LOL I think I am going to pick up a 7 day pill box tomorrow so that I can fill all his supplements for each day once a week and make it easier on myself when it comes to prepping his dinner each night! Hubby thinks I'm nuts for doing all this...Dakota's my first "baby" though and he's totally worth all that and more.  

Holy cow! Two days on the extra supplements and I swear my old dog is back! I kid you not! Took everyone outside earlier and Dakota was actually running! And not just running, but full on, hard zoomie type run that lasted for a long time. Not the measly slow run that he has been doing and stopping almost as soon as he starts. He hasn't really run like his old self in so many months I couldn't tell you how long it's been. He ran and ran and was so happy doing it and even played in his sandbox. What a HUGE difference...and after only TWO days on his new supplement regimen. It's like the pain and arthritis free Dakota is back! I am so happy and still in complete shock at what I witnessed today! Here's hoping this continues. BTW, nothing else has changed besides adding the new supplements. I am just so ecstatic that I had to share.  

how come we don't have a party smiley or a dancing banana smiley lol
so glad he's doing better *insert dancing banana or party smiley here*

Here you go:

(party hats are overrated )


annnd the dancing banana:



Glad to hear that Dakota is back on his feet, time for a celebration!

Hey Val! I'm curious how Dakota has been doing on your supplement regime?? I was also curious if you have kept the same dosage or how you have adjusted it?? Sheba has been showing a lot of discomfort lately, so I'm trying to be proactive   .

Kelsey, I have made a few adjustments and plan to make more in the coming months.

Huskyluv wrote:

So he's been on the following daily and will continue to take until I can get a higher dosage of Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM.
375 mg Glucosamine
300 mg Chondroitin
700 mg MSM (I have a higher dosage of MSM already on hand but am going to start it once he finishes the current bottle already open)
75 mg Yucca schidigera


Now the stuff that we're going to start adding in that came today I plan to give as follows:
500 mg Vitamin C (3x/week; MWF)
1000 mg Omega 3 Fish Oil (3x/week; MWF)
400 mg Boswellia (2x/week; TSa)
480 mg Colostrum (2x/week; RSu)
100 mg Vitamin E (3x/week; MWF)
300 mg Garlic (3x/week; MWF)
50 mg Hawthorne berry (3x/week; MWF)
10 mg Cayenne (3x/week; MWF)
4 mg Coenzyme Q10 (3x/week; MWF)
20 mg Hyaluronic acid (2x/week; TR)

So the above quoted text is what I started him on last July. Since then I have increased the dosage of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM, and increased the frequency of Boswellia.

For those changed items, he now gets:
1500 mg Glucosamine daily
1200 mg Chondroitin daily
1000 mg MSM daily
400 mg Boswellia daily

He is doing better on the increased amounts and is really active and playful. However he does still have occasional bad days where he is slower to get up and days when he'll limp on his front leg for several hours before his movement returns to normal. I am thinking of picking up some Traumeel for the bad days when his limping is particularly bothersome.

I have plans to cut back on some stuff in the coming months, but I want to talk to a new vet first. In July I plan on trying out a new holistic vet so we'll get his bloodwork redone, check out his legs/joints, and talk about supplements.

Just a quick update, Dakota's doing absolutely stellar. He runs, jumps, plays, climbs up and down stairs like a puppy. You'd never believe this dog had arthritis. His annual check up went fabulous. The vet was amazed at what he saw, the comfort and mobility and lack of pain in him. His blood work came back perfect and his knees were both also perfect, neither enlarged like last year. His muscles look great and the vet even commented on how great his teeth look (thanks to PlaqueOff!). The vet told me to just keep doing what I am doing with the supplements because it is definitely working. So that's what I intend to do. Only change I've made to my supplement schedule is backing off on the Boswellia from daily back down to twice a week and changing my Yucca schidigera dosage.

