How long does my pug need hip & joint supplements for his popping knee?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Knees 'popping out' in a Pug is usually due to a luxating patella. This is a condition that can be surgically corrected, and given Rascal's age of 2, this is recommended so that he doesn't develop painful arthritis for the rest of his life. The other possible condition is a 'torn cruciate', and this also can be corrected with surgery. Carprofen is a medication of the class 'NSAIDs'. This are hard on the liver, kidney and gut. It is good for breakthrough pain, however long-term this isn't something you want to continue on. Please discuss with your vet about surgical correction options for Rascal, as well as other options for pain medications longer term (Gabapentin for example). NSAIDs do work best, they just come with high risks of side effects. Best of luck with Rascal, I hope he feels better soon!

It depends on what you are trying to treat but ultimately, it is best to continue them for the life of the pet. If you would like to post again with more information we may be able to help you better.

I think Florence would benefit from some joint supplements. I recommend dasuquin or flexadin with UC-II. If one alone doesn't help, you can also give both but you want to separate the two by 12 hours apart. Also, make sure you are giving her a high quality dog food which will have all the required vitamins and nutrients she needs. She will need to be on a puppy food until she is 10-12 months old. I hope this helps!

Happy holidays to you, too! Joint supplements can be helpful to support the joint and minimize further damage, but they won't make current joint issues go away. I would discuss other medications with your vet. In a young dog with hip pain, I would do x-rays to look for hip dysplasia or other bony changes. Your vet may also have a recommendation for a different supplement for long-term use.

I don't think that your pup will stop making glucosamine naturally if she were on a supplement. However, I do not typically start such young dogs on this type of supplementation unless they have been diagnosed with a cartilage disorder. An appropriately balanced commercial dog food for large breed dogs will have a great balance of minerals, nutrients, and protein to support her musculoskeletal system. I also agree that the efficacy of glucosamine supplements is a bit iffy. I have seen much better results in dogs with arthritis or other joint issues with Adequan injections.

Glucosamine and chondroitin will not prevent hip dysplasia. All those supplements do is promote joint health. It is recommended by most specialists to wait until the growth plates are closed before starting any supplements. This usually occurs within 10 months to one year of age.

If he is eating a good quality large breed puppy food, he should not need vitamin supplementation. If you want to give him one, you can't go wrong with Pet Tabs ( https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dogs/pet-tabs.aspx ). A joint supplement, such as Cosequin ( https://www.cosequin.com/ ) or Dasuquin ( https://www.dasuquin.com/en/products/ ), can also be started. Additionally, keep Brandy lean and active.