Finding a supplement..... Whats better?

[Kriss2007]

Hello, I am looking for 2 supplements for my 2 dogs. Hopefully I can use one supplement for both of them. I am looking at several different ones that have great reviews but I am not sure which would be better for my dogs.

Dog 1- Cowboy is a lab-australian shepard mix, he is getting up there in his years. He is about 10-11 years old. He still is fit and in great condition and no soreness or stiffness. My fiance is a truck driver and Cowboy rides shotgun. I am concerned with his older age and him jumping in and out of the semi that doing this on a daily basis it will run him down quicker. I want a good tablet supplement that he could take to just keep him going longer. These are the products I was looking at for him.....

Product 1- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=2928

Product 2- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=2456

Product 3- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=2929

Dog 2- Copper, is a pitt bull/Staffordshire Terrier mix. She is 2 years old. I have had some problems with her already with a bad knee. I am trying to push surgery back as long as possibly because she still gets along great and not limping or in pain. Here last week or so she has started getting stiff if she sleeps to long, and I am noticing she is not wanting to jump up on the bed at night, not jump up on the chore buggy when I do chores (which she LOVES to ride), I have to help her into my truck when we go for rides as well. I want a good supplement that will help her enjoy life more and hopefully let her be able to ride in the car or buggy without having to be helped. Here are the products I was looking at for her....

Product 1- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=1690

Product 2- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=2928

Product 3- http://www.smartpakequine.com/produc...ctClassid=2929

[Cearbhaill]

Is there a reason you are stuck on this brand? A good human formulation glucosamine/chondroitin would be helpful to them both and more economical that those IMO. That and a good non-rancid essential fatty acid supplement would go a long way.

[Vintage Boxers]

have to agree, i would recommend, Move Free--Flex Free supplements, and cheaper that those you have chosen

S

[Kriss2007]

Originally Posted by Cearbhaill

Is there a reason you are stuck on this brand? A good human formulation glucosamine/chondroitin would be helpful to them both and more economical that those IMO. That and a good non-rancid essential fatty acid supplement would go a long way.

Originally Posted by Vintage Boxers

have to agree, i would recommend, Move Free--Flex Free supplements, and cheaper that those you have chosen

S

Is there any specific brands that either of you may have tried?? I choose those because they had good ratings and feedback on them. They are a tad bit out of my price range but if they work its worth it, but too if I can find something just as good and cheaper thats even better!

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I like the Glyco Flex III because it has 600 mg Perna canaliculus Mussel and msn in it. This is what I use. Also, there is a new formulation now for this product that has some other nice ingredients, too.

I also like Arthriease Gold.

[Cearbhaill]

Originally Posted by Kriss2007

Is there any specific brands that either of you may have tried?? I choose those because they had good ratings and feedback on them. They are a tad bit out of my price range but if they work its worth it, but too if I can find something just as good and cheaper thats even better!

I don't shop brands with supplements- I shop ingredients.
I want to know the amount of each active ingredient per dose, I want to know that the active ingredient is in a form that a dogs system can actually absorb and utilize, and I want to know that there aren't any fillers.

My personal choice right now for the size and age dogs I have is Flexicose liquid. In the past I have used and been happy with any of several human formulations of glucosamine/chondroitin with and without green lipped mussel. If MSM is included that is great, but personally I do supplement that separately. It is sometimes the case that formulations that try to include too many components do not use enough of them to constitute an adequate theraputic dose.

I would also like to repeat that a non-rancid essential fatty acid supplement would make a world of difference.
If I could use only one supplement this would be far and away the one I would choose.
I use a cold pressed salmon oil that is kept refrigerated during production, transport, and storage. In the past I have used flax based formulations, but recent studies have suggested that dogs do not absorb the plant based EFA's as easily as the animal based ones so I now use the salmon.
I would never, ever use a fish or other oil that has been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. If you can smell fish it is a rancid fat.

I also see that the dogs get plenty of raw animal fat with their meaty bones (that also provide lots of glucosamine and chondroitin in the attached cartilage), but that assumes you are comfortable with raw meat and not everyone is.

[Kriss2007]

Ok, thank you all for the help!

[athena1]

Also check out VG750 by Nutra-9