So my current supplement schedule is as follows:
1500 mg Glucosamine daily
1200 mg Chondroitin daily
1000 mg MSM daily
50 mg Yucca schidigera daily
500 mg Vitamin C (3x/week; MWF)
1000 mg Omega 3 Fish Oil (3x/week; MWF)
400 mg Boswellia (2x/week; TSa)
480 mg Colostrum (2x/week; RSu)
100 mg Vitamin E (3x/week; MWF)
300 mg Garlic (3x/week; MWF)
50 mg Hawthorne berry (3x/week; MWF)
10 mg Cayenne (3x/week; MWF)
4 mg Coenzyme Q10 (3x/week; MWF)
20 mg Hyaluronic acid (2x/week; TR)

Val,

I commend you for your extensive research and more importantly your love for Dakota. You do a great service for this forum, helping people. You give specific information, which makes it easier for those of us that are new, to follow. I know your time is very limited, I have read some of your previous threads, so I do appreciate you coming on and giving out what you know. I have earmarked several of you feeding and natural remedy threads so I can reread in the future and/or if a problem arises with my girl. I have such limited resources for anything dog related, let alone husky related, and absolutely nothing in respect of natural remedies/feeding raw, etc. Again thank you, I'm so glad that Dakota is doing way better.
Take care Val,
Renee

Thanks, Renee. I do try to be detailed and keep things up to date as I know that threads get read and referenced long after they have been posted. I know because I have had people contact me via private messages asking for advice based on things I have posted years ago and had completely forgotten about. And the reviews from others that I value the most are those that go into detail so I try to give out the info that I would be looking for if I was on the opposite side trying to find help. I am glad to be of help to those who find themselves in the position I was once in myself. Thank you for your kind words.   

How fantastic, Val!

I'm telling you, the natural route has done wonders for us as well. I'm glad to see that Dakota is doing so well. I don't know how Delilah would be had I not came up with a concoction similar to yours

Mmmm...my stiff, cranky knee, my MTP's in feet...I wonder if that would work as well in people  

I'm sure it would in adjusted dosages to account for size differences, we're really not that different.

I'll have to research these components (I take a few prescriptions and have to make sure there are no interactions.) I currently use a concoction I made up of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cayenne. I stir 1/2 tsp into a cup of tea twice daily. Already take the fish oil (though ran out and have to get to Sam's) and the Vit C (my doc thought it might help with the steroid induced skin tearing and bruising.) Now that I think about it - not considering that Archer ran into me and took me out at the knees a couple weeks ago, it's been awhile since I took the fish oil - forgot to get it the last time I was at Sam's...and I take the fish oil for inflammation. May be time to go back on the glucosamine, too.

Thank you for this thread - especially to Val and Megan!

Storm turns 10 years old on May 15. And we had an appointment with the vet today for a health check, and Storm is showing early signs of arthritis in his hips.

A couple of weeks ago, he started to slip in his hind legs on the hardwood floors from time to time when he shuffles around. I thought there might be something starting in his hind legs or hips, and it was confirmed today at the vet. The vet said, visibly, for a dog his size, his muscles are smaller than that it should be and she also noticed a difference from his last visit - a sign of atrophe because it's starting to bother him. When she went to examine his in his hips and tried to straighten his hind legs, he resisted, which is a sign that it bothers him. On his walks, he also seems a little slow, but I didn't think that much of it especially since it's warming up and he doesn't like warm weather unless he's basking in the sun. Jumping into my SUV, Storm sometimes will misstep in one of his hind legs...

I'm going to start supplements and increasing glucosamine and condroitin for him to support joints a little more than what I have had him on since we adopted him.

I knew this day was going to come sooner or later when his joints will start to ache - after all, half of his life - literally, up to age 6.5 - he's been extremely overweight and it's no surprise that his joints are now starting to ache. Vet records indicates that by the time he was 1 year old, he was already at 100 lbs!!! He maxed out at 140 lbs, and who knows how long he was at that weight!! When we adopted him a month before turning 6, he was 115lbs. It took us 9 months to get him down to 70 lbs and we've kept him between 69-71 lbs since. Yes, I was VERY strict about not letting him get over 71 lbs! People would say he was too skinny and that he needed to put on 5-10 lbs, but I just ignored that as I already knew his joints couldn't be healthy after carrying all that weight for 6 years!

So, thank you for this thread!!

