Wworm

I'm wondering if it's healthful to give Worm Hip/Joint vitamins at 10 months of age?

They don't contain calcium or vit D, but do contain:
glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), vit C, zinc, manganese, & copper.

thoughts on this...???

Mikey T

I would not supplement mineral like zinc maganese and Copper because of the potential for toxicity via over supplimentation,

Cosequin is the most study joint suppliment on the market. howver even thoough the studies were double blind they were corporate sponsored which many believe lead to biases even in double blind studies. In exhausteve NIH studies on cloucosimine and condroitin sulfate have shown them to be no better than placebo in dealing with joint pain.

Questions and Answers: NIH Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial Primary Study


The result for vitain c are simlar a corporate sponsored study by the makers of ester-c found amazing results. However they have not been dublicated by others


The pathogenesis and diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia: a review.
The msm gloucosomine condroitin sulfate and vitamin c have not shown any adverse effect so they do no harm and it is possible they do some good what and how much is crearly in dispute. Also keep in mind the suppliment market is not highly regulated in testing by consumer labs and other found significat and potential hazzardous difference in what the lable listed vs what the product actual contain for many suppliments.

Canine Zinc Toxicosis

Manganese Requirements in Dogs
[quote]
Manganese deficiency is very rare in dogs and cats; when it does occur, newborn and young animals are more likely affected. The symptoms of manganese deficiency include poor growth, skeletal abnormalities, reproductive failure, and ataxia (loss of equilibrium).

Manganese toxicity is basically unknown in dogs and cats.[/url]

Copper Requirements in Dogs
Zinc Requirements in Dogs



Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel, Placebo-Controlled Study of Oral Glucosamine, Methylsulfonylmethane and their Combination in Osteoarthritis.

Efficacy of glucosamine, chondroitin, and methylsulfonylmethane for spinal degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease: a systematic review.

[quote] One study was found to have good quality but reported negative results for the supplemented group compared with placebo, the other study had low quality but reported significant positive results for the supplemented group when compared with a no intervention control group.
CONCLUSION:

There was little literature found to support the use of common nutritional supplements for spinal degeneration, making it difficult to determine whether clinicians should recommend them.[/quoe]

Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: a pilot clinical trial.

Are there any adverse effects from long-term use of MSM for arthritis pain?
Efficacy of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate May Depend on Level of Osteoarthritis Pain

Glucosamine doesn't prevent joint damage: study

There is little to no evidence to sugest any of these thing actual protech healthy joints and prevent arthitis in the first place there is no convincine evidence for their use in anything not experience joint pain.

Wworm

Wowsah's-- thx for all the info, Mikey!

kaylav

I give Toby Pet Naturals Hip and Joint once a day. I figure if there has been no proven adverse effect, and potential benefits for him later in life, its worth a try. He eats it like a treat.

Mikey T

That's it in a nut shell not enough info to reccommend and not any reason to disuade either. It might help it might not If you can afford to go ahead if not don't worry about it because if there are any benefits it is likely minor.