Can Osteo Bi-Flex help my older dog's joint pain? What's the dose?

I worry that the secondary ingredients in the Osteo Bi-flex may cause some issues, however without knowing which of the Bi-flex products you're using, it would be hard to determine this. Most dogs do just fine on Cosequin only (at the right dose for their size) and there are multiple products on the market if you feel Kopy needs more than just glucosamine. I would follow your vet's recommendation for what products to use as they know your dog and any other health issues/medications she's on best. As for the increased thirst, it would be hard to say if it is related to this medication, or another underlying issue, especially since Kopy is a senior pup. A blood panel to rule out any issues, as well as additional tests as needed (thyroid, cushings, etc) is always a good idea with new or changing symptoms.

There are many different recommended doses for glucosamine/chondroitin, but most veterinarians recommend between 15-30 mg/kg of the chondroitin component as a starting dose. This would be up to 327 mg, so you might want to give just one capsule per day. It should be fine to give with fish oil, although both supplements can potentially cause diarrhea so if you see any diarrhea you may want to ask your veterinarian about decreasing the dose or giving the supplements at different times.

When I have patients with arthritis or starting arthritis I always recommend starting a glucosamine supplement. This can be bought over the counter or online. A great animal one is Cosequin. All the directions are on the bottle. This will help lubricate his joints. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I have used Cetyl-M in my patients in the past, and have found it to be a good product. It's quite a bit more expensive than products like Dasuquin, but if it's all you can get I think it's a great option for Sly. The dose of fish oil that is believed to combat the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis in dogs is based on their metabolic weight, not actual weight. This is calculated by raising the weight to the 0.75 power. You then combine the milligrams of DHA and EPA in the product you are using and give the dog a total dose of both that is 310 milligrams/kilo of metabolic body weight per day. Consider starting with half the dose and working up to ensure good GI tolerance.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Anti-inflammatories need to be prescribed by your vet. But I highly recommend starting an Omega 3 fish oil which is a natural anti-inflammatory. I like Nordic Naturals or VRS Omega Benefits. Also I prefer veterinary glucomamines like Dasuquin or Glycoflex. I wish you the best! https://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/ https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=34368 https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33709

Arthritis is definitely a possibility. You could start him on a joint supplement, like Dasuquin and see if that helps. Your vet could also take an x-ray to evaluate for arthritis and then start him on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like Deramaxx, Previcox, Rimadyl, etc. NSAIDs help relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis.

This appears to be a good supplement. Glucosamine and fish oils are beneficial in many dogs that may be prone to developing arthritis or other bony disorders as they get older. However, scientific data on these types of supplements is lacking. Similar to humans, they might help and don't hurt anything. If you want to give them to Jesse, that is fine, but I do not routinely recommend these types of supplements in young-ish dogs.