Cosequin - anyone used this?

hussar

hussar

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My vet is recommending Cosequin for one of my horses on the basis that it's apparently one of only two glucosamine products that has been scientifically proven to work. I'm in two minds whether to spend a significant amount of money on a daily supplement for a 19yo retired horse with navicular disease who's perfectly happy toddling around the field and only shows discomfort when trotting on hard surfaces - which he rarely is.

So, does Cosequin work? And in my position, would you use it?
 
Your vet is right, there are only a few joint supplements on the market where there is some scientific evidende that they work and were you can be certain they contain the amount of active ingridients that the manufacturer claims. Cosequin is one of the better ones, although I haven't used it personally. Prefer Synequine.
Would I spend it on my retired horse? If I could afford it and thought there is a chance that it would improve my horses wellfare/soundness, I would give it a go. You can always stopp it after eight weeks or so if there is no improve and try the alternative which might be longterm bute.
 
Aviform do a suppliment which has the same ingrediants and quantitys as Cosequin but a far better price!
 
I have just been percribed this from the vet and started using it yesterday!!! I was just about to make exactly the same post!!
It is really expensive (how much is he charging?) but everyone tells me it's the best one, my insurence should be paying out but I know that after a year it will be coming out of my pocket
 
Thanks guys - it's good to know it works for some people. I'll give it a shot for a couple of months. At the moment it's on special offer to vets so I can get it through mine.
 
I have been using Cosequin for my boy for 18 months, and he is sound on it......I tried other "the same ingredients" supplements and they were definately not as effective as Cosequin. Once you are past the loading dose it is very cost effective - my latest tub was £99 and will last my 15.3hh welshie about 7-8 months.
 
Just because a product has had a scietific study done on it does not mean it is the only one that will be effective. There has been substantial scientific research done on Glucosamine, MSM, and Chondroitin proving that they are significantly beneficial fo joints when fed at the correct levels. Given that these compounds are already backed, a companies study on their own product is irrelevant.

What is relevant is the daily dose level that you feed and this is the most important thing and will heavily effect whether your product is effective or not. MSM has powerful anti inflammatory and pain relieving properties and is extremely beneficial for horses with existing problems. A lot of products do not contain this Cosequin, I think, being one of them.
For up to a 600kg horse you should be feeding 10g Glucosamine, 10g MSM, and 4g Chondroitin daily. Significantly lower than this and you will have little if any impact at all.
A cheaper product does not mean it is more cost effective, it may just contain a far lower daily dpse rate. Equally a very expensive joint supplement sold by a vet does not mean it is the best. In fact they are usually not, vets just sell what they can often make the most money out of. A sad but true fact. There are some good products sold by vets Synequin being one of them (but it doesn't contain MSM), but for the price there are cheaper higher specification products available on the open market.

The general rule of thumb is that yes a joint supplement is significantly benefical when fed at the correct levels so read your label. Those that contain the highest daily dose rate regardless of price or brand is the best product to feed. those that do not disclose this info are usually because the levels are shockingly low.
it is a bit of a minefield but if you read your labels you will find the best product for you.
smile.gif
 
Monstermunch - that was interesting - thanks. Do you mind saying how come you know so much about the subject? Are you a vet/equine nutritionist or have you done a lot of research on your own account?
 
I've used Cortaflex on my mare for many years (8-9), she was switched to Cosequin a year ago under veterinary advice and on insurance. It made a noticeable difference to her and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.

As for cost, buy it from American (Ebay) - depending on exchange rate, it works out much much cheaper and you may even be lucky to get it through without customs noticing. However, even with customs charges of £10 last time, mine only cost me approx. £130 for a 1400g tub which will last my horse 7 - 8 months on maximum maintenance dose, as opposed to the cheapest you can buy it in this country is £99 for 700g tub!!!
 
I would not hesitate in recommending Cosequin. I gave it to my mare for years after she was diagnised with navicular changes. She enjoyed a full and sound life on Cosequin.

I too used to import it from America and found it much more cost effective.
 
I've never used Cosequin or Synequin on my horses (its the price that is a bit scary!!), but have tried various products out on them over the years, Newmarket Joint Supplement has worked well until now, or so I thought, but this summer I switched them onto Joint Aid, its not as fancy and expensive as some other makes, but my horses are going better than ever on it, and every day they are worked they feel comfortable and are bouncing around on it, and it has all the ingredients needed too. Can highly recommend it (and no, I don't work for them!)
 
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