glucosamine for arthritis in buns

Hello,

For about 6 mths Pumpkin (age 8 ) has had a problem with his left leg, it occurred after a long dose of antibiotics which I know can effect joints etc.... he was so ill we have been concentrating on keeping him alive , not joints and muscle issues ..

Now his health is being managed and he is having a good quality of life bounding round the whole garden with this leg that doesnt work properly and the more he runs around it seems to effect him , ie leg becomes tired, it can drag, not be in position correctly.

So we are going to treat it as arthritis and see if this helps .... My vet has not used glucosamine + chondroitin in buns before. I have searched the web and see that others are using it , giving it at a cat dosage ... there seems to be an issue in obtaining veggie ones as glucosamine can be shell fish /chicken based which of course I dont really want to give to a bun.

Are you using glucosamine for your bun , in what form ? what dose ?

Ive found this link for liquid one but vet seems suggests I can buy capsules from health shop and use it in this manner.. any comment would be appreciated.

thanks

Dawn x

I use arthriaid for Bruce. I asked Molly Vargas (Supreme's small animal specialist vet) about it a while back as well as my own rabbit savvy vet. They both agreed it was a good idea and Molly said to give the same rate as for a cat. The arthriaid comes with a pump that dispenses a 5kg cat dose (about 2.5ml I think) but Bruce is only 1.7kg so I give him 1ml per day. I squirt the liqud into a mini shredded wheat and he comes running to eat it. He has been so much more active since having it as well.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:I use arthriaid for Bruce. I asked Molly Vargas (Supreme's small animal specialist vet) about it a while back as well as my own rabbit savvy vet. They both agreed it was a good idea and Molly said to give the same rate as for a cat. The arthriaid comes with a pump that dispenses a 5kg cat dose (about 2.5ml I think) but Bruce is only 1.7kg so I give him 1ml per day. I squirt the liqud into a mini shredded wheat and he comes running to eat it. He has been so much more active since having it as well.

thanks for this... do you buy arthiaid online ? Ive seen a couple of links.

As its made for the cats/dogs do you know if your one has shell fish, lipped mussels in it ? I am trying to get a veggie one as I dont like the idea of giving Pumpkin something that contains fish. Holland and Barratt do a veggie one but the dosage is much higher and I think I would have problems with measuring doses.

Dx

I don't know about the mussels. I just know that it was often recommended for rabbits.

Cheryl told us about Arthri aid and we used it on our 7 year old rabbit Grace and there was a noticeable improvement in her mobility.

We got our's from VetUk below

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/joint-supplements-arthri-aid-and-invigorate-c-5_4_322/arthri-aid-canine-feline-liquid-p-1685also used A

I got mine from Vet uk as well.

Tuckerbunnies wrote:Cheryl told us about Arthri aid and we used it on our 7 year old rabbit Grace and there was a noticeable improvement in her mobility.

We got our's from VetUk below

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/joint-supplements-arthri-aid-and-invigorate-c-5_4_322/arthri-aid-canine-feline-liquid-p-1685also used A

thanks for the info , thats the one Ive been looking at... Holland and Barratt do a veggie one but the mess to make it into powder etc seems a lot to do.... so as others are using the one with mussels I think I might opt for that... just didnt like the idea of feeding a rabbit fish ! Perhaps its such a small quantity they wont notice... Pumpkin is tummy seems to be affected by any change so bit worried about it but its worth a go....

thanks x

Theres a great article in this Summer's 'Rabbiting On' magazine about 'Osteoarthritis and Spondylosis in Rabbits' very good as it tells you the treatments and about Glucosamine supplementation

But strangely it talks about tablet form for cats and dogs but not the liquid form.

Did you also notice HH and HM getting linked in the carrier article?

Right finally got it in the mail .. it took ages to arrive....

2.5ml for a 5kg cat .... so as Pumpkin is only 3kg I guess I should give him 1.5ml....

Im going to syringe it in him and try and think what else I could put it in the meantime... shreddies really ? I dont eat them but guess I could try that.

Dawn

the mini shredded wheat rather than shreddies - both buns think they are a treat even without the glucosamine in the middle. It is not as if they have any added nasties in them.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:the mini shredded wheat rather than shreddies - both buns think they are a treat even without the glucosamine in the middle. It is not as if they have any added nasties in them.

thanks I shall get some mini shredded wheat and see if Pumpkin likes it..

