Glucosamine----Update (Glucosamine Sulphate)

Name: aefra

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Product:	Glucosamine Sulphate
Date:	22/07/02 (2853 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reduces the symptoms of arthritis and similar conditions

Disadvantages: none that I have found

Jody, my Jack Russell Terrier is getting old, and it hurts. It doesn't hurt Jody, but when I remember her age a knot of fear tightens inside me. Until recently the fact that she will be 14 soon was a natural passing of time and this is a breed which has a superb record of longevity. I had noticed somewhere in the back of my mind that over the past few months she had started walking behind me rather than tearing at full speed ahead, and that my quiet "Jody!" no longer brought a response which had her flying downstairs to see what I wanted - or more importantly what I had to offer her. She is becoming a little deaf and I need a louder voice or more insistent tone to attract her attention. Actually a strident "Oi!" works best when we are out and about.

The real shock of recognition came when she needed a couple of attempts to jump on to the back seat of my little Ka and that, like me, the trip upstairs to bed at the end of the day was taken more slowly. Thus I saw clearly for the first time that what 14 years old really meant was that, at best, I had only 3 or 4 years left with my dear friend.

I love Jody for herself, as do all who know her. However, she was also my late husband's dog and the last living reminder of him. So to actually see that time is flying by produces an almost daily depression for me. Since dogs live one day at a time, I cannot let her know my sadness. She has no pain, and growing stiffness has been taken care of for some time by the magnetic collar that she wears. All I can do is make darn sure that her quality of life for these last years is at an optimum.

Of course if I felt that it were necessary or helpful Jody would have been in the vet's surgery by now. But I am not happy with the thought of drugs unless there is an actual condition to be cured or put into remission. I have been through the business of allowing a dog on lifetime steroids, knowing that this life was thu
s shortened but symptom - free. Before I made an appointment, therefore, I cast my mind back to all the things that I had been told about Glucosamine Sulphate and then, as we do, dived into the net. I wanted to know what Glucosamine was, that it was a natural remedy and it's availability. I also wanted to research as many valid reports as I could about it's efficacy and any side-effects. I found that there are many suppliers of Glucosamine, many of whom have a section for dogs, cats and horses. I was aware that this treatment had already been used for horses before it became popular as an aid for other animals and then human arthritis sufferers.

Glucosamine is a sugar, produced naturally in the body. With age this production and it's protection of the joints diminishes. Glucosamine Sulphate as a dietary supplement, together with it's synagynistic partner Chondroitin Sulphate, aids repair of the cartilege in joints and helps maintain the lubricating Synovial Fluid. Several independent sources stressed that pills cannot be as easily absorbed or are as effective as liquid.

My first choice was Cortaflex, mainly because it was distributed from a UK company, and I paid £22.50 for 47 days supply which arrived a day or two later. The mixture is palatable (smells like cough medicine) and Jody had her first dose of a teaspoonful on her dinner a month ago.

Very little difference was noticeable over the following couple of weeks, although I found that she had managed to climb onto my rather high settee by herself. However, she still needed a little help when jumping on to the back seat of the car or on the bed of a night. This is mildly upsetting anyway, as I need to be sensitive to Jody's feelings in this matter. Jody may love to cuddle into laps, but will not permit being picked up. To be lifted from her feet does terrible things to her dignity and results in a small, but heavy dog wriggling and struggling to be set
down. It seems such a short time ago that once released she would do a "wall of death" run around the house. Lately she just walked away looking miffed. It used to be heaven to stroll down the 400 yards or so with my horse from stableyard to field, up and down an undulating farm track with wild flowers either side and stunning views below us. Jody would run ahead looking pleased with herself if she set up a pheasant. On the way back in the evening she would trot easily behind the horses, a stocky little white creature wearing a satisfied grin on her face. Now she was way behind, and even stopped at times and waited to meet me halfway on the return journey. It was breaking my heart, and I only took her with me to keep the exercise going for her.

A week ago the Glucosamine kicked in. At first it was Jody's ability to see herself into the car, then to keep up with me on the farm. A few days ago I left her as usual on the front doorstep while I opened the car door. I called her and she ran down the drive and leapt straight on to the seat. What is more, she was ahead of Ben and I as we walked to his field. The following evening as I was dooyooing I heard an impatient shuffle by my side. Jody was sitting, ears erect and a huge hopeful grin on her face asking for a "bicky". She just didn't look old any more. As I stood up she turned and flew to the cupboard door. I threw the bonio down the hall and she raced after it. A few minutes later this dooyooer was reading and rating with tears trickling down her face.

This morning Jody ran backwards and forwards down the farm track and I have promised her that we shall go for a long walk along the riverside. The strange thing is that I have regained my own energy as the depression has lifted.

During the time that I waited for the Glucosamine to work, I continued to research. I found the most useful website for me was that of the Arthritis and Glucosamine R
esource Centre on http://www.arthritis-glucosamine.net/pet-arthritis . This site lists various named products which it has tested with a detailed report and star rating on each; so I ordered the most favoured product from the manufacturer's website. However, this was before Jody's improvement had shown with use of the Cortaflex. It would take many thousands of words to reproduce the information on this supplement, so I would advise using the extensive web pages.

A Daily Mail article states "Vets advise that Glucosamine should be tried before the onset of arthritis if pain is to be avoided." I believe that I have done that for Jody. I don't believe that she has the condition, just that her joints were stiffening with age and eventually more obvious symptoms would have shown themselves.

Wih regard to side-effects, it appears that MSM (Mucopolysaccarides) used by some manufacturers can cause stomach upsets. These additives are in the one Jody has been using with no apparent problems.

For Jody there is the well being that comes from easy action. For me there is now the ability to forget her age and just enjoy every moment of our daily lives together.

Update.
This is almost unbelievable. The Synflex I ordered over the web came just over a week ago. This was £19 (just over $30) and lasts 180 days. I changed to this and don't know if this had the effect or the Cortiflex. I tend to think it is the Synflex. This morning I brought Jody in soaking wet (a few weeks ago I wouldn't have risked her joints getting wet) and had to hold her down to dry her. When released she did her first "wall of death" for months. By this I don't mean she actually runs round the walls, but close to it. A frantic rush around the house and up and down stairs, doing "handbrake turns" to stop crashing into walls. A few minutes of this releases the happy excess energy and she stands panting and laughi
ng. This stuff works!

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