.com Forum · Real Show Dogs

I have been told that glucosamine supplementation in puppies and young dogs can be harmful, and to wait until the dog is at least 2 years old. I want to know your guys's opinion on that, what's your personal experience?

I want to know when to start my little guy off. He's 9 months old and very active (I can't help it, he's a border collie) and I want to take every precaution I can to keep him happy and healthy for his future agility career.

Thanks

Harmful in what way? I'd want to hear something more solid than a rumor somebody thinks it can be harmful. A quick google search doesn't pull anything up, besides an uncited concern about cartilege overgrowth.

However, I found a LOT more info on people giving it to large breed puppies of all ages, so I imagine if there was solid evidence of harm, there would be more citations of harm and more people mentioning concerns of such on the various dog boards.

I believe rather strongly in starting joint supplements young. I've never had a dog under 2 though, so don't really have an opinion on when it is best to start- but my gut says 6 months or a year would be fine. And that waiting until 2 is unlikely to do much harm, except perhaps in dogs involved in activity with major joint impact.

The Whole Dog Journal has a nice article on joint supplements here, and they also recommend starting young, although don't specify an age. I've found them to be well balanced on issues in the past- www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/7_8/features/Canine-Osteoarthritis_15644-1.html

I started my GWP bitch on a glucosamine supplement starting around 9 months old - I haven't seen or heard anything negative as to starting them off early, and I want her to have good bones for field and water work.

I do Agility with my 2 year old Dandie and give Glucosamine prophyllacticly (sp?)

Thanks you guys for all the input. Astoria, how many mg did you start your dog off on? I have a border so I imagined he'd be on a lesser dosage.

bump

sorry - I saw this but forgot to respond because I knew I needed to look it up!
There is 500mg of glucosamine in her supplement - they suggest at first to double the dose for the first month, and I didn't do that because she had no pain or issues, I just started giving her the maintenance dose which is 500mg

She weighs about 50 - 55 lbs, she's on the smaller side for a GWP