Aww, sorry to hear that Storm is starting to struggle with arthritis. But I am glad that we could help. I too dismissed or completely missed some of the early signs of arthritis in Dakota...hindsight is 20/20 but it didn't make me feel less guilty for not noticing sooner.

Dakota, also 10 years old this year but diagnosed 2 years ago, has been doing amazing lately and because of it I have not made any changes to his supplement schedule. He never shows any signs of discomfort, he handles stairs like a champ, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw him limp. He acts like a puppy all the time and still gets mistaken for a puppy by strangers. My arthritic boy runs at full speed around the yard every day, bounds up and down the stairs like it's nothing, and jumps around like a lunatic for food and walks. Seriously, no one would think he had arthritis. Granted, realistically speaking, I expect that things will get worse as he ages but our supplement regimen has room for increasing various doses to accommodate future progression in his arthritis.

Claudia, if you don't mind updating, I (and I'm sure others who might search out this topic in the future) would like to know exactly what you ultimately end up doing to treat Storm's arthritis and the results. Hopefully you are able to manage Storm's pain so that he can still enjoy the years ahead as we've been able to do with Dakota.

I will certainly update this thread.

To start, I just ran out of the joint supplement that I was giving him, which was Connectin:

1 scoop has:

condroitin/hyaluronic acid = 1200 mg
yucca root = 1200 mg
glucosamin HCI = 625 mg
alfalfa = 500 mg
nettle leaf = 300 mg
devil's claw = 100 mg
celery seed = 50 mg
black cohosh root = 50 mg
ginger root = 50 mg
turmeric root = 50 mg
cayenne pepper = 5 mg

His maintenance dose was 1 scoop.

I did like condroitin/hyaluronic acid content, but reading through this thread, I think I need to increase glucosamine, and make sure he also gets MSM.

Since I just ran out of Connectin, I've started him on Cosequin and am starting on the initial load dose for the next 4 weeks. That includes 1800 mg glucosamine, 900 mg condroitin and 7500 mg MSM.

The maintenance dose will drop to 1200 mg glucosamin, 600 mg condroitin and 500 mg MSM, but I think I am going to supplement this with half a scoop of Connectin so he also gets 600 mg of hyaluronic acid.

I'm researching Duralactin for inflammation:
http://www.duralactin.com/duralactin_softchews.htm
(Val, have you heard of this? If you have, what are your thoughts?)

His blood work looks great - liver and kidney and everything else are all smack middle of normal, but I would rather not have to give him Rimadyl if Duralactin is a good alternative.

His last thyroid test a couple of years back showed normal but on the high side, and even that is smack middle of normal so he's doing well.

He's not showing signs of stiffness or pain, but I want to try and get ahead of that if possible.

Ok, so here's what I've found so far.

Comparing what was prescribed by the vet to what I had him on, and reading through other information on arthritis and inflammation, I've come to realize that a slightly higher dose of glucosamine, condroitin, MSM and anti-inflammatory ingredients is what I'm going to go with.

What I have found that has a lot of good stuff which I will be going back to is Connectin because it's the only joint supplement (that I have found) that also has natural anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Connectin (1 scoop):
glycosaminoglycans (or mucopilysacchrides) = 1200mg <== another form of glucosamine
glucosamin = 625 mg
condroitin/hyaluronic acid = 1200 mg <== rebuilding of tissue
yucca root = 1200 mg <== anti inflammatory
alfalfa = 500 mg <== vitamin to help absorb
turmeric and ginger = each 50 mg <== natural anti inflammatory

Our vet prescribed Cosequin and being that I just ran out of stuff, I grabbed a bottle on my way out. Looking at Cosequin and Connectin, I see that Cosequin has MSM and Connectin has the natural anti inflammatory ingredients. So I think what I'll do once I get through the initial dose, I'll supplement the maintenance dose of Cosequin with a scoop of Connectin so that Storm is also getting the anti inflammatory ingredients.

A bit of black pepper has piperine - will help absorb the turmeric. Also better absorbed with a little fat (don't know what the vehicle is in your supplements - may already have some fat.)

