nature_vet

Sorry it probably isnt, I just thought I would help out with some info :D

We have just launched a new joint product that contains glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate as well as other important co-factors, and is the only dog joint health product that also contains MSM. The product is called Joint Guard for Dogs and has been specially formulated for dogs, so the ratio of glucosamine to chondroitin sulfate is ideal, whereas the human products have been formulated for humans who require a different ratio. We also studied whether glucosamine hydrochloride or sulfate is better for dogs and the hydrochloride form is much better absorbed, this may be different in humans but in dogs hydrochloride is the way to go. It is also important for maximum effect to have almost equal amounts of glucosamine to chondroitin in dogs. Chondroitin is a very expensive ingredient so you will find the cheaper products to have much less, Joint Guard for Dogs has 1000mg Glucosamine and 800mg Chondroitin sulfate per scoop (it is in a powder form). Be wary of any of the marine-based products, they do not contain purified glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, in fact they contain very little at all, just read the label, and because they have not been purified they are in fact extremely large molecules that are difficult for your dog's body to absorb. A study was done on this and showed only 0-8% of the GAGs found in green lipped mussel were actually absorbed! I am not telling you this to put down anyone else's product, i just think it is worth noting when you compare what you are getting for your money! If you are interested in our new product it is now available from most online stores and will soon be available in all vets and pet shops. Cheers Janelle

There are lots of trials done on the ingredients used in products, for eg trials on glucosamine or chondroitin to show efficacy in treating joint disease, but rarely trials done on the actual product, using the exact ingredients, ratios etc. Our trial was done on our capsule so you know it works, and we use a patented form of chondroitin that is easy-to-absorb that is exclusively found in Cosequin, so although other companies might say "glucosamine and chondroitin such as the ones used in our product has been shown to be effective" that isnt exactly true. Of course the information is free to use within the industry, and as i said it is flattering that they have used our trial as evidence, but at the end of the day it is a totally different product (just look at the amount of chondroitin actually in that Flexicose, it is minimal). Hopefully that explains my statement a little better :rolleyes:

We make Cosequin here is Austalia (it is also available in the US through our partner company where it is the number 1 product recommended by vets) and also Joint Guard (contains MSM) which is available for Horses and will be available for dogs from March 1. These both have safety and efficacy studies. There is also a good human grade product called Cosamin which is made here and has clinical evidence to support its use. Hope this helps, check out the online pet stores for the best prices and watch this space for Joint Guard :rolleyes:

Haha how funny I just looked at the Flexicose website to see what clinical evidence they use to support the efficacy of their product and they are using the GAIT trial which was our study :D We did this study on our human product Cosamin (which is exactly the same as the dog product Cosequin) in conjunction with our US partner and the US Institutes of Health. Oh well I guess when the competition start using your clinical evidence that should be considered sought of a complement shouldnt it

Glucosamine/Chondroitin are excellent for prevention of injury or future arthritis in active dogs, but remember to keep these things in mind: Glucosmamine - this stimulates the growth of cartilage cells, important when there is already damage in the joint and you need to rebuild the amount of healthy cartilage. Chondroitin sulfate - this fights the enzymes that break down cartilage to prevent further decay. So really if you are looking for a product to help PREVENT damage to the cartilage then you should really buy a product that is high in chondroitin sulfate as this is the preventative and protective agent, otherwise you really are wasting your good money (and these products are all very expensive!). When treating dogs look for a product that contains close to equal amounts of chondroitin and glucosamine, and preferably a low molecular weight chondroitin (ie. easier to absorb). Its also advisable to buy a product that is registered with the APVMA (Australian governing body over all veterinary products sold here) as they carefully scrutinise how the product is made and the ingredients used, overseas products are not regulated like ours are so there are no guarantees of quality. Also when you are buying a glucosamine/chondroitin product look at what evidence they have that supports its effectiveness, not just testimonials. Only a few products worldwide have had actual clinical studies done to prove they work, and you can request these from the company to make sure you are getting what you pay for. Don't forget to check out the great Australian-made glucosamine/chondroitin product for dogs, horses and humans, and when you buy online they actually work out cheaper than overseas versions and we can provide all the clinical data you need to prove it works :D

