direct
from website
Overall Rating: 2 Stars (among
all products)
Capsule Rating: 2 Stars (among
pill products only)
Website:
http://www.arthrix.com
Cosequin
DS™
Amount of Glucosamine
per daily dose for
10 pound pet: 125 mg
30 pound pet: 500 mg
75 pound pet: 750 mg
125 pound pet: 1000 mg
Type
of Glucosamine: Glucosamine HCL
Quality of Glucosamine:
"high purity"
Delivery System: capsule
tablets
Synergistic Ingredients:
Manganese, Chondroitin
Price per day for 10 pound pet:
$0.19
Price per day for 30 pound pet:
$0.77
Price per day for 75 pound pet:
$1.17
Price per day for 125 pound pet: $1.55
Rating Rationale: A good
amount of glucosamine, however, it is
glucosamine HCL, which has not shown
to be as effective as glucosamine
sulfate. Furthermore, in pill form,
the glucosamine HCL and chondroitin
sulfate will not be absorbed very
well and provide less than optimal
treatment for your pet's arthritis.
This product also lacks a number of
synergistic ingredients like Omega 3
and 6, Boswellin, Bromelain, and
Yucca.
Manufacturer: Nutramax
Laboratories, Inc.
Availability: From your
veternarian
Overall Rating: 2 Stars (among
all products)
Capsule Rating: 3 Stars (among
pill products only)
Website:
http://www.cosamin.com
Summary
In summary, we
recommend products that contain
pharmaceutical grade, high quality,
liquid glucosamine sulfate or a
mixture of both glucosamine sulfate
and glucosamine HCL. The best
products are also combined with
ingredients that work synergistically
with glucosamine to help rebuild
cartilage, stop pain, reduce
inflammation, and increase mobility.
These include:
-
Chondroitin
Sulfate
- Boswellin
- Yucca
Powder
- Manganese
Ascorbate
- Bromelaine
- Vitamin
C
- Omega
3 Fatty Acid
- Omega
6 Fatty Acid
- Vitamin
A
- Vitamin
E
While
the majority of research to date has
been done on capsule products, liquid
products provide greater absorption
and greater bioavailability meaning
more effective treatment for your dog
or cat's arthritis. Overall, the
product that came closest to these
recommendations is Syn-flex
from
Synflex America.
References:
1.
Syn-flex product information:
http://www.synflexamerica.com
2. Vet-Flex product information:
http://www.cortaflex.com
3. Arthrix product information:
http://www.drinkartiflex.com
4. Cosequin product information:
http://www.jointjuice.com
To improve the health of your pets, we recommend
AyurDog
and
AyurCat nutritional supplements from
India Herbs or
Syn-flex
for arthritis.
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