He took the arth aid ok but wouldnt eat afterwards for a while and then decided he'd eat a tiny bit of banana... Moody or what !

He hasnt eaten as much as normal today so think trying a shredded wheat will be better and less like he is having medication type feeling via the syringe. ...

Dawn x

I am getting some Arthraid for Snuffie tomorrow, he is about half way through his course of metacam and we have seen an improvement. I was going to ask about doseage too, but it has kindly been answered for me by Cheryl

Good luck love, let us know how you get on.

Hugs

Jo xx

jolovesbunnies wrote:I am getting some Arthraid for Snuffie tomorrow, he is about half way through his course of metacam and we have seen an improvement. I was going to ask about doseage too, but it has kindly been answered for me by Cheryl

Good luck love, let us know how you get on.

Hugs

Jo xx

thanks Jo, Glad metacam is helping snuffie....

Think it can take a few weeks to 2 mths before seeing any difference with arth aid.... so its a wait and see game...

I only give Pumpkin metacam now when I see he is struggling or maybe off his food due to pain.

Dawn

Mini shredded wheat - all of us lot go loopy for them

Fingers crossed this works for you!!

ok Im on the hunt for mini shreddies tomorrow ... its not going well .. big fight over just trying to get glucosamine in him.... weird cos it smells so weet like caramel so thought it he might like it

Shreddies it is ... I will let you know

Dawn x

Thank you Dawn bunny love, I think he is getting there and obviously his little leggies are loosening up a little.

Paul went to P@H today for some glauco and they only had the tablet version whereas for buns, it really has to be liquid. Paul was concerned because it only mentioned cats and dogs and did not provide one for buns. Am I right in thinking that you give a bun a kittie's dosage?

Please give lots of love and snuggles to dear little pumpkin and some for you too love.

Hugs

Jo xx

Hugs

My vet said I can use tablet version and crush it up and put in food but Pumpkin is so fussy I thought it was better to try the liquid version first.

They do only do the liquid version for cats and dogs it has mussels in it... Holland and Barrat do a veggie version without mussels but I think its in tablet version again.

On the liquid bottle it give you the dose in weight.... I have the kitty dose as Pumpkin is only 3 kg.

Im not well so sent my daughter out for mini shredded wheat and she came back with original shreddies.. Pumpkin was not impressed...

So its the syringe it in him again tonight..

Dawn

Thank you Dawn love for your kind reply. I think it is going to be the tablet version and I will have to wrap it up in one of the many things Snuffie loves.

Ha ha, I bet he wasn;t impressed with original shreddies, the small ones are just the right size for ittle mouths.

Hugs
Jo xx

Our O.A.Buns have Veggy glucosamine from health span, you get enough to last a couple of years, They have quarter of a tablet crushed in Cranberry juice.
I looked at arthri aid but couldn't see if it was 100% veggy.

Lil & Ron's Mum wrote:Our O.A.Buns have Veggy glucosamine from health span, you get enough to last a couple of years, They have quarter of a tablet crushed in Cranberry juice.
I looked at arthri aid but couldn't see if it was 100% veggy.

thanks for that... Arthi aid isnt veggie it has mussel /fish in it... but have been using it as it was in liquid form and I was worried about the dosage and how to get it in Pumpkin...

Which one are you using from healthspan ? Is it this one ?

http://www.healthspan.co.uk/glucosamine-supplements/glucosamine-1000mg/?referrer=GOOGLEPPC&gclid=CPSLic_P57ACFVMdtAodWjUnIQ

I like your cranberry idea ... as Pumpkin is still being troublesome about taking it.

Dawnx

Thats the one!
Lilly is like a spring chicken on it.
I buy those tablet organisers that has all the days of the weeks on the flip lid and crush a tablet with a mortel and pestal divide it into 4 and scrape it in the holder.
I put all their medication in their morning cranberry juice, its a treat and they never realise they're having it. Little snobs will only have ocean spray, they won't have shops own!
Sorry its took a while to reply, been working long hours.

many thanks for your reply. Will look into getting this.

Pumpkin is off his food at the moment taking him to vets tonight.

Dawnx

how is Pumpkin? x