posted 10-08-2003 03:47 PM         

Selection Guide: Arthritis Care Products
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff

If your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis or other joint problems, there are many things you can do at home to help ease your pet's discomfort. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs) - such as buffered aspirin or the prescription drug Rimadyl or EtoGesic are excellent pain control options.
While NSAIDs are for the control of pain and inflammation, newer "nutraceutics" containing ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin, or Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM) are widely used for longer term care in arthritic pets. Nutraceutics have been used for decades for human arthritic conditions in Europe and have been available over-the-counter for over a decade in the United States.

The number of nutraceutic arthritis care products on the market is staggering and increasing rapidly. It is becoming progressively more difficult to choose which is best to help your particular pet's joints or arthritis pain.

The following chart provides an overview of the nutraceutics available through Drs. Foster & Smith, along with our recommendations on which product to choose for specific situations. For more information on the specific products, click on the product name to visit the individual product pages.

Additionally, our comparison chart of Active Ingredients in Arthritis Care Products provides an at-a-glance overview of the formulations of each of these products.

Product Active Ingredients
(see comparison chart) Indications Comments
Joint Care (Regular Capsules/Powder/Liquid)
500 mg Glucosamine
400 mg Chondroitin
50 mg Vitamin C For use in dogs and cats suffering from hip dysplasia and severe arthritis. Mini-capsules ¼ of the mg dosage of the regular size capsules. Use mini-capsules in small dogs and cats.
Joint Care Plus with MSM 500 mg Glucosamine
400 mg Chondroitin
50 mg Vitamin C
100 mg MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) Formulated for more moderate joint conditions. For dogs only. After improvement is observed or in mild cases, Joint Care may be used for daily maintenance.
Cosequin DS 500 mg Glucosamine
400 mg Chondroitin
33 mg Vitamin C
5 mg Manganese Same as for Joint Care. DS (Double Strength) for large dogs; regular strength for small dogs. Regular strength contains ½ of the mg dosage of the Double Strength capsules.
Gluco-C 500 mg Glucosamine
100 mg Vitamin C Better suited for moderate cases of arthritis. Can be used after an animal has been on Joint Care for six months and has shown improvement. For dogs only Lower cost alternative to Joint Care. Ingredients same for powder/ tablets/ capsules. Excellent for long-term maintenance.
Gluco-C Plus 500 mg Glucosamine
100 mg Vitamin C
50 mg Chamomile*
12 mg Citrus Bioflavoniod*
5000 I.U. Vitamin A
50 I.U. Vitamin E Recommended for milder forms of arthritis or those in early stages of treatment for joint disease. For dogs only. Can switch to Gluco-C for long-term maintenance in cases in which pain and discomfort subside. *Believed to reduce inflammation.
Joint Guard Treats
Available in 300 mg & 600 mg
(300 mg)
300 mg Perna Canaliculus(which contains a large amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
25 mg Vitamin C Can be given along with Gluco-C or Joint Care as a booster. For dogs only. Perna Canaliculus (Green-lipped Mussel) is an all-natural source of GAGs. Some common GAGs are Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
Joint Guard 600 contains double the mg dosage of the Joint Guard 300.

Joint Guard Plus
Available in 300 mg & 600 mg
(300 mg)
300 mg Perna Canaliculus
250 mg Glucosamine
250 mg MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane)
230 mg Dried Brewers Yeast
25 mg Vitamin C
15 mg Manganese Same powerful effectiveness of regular Joint Guard but contains Glucosamine and the anti-inflammatory sulfur MSM. For more severe cases of arthritis. For dogs only. Joint Guard Plus 600 contains double the mg dosage of Joint Guard Plus 300 except it has 200 mg Dried Brewer's Yeast.
Glyco-Flex
Available in 300 mg & 600 mg
(300 mg)
300 mg Perna Canaliculus
100 mg Brewer's Yeast
100 mg Alfalfa Best suited for dogs with moderate cases of arthritis. For dogs only. Easily added to food or given as a treat.
The 600 mg tablet contains double the mg dosage of Glyco-Flex 300 mg tablet.

Glyco-Flex II
Available in regular or double strength
(Regular)
300 mg Perna Canaliculus
250 mg Glucosamine
250 mg MSM
15 mg Manganese AA Chelate
230 mg Brewer's Yeast Best suited for dogs with moderate arthritis. For dogs only. Glyco-Flex II Double Strength contains double the mg dosage of Glyco-Flex II except it has 200 mg Brewer's Yeast.
Glyco-Flex III 600 mg Perna Canaliculus
500 mg Glucosamine
1000 mg MSM
25 mg Vitamin C
10 mg Manganese AA Chelate
For dogs with moderate form of arthritis. Glyco-Flex III contains additoinal nutraceutics such as MSM.
Synovi Formulas
SynoviCre available in 300 or 600 mg tablets
(SynoviCre 300 mg)
300 mg Glucosamine
250 mg Creatine
(SynoviCre Granules*)
900 mg Glucosamine
500 mg Creatine
300 mg Perna Canaliculus(which contains 30 mg Chondroitin and small amounts of Glucosamine)

(Synovi-MSM Granules*)
800 mg MSM
500 mg Glucosamine
300 mg Perna Canaliculus
10 mg Vitamin C
Can be used for dogs with moderate arthritis and is especially beneficial for dogs that are losing muscle, since increased muscle tone helps support weak joints. For dogs only. Creatine increases the strength of muscle contractions and, if given daily, may improve muscle strength. 600 mg tablets have 600 mg Glucosamine and 500 mg Creatine
*Dosage for SynoviCre and MSM Granules is per scoop (one scoop equals one heaping teaspoon)

MSM
(Methylsulfonylmethane) is a dietary sulfur that helps the body manufacture connective tissue; also required for healthy collagen

Vita-minTabs Senior Plus Glucosamine 500 mg Glucosamine
50 mg Vitamin C For older dogs with arthritis and other moderate joint conditions. Contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for your senior's comfort and quality of life. All-in-one senior vitamin/mineral supplement with Glucosamine. 5X more Vitamin C than our standard Senior Vita-minTabs formula.
Canine Missing Link Plus 500 mg Glucosamine
1000 mg Linoleic Acid (Omega-3) Booster to use with other nutraceutics. A dietary supplement made with all-natural ingredients.
Chondro Chips Per Chip
100 mg Chondroitin
10 mg Glucosamine A treat supplement booster for dogs with arthritic joints. Great tasting low fat chews made from pure bovine cartilage and trachea that naturally contain Chondroitin and Glucosamine.

I went on glucosomsine myself a few months ago because of severe arthritis pain, and I am now 95% pain free.