For dogs that are showing real symptoms, its recommended to use a good quality glucosamin/chondroitin supplement (cosequin is probably the best-- osteobiflex is another good human brand) together with glycoflex. If one is battling arthritis or trying to keep arthritis from happening, the supplements are joint protective, while products like Rimadyl aren't. Even aspirin is thought to accelerate cartilage deterioration.
General Canine Nutrition
http://www.labbies.com/nutri.htm
Excellent 8 part HD overview
by Cargill and Thorpe-Vargas
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/chd.html
Discussion of Arthritis
Management
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/k9geriatrics.24.html
Glucosamine info
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsGlucosamine.php
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1662&articleid=670
More Glucosamine/Chondroitin
info
http://www.cosequin.com/veterinary/coseqfaq.htm
An injected form of glucosamine
that has proved effective in many cases
http://www.luitpold.com/animal_health/canine/index.htm
An article on the benefits
of vit. C and HD
http://workingdogs.com/doc0039.htm
Dr. Theo's Arthritis
web page - discusses various brands, which contain what their labels claim,
which don't, along with lots of other stuff
http://www.drtheo.com
Mayo Clinic Article on
Alternative Methods for Arthritis Management
http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/conditioncenters/invoke.cfm?objectid=7C1BBA0C-1527-48C8-BA88008B4A47991D
Cartrophen Vet (Canada,
Australia, etc.)
http://wwwcomm.murdoch.edu.au/webster/A68.html
General HD info
http://www.cah.com/library/hipdysp.html
http://petsurgery.com/caninehipdysplasia.htm
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=444
UC Davis handout out
on FHE/TPO/THR
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/hipdysp.shtml
Questions about total
hip replacement
http://www.biomedtrix.com/sur.html
more info on
surgeries
http://lbah.com/Canine/hip_dysplasia.htm
The importance of properly
positioning hips for xrays
http://leerburg.com/hipart.htm
Senior Dogs Project (info on Rimadyl and Etogesic etc.)
http://www.srdogs.com/
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/rimadylfr.html
http://www.srdogs.com/Pages/etogesic.html
Updates on Rimadyl
http://www.pfizer.com/ah/rimadyl/tbull.html
List of Holistic Vets
http://www.ahvma.org/states_and_directory/directory.html
List of Certified Acupuncturists
http://www.ivas.org
http://aava.org/pub/directory_public.html
List of Certified Chiropractors
http://www.avcadoctors.com/
List of Veterinary Medicine
Schools and Colleges
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetnet.html
Cheapest mail
order I've found for Cosequin and GlycoFlex, that's not connected to a puppy
mill
http://www.kvvet.com
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GLUCOSAMINE/CHONDRITIN AND GLYCOFLEX
G/C - GLYCOFLEX:
for a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement, I really don't think there is any
better than Cosequin. for any dog with HD, I think this should be part of the
foundation of the supplementation program.
However, I think that alot of dogs have alot of other problems -- I think there
is a lack of circulation, a lack of muscle mass, and just a lack of nutrients
in general needed to support the muscles and the rest of the body...the glycoflex,
having perna muscle, brewer's yeast, and alfalfa is full of nutrients that most
dogs don't get in their diet. I am not confident that there is enough of the
high quality gluco/chond. in the glycoflex though.
If one were using this for a dog with no symptoms, no apparent HD, then I think the glycoflex is fine. But for HD, I like using both.
Here is a description of the ingredients of Glycoflex from Balch & Balch's Prescription for Nutritional Healing. I think it's an all around great supplement to help for circulation and muscle support. However, I don't think it can replace a glucosamine/chondroitin product.
The green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) is a species of edible shellfish. They contain numerous amino acids, the building blocks of body proteins, in addition to enzymes and essential trace elements. The minerals they contain are present in a balance similar to that in blood plasma, and these minerals are naturally chelated by the amino acids, making for better assimilation into the body.
Sea mussel aids in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system, the endocrine system, the eyes, connective tissues, and mucous membranes. They help to reduce inflammation and relieve the pain and stiffness of arthritis. They also promote the healing of wounds and burns.
ALFALFA:
One of the most mineral-rich foods known, alfalfa has roots that grow as much
as 130 feet into the earth. Alfalfa is available in liquied extract form and
is good to use while fasting because of its chlorophyll and nutrient content.
It contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassim, plus virtually all known
vitamins. The minerals are in a balanced form, which promotes absorption. These
minerals are alkaline, but have a neutralizing effect on the intestinal tract.
If you need a mineral supplement, alfalfa is a good choice. It has helped many arthritis sufferers. Alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley, and spirulina, all of which contain chlorophyll, have been found to aid in the healing of intestinal ulcers, gastritis, liver disorders, eczema, hemorrhoids, asthma, high blood pressure, anemia, constipation, body and breath odor, bleeding gums, infections, burns, athlete's foot, and cancer.
YEAST:
Yeast is rich in many basic nutrients, such as the B vitamins (except for vitamin
B-12), sixteen amino acids, and at least fourteen different minerals. The protein
content of yeast is responsible for 52 percent of its weight. Yeast is also
high in phosphorus.
Live baker's yeast should
be avoided. Live yeast cells actually deplete the body of B vitamins and other
nutrients. In nutritional yeast (aka brewer's yeast, the ingredient in glycoflex),
these live cells are destroyed, leaving the beneficial nutrients behind.
This information was taken from an original post on the Acmepet Dog Health board 4/2/02.
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