Depending on the type of medication your dog is on for epilepsy Thrive should be ok, talk to your vet as if it is a barbituate you may need to dose the Thrive at a different time of the day, but your vet will be able to advise you on this (they can contact us for further info if required :D )

We make a product called Thrive D which has been known to help. It is a digestive aid which helps dogs absorb the nutrients in their food better and also change the protein content of the faeces making it less attractive to the offending animal. You can feed it to all the animals in your household including cats and you can buy it online or from your local pet shop (they can get it in for you if they dont stock it). There have been a few topics on this so perhaps run a search??? Dr Harry also did a story on this on Better Homes and Gardens and he recommended Thrive D as a solution, so maybe give it a try! Better Homes and Gardens Its also great for improving your dog's overall condition so it kills two birds with one stone

Sorry to hear about the EPI diagnosis, but as the others have said there are products and foods that you can give which help in most cases. Enzyplex is a great product which helps majority of EPI cases. It provides the essential digestive enzymes normally provided by the pancreas, which helps give complete digestion of food and improves nutrient availability and absorption so your dog puts the weight back on and stays healthy. Combine this with the diet your vet has given and you should notice improvements within weeks. I hope it helps, please keep us posted! Cheers Janelle

No worries

Hi - just be careful with your spelling of Carprofen and Cartrophen as you may be getting confused - these are two completely different drugs! Carprofen - this is the name of the active molecule found in Rimadyl (there are generic Rimadyls that use the trade name Carprofen so this is where you may have heard it) Cartrophen - these are the injections people often refer to for arthritis, they are a disease modifying natural treatment with generally excellent results and virtually no side effects (never say never) - we actually make a version called Pentosan 100 which some of you may of heard of - this is exactly the same product however Pentosan 100 is wholly made in Australia by us whereas Cartrophen in made in Europe. If you are interested in exploring other options for pain relief Nature Vet make an anti-inflammatory similar to Rimadyl and Metacam called Cu-Algesic. Although i am not allowed to promote it to the general public (as your vet should be the one to decide what medication is given to your dog) you can check out the details on our website www.naturevet.com you may be surprised at how good it really is particularly in regards to side effects

No problem Rappie, I would be happy to help out, PM sent If anyone else would ever like any information on any of our dog or horse products please feel free to contact myself or any of the Nature Vet vets on 1800 624 174. Cheers Janelle

No no sorry...i was just making a comparison of scoops to capsules so you can dose accurately. 2 scoops Cosequin Equine powder = 3 capsules Cosequin DS So for example a medium dog (say average 25-30kg) on a maintenance dose would require 1-2 capsules a day, which would be around 1.5 scoops a day. A smaller dog or pup (around 10-20kg) on a maintenance dose would need only 0.5 - 1 capsule a day, which would equate to say one third of a scoop up to two thirds of a scoop each day. Sorry to confuse you! Like I mentioned before, if your dog is getting a result out of what you are already dosing and this is what your vet has recommended then there is no need to change, I just wanted to let you know what the equivalent dose would be in capsules! Don't forget if you are using Cosequin as a preventative which is fantastic for large or active dogs, then it would make sense to use the appropriate amount of chondroitin sulfate as this is the ingredient that prevents damage, whereas glucosamine only increases the production of cartilage cells

Absolutely! We have done several clinical studies showing that Cosequin has a protective effect in joints, and it is particularly useful as a preventative in young dogs who are over-active or involved in sporting activites. For example many Greyhound trainers have their young dogs on Cosequin to prevent cartilage damage, as do a lot of horse trainers - Makybe Diva was on Cosequin! It has also been found that the combination of glucosamine and our easy-to-absorb chondroitin sulfate has a protective effect against the potential effects of pain medications like Rimadyl and Metacam on cartilage. This group of pain medications have been shown to inhibit the new growth of cartilage cells, but when Cosequin was added to Rimadyl therapy it helped stimulate cartilage growth and protect the joint from further damage. This is why Cosequin is an ideal add-on to pain medications in treating arthritis, post-operative pain and hip dysplasia. Cosequin can sometimes seem a little expensive when compared to other products that are available, but remember that its ingredients are purified and patented and no other product contains this combination, which is important as all of our clinical studies are done on our product specifically and not just the individual raw materials! Cheers Janelle

Hi there Couldnt help notice a thread on Sasha's Blend and thought I would have a look as it is the competition