Diagnosis: OCD Vet insists on cosequin

[mollysmom]

Gracie, 5 mo, has been limping for over a week. I thought it was a pulled muscle but when it didn't get better, I took her in to the vet. After several x-ray views they found an injury or trauma OCD, not a mal-formation. She's been order to crate rest for 2 or 3 weeks, which will be difficult because she's used to romping with the other pups. But, for her sake I will do it.

My vet said to put her on glu/chon, which I said was no problem since I have it for Molly. She then told me that I couldn't use the human form because it doesn't metabolize as well in dogs as the cosequin does. I asked her what the difference was between the two different forms and she said it had to do with the manufacture of the product. That the cosequin was able to deliver move glu/chon to the dog's body than the human counterpart. She also said she networks with several other vets and they too have noticed a difference between the two delivering the supplements.

Has anyone heard of this? What are your thoughts... I know I have read here several times that everyone likes the human products better. Do you think there's anything to this information she gave me? If not, I guess I'll just have to "eat" this $120.00 bottle of cosequin, double strength.

 

[sarnewfie]

I have heard same, therefore for years i have fed the JFlex (chond) and GL (glucosamine) from http://www.springtimeinc.com
my vet said these products are same as cosequin.
good luck!
my pups are given these suppliments all the way thru their whole life.

 

[dbradley]

Good luck crating for so long...We didn't have much success with it. Moya was barking all day and night and it was extremely stressful for her and us.

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

My vet was the one that originally told me to use the human kind. He said it is the same and a lot cheaper. I never would have thought to do this on my own. My vet is always trying to give his patients an economical way of doing things. I have seen a huge improvement in my lab and his arthritis since I have been using the gluc/chon, so it must be doing some good. I'm sorry to hear about Gracie. It is tough to keep a pup crated. Hopefully the time will pass fast.

[ 09-06-2002, 04:34 PM: Message edited by: NewfYork ]

 

[mollysmom]

Time is at a stand-still here. Gracie is barking constantly in her crate, I can ignore her, hubby can't. We both know it's for her own good, but hubby can't do it. The next best thing is to keep her leashed and at our sides. This would work nicely if she didn't chew through the leads. She has now destroyed 4 quality leashes. She chews through them in a snap. Even the ones that are guaranteed for life not to chew through. They are going back. Hubby thinks we should use a steel leader like he does for fish with teeth .

To be honest, we are not being very successful and my guilt over this is overwhelming.

This is going to be a long 2 or 3 months. I hope we all make it through it.

 

[Angela]

Hi Linda,
Have you thought of an ex-pen instead of a crate?
It's still restricting in movement but she could see out and see you all.
I had a Newf who had FCP repair at 2 yrs and TPLO at 10 yrs and had to be on enforced rest both times for weeks. We set an ex-pen up in the living room both times and it worked so well. The TPLO was in the summer and we borrowed another ex-pen for outside so when we were out in the back yard Emma could be with us too. Just a thought

 

[dbradley]

I know how you feel. Our solution was to keep Moya gated into whatever room we were in. If she started to get rambunctious then we crated her. After a while she didn't mind being in the crate during the day I think because she knew she wouldn't be in it all the time. Now Moya is crated for probably 6 hours out of the day with plenty of time in between hanging out with us. Plus she's in there at night. It's worked pretty well.
I thought the xpen was a great idea. Also the surgeon suggested that she could be in a room with no furniture. That way she couldn't jump. I don't know if you have an empty room or if you could empty one but that might work. The can with pennies worked really well at stopping the barking for us.
Good luck with this. I know it is really, really hard.
P/S The Cosequin...I was at the vet todya with Moya. Since she has a knee problem (surgery three weeks ago at 3 months old) she recommended that we go with cosequin for one more bottle (that makes 2) and then said we could switch to human forms. So there must be somthing to the idea that it is better for dogs than the human stuff. I can't remember exactly what she said as to why.

[ 09-07-2002, 02:06 PM: Message edited by: NutzyCat ]