Horse treats for Dogs.

[Melanie]

(I'm posting this on a few forums, just to get as much info as possible. I apologize beforehand if you've seen it already).

My boyfriend was in a hardware store today to purchase some non-slip materials to lay on the floor for Jake's benefit. The cashier started a conversation and found out the reason for the purchase. The cashier mentioned that his 11 year old Lab is arthritic and he gives her horse treats. The treats are called ROUNDERS, and are fortified with glucosamine and chondriotin sulfate. Horses are to be given 5 per day, so a dog only needs one per day (1/2 in morning, 1/2 at night). The cashier said they've worked a miracle on his Lab's mobility. My boyfriend ran out right then and bought some. Jake received his first half-a-treat tonight. We're crossing our fingers that these things help.
Has anyone heard of these? Used them? How about those with horses?
Anyone else have suggestions for something that really works?

***BACKGROUND (NOT necessary to read for post): As you may or may not know, Jake is my 12 year old Springer Spaniel. He is above average in height and weight for the breed standard; he's built more like a large Lab than a medium Springer. He has had lyme disease in his system since we adopted him (and for which he receives medication that seems to do nothing). He's arthrtic, stiff, sore, and old. He doesn't do steps anymore (we've built a ramp for our 3 front steps). And he has difficulty getting up after a long rest. His exercise is limited to mild walks and swims; but when he feels good, we go an extra 15 minutes or so. We have been testing various supplements since we adopted him, to help him move around better. We have yet to find anything that really seems to work wonders. We're really hoping this works. If not, we don't know what else we can do.***
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[imported_Cassie]

I have given my dogs horse supplements. There is nothing wrong with that :wink:
I have not used the treats you are talking about but they sound alright. I give my Rottie (with HD) & my year old Newfoundland which has post arthritis form cruciate ligament surger.
I give them daily:
Glucosamine & Chondroitin & MSM
Yucca root this I use as an anti inflammatory.
With my Rottie she became lame with HD at about 2 years of age, she had a hard time getting up and was lame for days after a walk. When I started giving her the Yucca root it seems to have worked wonders on her...of course it took about 2 months to see any results. She is now a spy energetic dog who no longer has any bad mornings and does not seem to suffer from any stiffness at all any longer. She is now 5 years old and she has been pain free since I started the Yucca. I simply refused to put my poor Rottie on metacam or any of the anti inflammatories from the vet which would slowly ruin her liver...slow death.
I also give them periodically alfalfa, licorice, turmeric and Boswellia.
All of the above are great for arthritis relief.


What else do these treats have in them? for Arthritis alfalfa is a very good addition to a dogs diet, so if these treats have alfalfa then that is a good thing. :wink:

For my old girl I also give her a dandelion supplement a few times a week, and I give this to my other 5 dogs as well its great as a nutritive support. I also grow grass for my dogs to nibble on, I grow wheatgrass and barley grass.
For building my old girls immunity I give her astragalus, and I also give her oat tops for mental clarity. For digestive support I give my dogs flaxseed which I grind myself at home (only organic seeds) and put in their food a few times a week.

I also upgraded my dogs diet, I give them home cooked meals, some raw meats, I also give my dogs raw bones with lots of cartlidge still on them. I also give my dogs canned sardines a couple of times a week, plus wild canned pacific salmon (never farmed salmon-farmed salmon does not have the levels of omega 3's required, plus they are killing off wild salmon due to diseases infecting wild fish), my dogs have a variety to thier diet, I also feed them kibble which I switch every 3 months I go from solid gold to wellness...and I am trying to find another local good dog kibble. I also feed them the same brand canned dog food with every kibble meal, in my opinion canned dog food is much better for our dogs as they have less preservatives in them.

