Is it realistic to give to a small spaniel mixed breed DOG, a glucosamine/chondroitin product which has been formulated for EQUINE use? LB, New Jersey
Dear LB
Regular readers of this blog are probably tired of me covering this topic, but as long as I’m still getting questions about it, I’m still going to answer them.
You’ve probably heard the saying “cats are not little dogs.” Well, dogs are not little horses (but wouldn’t they be cute?) What I mean by that is that dogs should be given dog products, cats should be given cat products and horses should be given horse products. There are a couple of reasons why I take such a firm stand:
1. Toxicity—while dogs, cats and horses (and us) all have basically the same systems, there are a few differences in the way we metabolize certain compounds that mean a therapeutic substance in one species is a poison in another. Take Tylenol (acetaminophen) for example. Works great on people but is fatal in cats. Onions are the same way. The sweetener in gum (xylitol) can be life-threatening in dogs. So can grapes.
2. Dosing– a powder concentrated for a 1000lb horse might only require a scoop (two or three tablespoons) to have a benefit. Unless you have a pharmaceutical grade scale that measures in grams, it would be almost impossible to dose your dog correctly (especially a small breed like yours).
3. Formulation—a powder flavored with something attractive to horses like apple or cherry, or a pellet made from alfalfa or beet pulp on dog food may not get eaten. It makes more sense to stick with a treat or chew tab that has a yummy beef or liver flavor that most dogs love.
My advice is to choose a glucosamine/chondroitin product from among the many made specifically for our canine friends. SmartPak has just launched its own line of supplements for dogs, including SmartCanine Joint and SmartCanine Joint Ultra. But we also carry quality products from Nutramax, such as their popular Cosequin line, as well as the Glycoflex line by Vetri-Science, Grand Meadows products for dogs and many others. I’m sure you can find something your dog will love among these!