Do Glucosamine and Chondroitin REALLY Help Your Pet?
Spoiler alert-- the answer is NO.
For many years, veterinarians have prescribed supplements containing glucosamine/chondroitin (G/C for short) for any painful pet. There are companies like Nutramax who still make millions of dollars every year by selling G/C products like COSEQUI_ and DASUQUI_ to loving pet owners.
There's just one problem. They've been proven not to work.
Folks who paid attention have known for some time that G/C products were of no benefit to pets with spinal pain. Heck, how could they be? The theoretical benefit of G/C products was to improve viscosity of the synovial fluid within the joints... and there is no synovial fluid within spinal joints.
Now we have clear proof that, in fact, G/C products do NOT help either reduce pain or arthritic progression in painful joints.
Here's what a recent study on dogs had to say...
"The total lack of efficacy of chondroitin-glucosamine nutraceuticals stands out in comparison with the other categories, and therefore indicates that these products should no longer be recommended in cases of canine or feline osteoarthritis."
How about a 2022 study in humans, where their conclusion was...
Adding glucosamine alone or a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin to exercise, has no effect on knee pain and physical function compared with exercise alone in KOA (knee osteoarthritis) patients.
What DOES work to reduce pain and arthritis progression? Great question. For one thing, an accurate diagnosis based upon your vet's exam and radiographs. For supplements...
- The best is Undenatured Type 2 Collageon, like our TRANSCEND.
- Fish oil and krill oil supplementation
- MSM supplements
- Green Lipped Mussel supplements
- Advanced curcumin products, like our LONGEVITY PLUS
- In humans, capsaicin-based ointments, but dogs would HATE this.
OK, everybody good on this? The evidence is clear and compelling. We CAN help your pet with arthritic pain... just not with glucosamine and chondroitin.
If you have any questions, let me know. You can email me at ktomandvm@gmail.com.
Thanks, Kevin