Good luck with Jake, and let me know how you are making out.
I just want to add that horse people are always way ahead of us dog people in the view of supplements etc. I first found out about Glucosamine & Chondroitin about 20 years ago from horse people and started giving it to my dogs. All the Vets where very sceptical of this supplement at this time and tried to talk me out of using it. It was unheard of at this time when I first started using it. It makes me laugh now when I go to my vet and they suggest using Glucosamine & Chondroitin :lol: especially since I was telling them about it first...now it seems to be their invention :lol:
Horse people always seem to know about different supplements to give for joint pain etc. for their horses. An experienced horse person is a joy to talk with. :wink:

[imported_Cassie]

I meant to say that my old girl which is a Newf is 10 years old and doing well with the supplements I have her on.

With older dogs it very important to give a good diet perferably a home made diet. I also give my old girl probiotics and digestive enzymes to help her get the goodness out of her food. My dogs also get all organic foods and organic yogert.

[Carolk9s]

Hi Melanie,
Your dog is Jake is SO lucky to have you and your boyfriend looking out for him!
Jesse, my almost 13 yr old Belgian, is arthritic also. I have him on 1500 mg of glucosamine + 1000 mg of MSM each day. He also gets 150 mg of Etogesic, an anti-inflamatory a day. Jesse visits a chiropratic vet twice a year, she gives him a marvelous massage, stretches him this way and that, and shows ME how to massage and stretch him as well. She's also given me exercises to do with him to keep him flexible and to keep his muscle tone up. On our last visit, she told me she was quite pleased with him overall and even said that in some ways, he is in better shape then when I first brought him to her. I started seeing her about 2.5 years ago.
I first gave Jesse Glyco-Flex II or III, can't remember which. At first he ate it readily but progressed to refusing it. It smells quite horrible to me and apparently he did not care for it either. I switched to Cosamine DS, that went well.
At one visit with the chiro vet, she told me that I could continue using the Cosamine DS OR buy the store brand of glucosamine for people. She said it's the same stuff whether sold for dogs or people. We have Walgreens stores here, I buy there brand of glucosamine and MSM. They frequently have buy 1, get 1 free sales, I have saved a HUGE amount of money doing this. Just mentioning this in case cost ever becomes a factor, of course if Jake does well on a specific formula, I'd stick with it.
Perhaps there is a chiropractic vet in your area that you could take Jake to? I truly feel this vet has had a positive impact on all of my dogs but especially Jesse. He ADORES getting massages, but of course, I would too!

[Melanie]

Thank you both for your replies. Quite informative!!!

Besides the horse treats I originally posted about, Jake's diet consists of his daily dry food (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul -- Senior formula), mixed with a couple scoops of an herbal matrix (for optimizing his health). He gets treats of yogurt, cottage cheese, fish, and raw soup bones (with the marrow and cartilage still inside).
I massage him every few days, but I've never been taught by a professional how to do so. This would be worth researching.
I've been afraid to accept any pain/anti-inflammatory medication from the vet. I've heard and read too many awful stories. I've been advised I could just as easily give Jake half an aspirin before or after a walk.

Just the other day, we bought Jake a life vest! Now his little swims will be effortless. I can't wait to try it out.

ANd I can't wait to see if his horste treats work their mojo!!!

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again!!!!

[Carolk9s]

If you want to give your dog aspirin, I would suggest looking for Ascripton, it is aspirin buffered with Maalox, should be a bit easier and safer for his stomach.
ANY drug may have side affects, I have heard some good things about Deramax but bloodwork is essential if using ANY anti-inflamatory (other drugs as well). Some dogs can get along quite well on 2 Deramax a week once the initial problem has been calmed.
I just had a blood chemistry panel run on Jesse as he has been using the Etogesic for about 6 months, glad to find out that all levels are well within normal.
I had recently stopped giving Jesse the Etogesic, on the advice of his chiro vet, after about a week, I noticed him stumbling more frequently and knuckling over on his right rear. She had told me to watch him for signs of problems and if seen, put him back on it.
Started the Etogesic back up at 1/2 dose (originally he was on 300mg a day), within 2 days, he appeared far more stable and I have not seen any knuckling over.