CALIFORNIA POTBELLIED PIG ASSOCIATION, Inc.
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Question of the month -Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM
Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM has been recommended for pigs over age 2 to keep them from suffering from arthritis. Which of these three ingredients is most important and is there a danger of giving a pig too much Chondroitin? More specifically -would a mixture that contained 2,000 mg of Glucosamine (Next Level has 5,000 mg); 1200 mg of Chondroitin (Next Level has only 14.5mg); and 500 mg of MSM (Next Level has 1750) be better or worse for a pig than Next Level? This specific mixture was developed for people, where as Next Level was created for animals (horses and dogs).
Here are the basic doses recommended for these supplements:
Glucosamine/Chondroitin sulfate:
Initial Dose: 12mg/kg glucosamine + 3.8mg/kg chondroitin sulfate every 12 hours for 4 weeks
Maintenance: 4mg/kg glucosamine + 1.3mg/kg chondroitin sulfate every 12 hours.
Of course, the dosages of glucosamine and chondroitin almost never match up when the product is combined!
Because the supplements are not regulated in any way, it's best to pick a particular product and stick with it for awhile (at least 2-3 months), and it doesn't matter if the product was intended for animals or humans. If there don't seem to be any results after this trial period, try another product. There's much variability, even among different batches from the same supplier.
As far as the specific products mentioned: the ratio isn't too bad for the one (human) product and the difference shouldn't be a problem. Next Level is quite a bit low for chondroitin. However, it depends on the type of product and if a reasonable dosage can be obtained for a potbellied pig. For example, powder is easily measured into the dose needed but capsules can't be easily divided, and the milligrams listed below are too high for an average-size pig. I'd give the human product a try if the correct dose can be measured easily.
Kristie Mozzachio, DVM
Thank you Dr. Mozzachio,
These dosages break down to be considerably less than the dosages many of us are using. This recommended maintenance dose for 110 lb pig would be 400 mg glucosamine and 130 mg chondroitin sulfate per day. I was using 1/2 oz of Next Level (2,500 mg glucosamine and 7.25 mg chondroitin) per day, and I was told that the usual potbellied pig dosage was 1 oz (5,000 mg glucosamine and 15 mg chondroitin), which is what I have used with apparent ??? success for the last few years. I have also been told by many sources that chondroitin sulfate has been determined to be ineffective and that is why it has been de-emphasized in many of the newer supplements. This is of course the problem with using supplements. You seldom get a definite indication that they are working, and you seldom get a definite indication if they are doing harm.
Also MSM wasn't addressed, but I'm certain that Next Level's 1750 mg per oz would also be high.
For myself I'm taking 1500 mg glucosamine, 1200 mg chondroitin and 1000 mg MSM. I've been on this for about 15 years and if I ever finish this family sized bottle I bought five years ago at Costco, I'll probably join the trend away from chondroitin. (Also, I used to go to a chiropractor almost weekly for back pain, but have not seen him in almost 15 years.) Members whose pigs have been on various combinations of these supplements have told me that if they stopped or ran out, their pig's arthritis would definitely get worse until they started getting the supplements again.
One of the messages that has been stated repeatedly at pig seminars over the last few years is that even pigs without apparent problems should be on at least the maintenance dose of joint supplements from a very early age.
My personal advice would be to give something. Even if it's only what's most convenient or most affordable. - editor
"...pigs are very beautiful animals. Those who do not think so
do not look at anything with their own eyes but through other people's eyeglasses."
G. K. Chesterton
Here are the basic doses recommended for these supplements:
Glucosamine/Chondroitin sulfate:
Initial Dose: 12mg/kg glucosamine + 3.8mg/kg chondroitin sulfate every 12 hours for 4 weeks
Maintenance: 4mg/kg glucosamine + 1.3mg/kg chondroitin sulfate every 12 hours.
Of course, the dosages of glucosamine and chondroitin almost never match up when the product is combined!
Because the supplements are not regulated in any way, it's best to pick a particular product and stick with it for awhile (at least 2-3 months), and it doesn't matter if the product was intended for animals or humans. If there don't seem to be any results after this trial period, try another product. There's much variability, even among different batches from the same supplier.
As far as the specific products mentioned: the ratio isn't too bad for the one (human) product and the difference shouldn't be a problem. Next Level is quite a bit low for chondroitin. However, it depends on the type of product and if a reasonable dosage can be obtained for a potbellied pig. For example, powder is easily measured into the dose needed but capsules can't be easily divided, and the milligrams listed below are too high for an average-size pig. I'd give the human product a try if the correct dose can be measured easily.
Kristie Mozzachio, DVM
Thank you Dr. Mozzachio,
These dosages break down to be considerably less than the dosages many of us are using. This recommended maintenance dose for 110 lb pig would be 400 mg glucosamine and 130 mg chondroitin sulfate per day. I was using 1/2 oz of Next Level (2,500 mg glucosamine and 7.25 mg chondroitin) per day, and I was told that the usual potbellied pig dosage was 1 oz (5,000 mg glucosamine and 15 mg chondroitin), which is what I have used with apparent ??? success for the last few years. I have also been told by many sources that chondroitin sulfate has been determined to be ineffective and that is why it has been de-emphasized in many of the newer supplements. This is of course the problem with using supplements. You seldom get a definite indication that they are working, and you seldom get a definite indication if they are doing harm.
Also MSM wasn't addressed, but I'm certain that Next Level's 1750 mg per oz would also be high.
For myself I'm taking 1500 mg glucosamine, 1200 mg chondroitin and 1000 mg MSM. I've been on this for about 15 years and if I ever finish this family sized bottle I bought five years ago at Costco, I'll probably join the trend away from chondroitin. (Also, I used to go to a chiropractor almost weekly for back pain, but have not seen him in almost 15 years.) Members whose pigs have been on various combinations of these supplements have told me that if they stopped or ran out, their pig's arthritis would definitely get worse until they started getting the supplements again.
One of the messages that has been stated repeatedly at pig seminars over the last few years is that even pigs without apparent problems should be on at least the maintenance dose of joint supplements from a very early age.
My personal advice would be to give something. Even if it's only what's most convenient or most affordable. - editor
"...pigs are very beautiful animals. Those who do not think so
do not look at anything with their own eyes but through other people's eyeglasses."
G. K. Chesterton