Will definitely give it a try.

I'm just learning about this and therefore not a very reliable source. I had bot some glucosamine from Petsmart, which sells several brands of it. Another poster on the board who is very much into health foods for both people and pets advised me against giving it to my dogs. He strongly recommended that I go with the human grade because of the more stringent testing. I like your idea of the pharmaceutical grade also. Is that sold at GNCs or stores like that?

I'm flight crew for an aeromedical program(helicopters!) so I'm exposed to this all the time. And what I don't know, I have a pool of great resources to pull from. Pharmaceutical grades are 99.9999999999% pure with no fillers or binders. Human grade doesn't have the same rigid standards. And per the FDA, additives can be put in and not disclosed on the label. Not to say some of it can't still be good for our bullies, tho. It can.

re: GNC. I find them to be overpriced when there's places like Costco and Puritan's Pride. Puritan's has just about everything. It's well laid out, easy to read, labels on display, great prices and free shipping over $40. Arti-Flex looks really good, too, if you happen to see it anywhere.

Remember, liquid goes directly into the bloodstream with 98% or higher absorption. So when you give your dose of 1250MG, 1200 of that stays in and works! Gelcaps are always a better alternative over pills/caplets, but both of those go into the digestive tract first. You can get as little as 10% of it and the rest is flushed away (or scooped up in a shovel).

Oh yeah, the Syn-Flex For Pets has exactly the same ingredients in the people and athletes' version. They label it differently to track their sales. So take a little shot right alongside your bully!

Hope this helps.

Just kidding. LOL!!

Emily

I'm still getting pop ups, especially from some really annoying site called "startmonkey" that hijacks my screen sometimes. I have a program, Norton Internet Security, that blocks pop up ads, but network54 will not let me log in or post messages unless I disable the program (becuz it blocks cookies). So I ended up posting this message twice.

And that it undergoes a degree of product testing that is not done on the pet grade glucosamine.

and that it undergoes a degree of testing that is not done on the pet grade version.

n/m

n/m

Gene, here's where I ordered: http://www.activexamerica.com

What's the best is pharmaceutical grade liquid glucosamine. That's what Syn-Flex is. Absorbtion rate for liquid is far superior than pills as it absorbs more fully and provides longer relief.

Gary, here's where I ordered: http://www.activexamerica.com

just wondering, because I started my 6 month old on glucosamine a few weeks ago also. We got some from the vet, but I had already intended to buy the human grade in bulk from Costco. Is that a mistake? Also, I'm now wondering if Syn-Flex is a better choice anyway. I'm still researching this and like you, not very knowledgeable about it. Just trying to do whats right for my girl and give her every advantage.

about two weeks ago. I'm not real knowledgable about it, but posted a message like yours and got some very encouraging recommendations. I suggest you post a message for David of David & Holly. He emailed me some extremely helpful info, and gave some interesting insights about the Glucosamine you buy from a pet store versus that sold at stores for human consumption.

n/m

"Agree with Kathy on MSM..."

(distracted by Tampa/Philly game)

Glucosamine and chondroitin are natural sulfates. Studies have shown glucosamine stimulates the growth of new cartilage while chondroitin keeps the enzymes under control that can destroy healthy cartilage. That's why you always see the two together.

While some reports deny there's any benefit from G&C, my elderly bully took Syn-Flex the last two years of his life and I swear by it. And I agree with Kimberly on MSM supplements as well.

My 6-month-old guy will be starting Syn-Flex here soon. I just got a great deal online ordering 3 bottles @ $26 each with free shipping. I usually see it in the store between $29 - $32 and then have to pay 8% tax.

What I like most about it (besides its obvious medical benefits), is that it's non-steroidal, holistic, and natural.

You're right. Human grade is above pet grade but Syn-Flex is neither one -- it's pharmaceutical.

There are basically three different grades of raw materials used in products -- in highest order:

Pharmaceutical Grade - meets pharmaceutical standards
Food Grade - meets standards set for human consumption
Feed Grade - meets standards set for animal consumption

Now, pet grade food is actually quite disgusting when you research what it is; beaks, feet, etc. Gives me the heebie jeebies. I can't say as I've ever heard of pet grade glucosamine. Where'd you see it?

I know Costco carries a liquid but it's cherry flavor and has Xanthan gum and red dye. Eech. One of their least expensive, the Kirkland brand in pill form, has beet juice powder and a few things I can't pronounce.

Schiff's Move Free looks pretty good for a Gluc/Chon pill, but here's the comparison:

Syn-Flex Liquid: Dogs weighing between 40-100 pounds, the recommended dose is 1/8 oz at a cost of 41 cents a day. With that one dose, your bully gets about 600mg of absorbed glucosamine. One bottle lasts 64 days.

Costco: 11 cents a pill at 500mg. With the average absorption percentage for pills being 10%, you would have to give your dog 12 pills to get the same amount of glucosamine and your cost rises to $1.32 per day plus having to get 12 pills down your bully. You'd be done with one bottle in 18 days.

(Doing math on fingers, forgive mistakes)

Pharmaceutical grade standards are always much higher than human consumption. Syn-Flex is pharmaceutical. #1 rated by vets, too.

We give Oscar two or three 500 mg glucosomine/condroitin per day. He has an on and off limp and it really seems to help. We also give him MSM, one 500 mg per day, which is an antioxident/anti-inflammatory.