I swear by turmeric, ginger and cayenne for my knee. Just not so great on my stomach if taken without food.

Connectin also has cayenne pepper (5mg per scoop) and I sprinkle it over Storm's food

I too give Dakota's supplements mixed in with his food, this includes cayenne.

Sorry for my lack of response yesterday, Claudia. I have not heard of Duralactin and was waiting to check it out before responding but I never had time. I also had not heard of Connectin before either. I appreciate your sharing what you are using, I will keep the Connectin in mind if things start getting worse for Dakota and we have to make adjustments to his supplements in the future. I don't want to rock the boat currently since Dakota is doing stellar on what he is taking.

My mom uses Cosequin (maybe Cosequin DS?) on one of her dogs, a 10 year old Chihuahua who also has the beginning stages of arthritis. That is all she uses but I don't know how well her dog is doing on a daily basis or how advanced his arthritis is. I know her dogs arthritis is not as advanced as Dakota's.

Back when Dakota was diagnosed the vet recommended a product that I cannot currently remember the name of...I'd have to go back and check his vet records. That, like the Cosequin, had me balking at the price tag considering how much of it I would have to buy on a regular basis for the rest of his life. That's the reason I buy generic and make my own concoction. After all, we are on a single income with 2 kids (and 2 furkids)!

After just a brief look at Connectin it does seem like it has potential and would be a lot easier (and faster) to manage. So to sum it up, Claudia, you will be giving JUST the Cosequin and Connectin?

That's correct, Val. Cosequin and Connectin.

For me, it's easier to do the two than getting the ingredients separately and mixing it up. Besides, if/when hubby or a dog sitter has to feed in the mornings, it would be easier to say 1 tablet of Cosequin and one scoop of Connectin. LOL!

I had Connectin in rotation with Myristin (not at the same time). So since I ran out of Connectin, I would've gotten Myristin. I suppose I could simply increase Storm's dose of Connectin, but I also like the one ingredient in Cosequin (yes, it's Cosequin DS). So, I am going to do both so that he gets the joint support, rebuilding of soft tissue and anti-inflammatory.

I followed this for awhile now and Beka was my big "I need arthritis supplements" so I have not followed as much. How ever I thought I would add that in addition to natural turmeric and ginger for anti inflammatory with a bunch of the stuff that both Claudia and Val have mentioned here I added Traumeel for the fatigue at the joint/muscle due to the arthritis. We got turned on to it during torn ACL recovery by the dog ACL surgeon. Traumeel is natural and in pill form (Comes in gel/ ointment also since made for humans) that relieves musculoskeletal conditions – pain and inflammation. It is arnica which is a homeopathic remedy and a NSAID. I noticed the other day that it is now being sold on pet websites as Traumeel or T Relief. I originally found it at Whole Foods and VitaminShoppe as a human supplement

Thanks Colleen!
That's great info!

Found out what the original diagnosing vet (conventional, not holistic) recommended I give to Dakota and it's a product called Osteo 3 granules. It was pretty high priced for the product in her office but a quick search on it just now doesn't leave me very interested in it. I have seen better but thought I'd share anyway.

I wanted to update with an observation that I had recently over the last week. We had to leave town due to a family medical emergency and, as a result, ended up being gone longer than we had originally anticipated. Given that, I did not pack enough of Dakota's supplements for the entire time we were gone and I ended up being short 2 days worth of supplements for him. So the 2 days I didn't have his normal supplements I gave him Cosequin DS which my mom had on hand for her dogs. Well that did not go over well with Dakota. Not surprisingly, he started limping, was slow to rise and really struggled on the stairs leading to the backyard. It was almost painful to watch how bad things got after only 2 days off his normal supplements. And it was very clear that the Cosequin DS wasn't doing anything for him.

Once we got home I got him back on his normal supplements and it took 2 days for them to really take effect but after 2 days he's back to his normal self. I just wanted to share that because it really confirms that our supplement regimen IS working and that without it he would be in a world of pain. Now I just have to make sure I pack way more than I think I'll need if we have another family emergency so there's no chance that I'll run out!

Claudia, any update on Storm's progress?