Hills Joint Defense .. is it really the best?

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sarahHugo

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Hi Guys
I was after a little advise.

I have a 4 yr old lab with HD

He was diagnosed at 12 months, and I have tried various supplements etc, before I eventually stumbled across Hills JD

My dog has been on it now for about five months, and I have definately noticed an improvement.

However I have read many reviews, and some people have labelled it as a very expensive gimmick, and that the ingrediants are very poor (corn based) and doesnt form a very good base diet.

I was just wondering whether anybody has any opinions on the food?

I dont know whether to stick with it, or to maybe buy a sack of JWB, and a very high spec joint supplement instead (suggestions welcomed)

I dont mind spending the money if it means that he has a better quality of life (the food has improved him) but I just want to make sure that I choose the best option.

The vet said that he can stay on in long term, but I just need to keep an eye on his weight (as it's oil based) I buy the reduced calorie version, and he looks great on it.

Thanks for reading, and any suggestions/opinions are welcome
 
Yes its a awful food.

Especially for such a young boy.

I would skip the jwb too and go for fish4dogs. Lots of fish oils which will help him and they I would look into a good joint supplement.

I prefer a liquid glucosamine con and msm mix because there is evidence that the liquid form is more bioavailable to the dog.
 
Ingredients -
Ground maize, ground rice, flaxseed, soybean meal, pea bran meal, chicken and turkey meal, digest, animal fat, fish oil, dried whole egg, L-lysine hydrochloride, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, L-carnitine supplement, DL-methionine, L-threonine, salt, taurine, dicalcium phosphate, L-tryptophan, vitamins and trace elements. Naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, citric acid and rosemary extract.

No I wouldn't feed it.
Fish4dogs would probably be better or something like Skinners salmon & rice. Possibly add half a green lipped mussel tablet per day.
 
Thanks Sugar, they are the ingrediants that I was concerned about! Very cheap and nasty, yet its over £50 for 12 kg!
He has improved on it though, so whatever 'joint' supplements are in it are working.
It's such a minefield, my vets sell it, so I assumed it was the best!
Thanks for your help
 
I feed my old girl Yumove for her stiff hips. It's made a big difference.

http://www.lintbells.com/products/yumove

I also now feed Raw and this has given her a big spring in her step.

I've also ordered some Wild Salmon Oil from Ebay.

I'm going to nip into the Chinese shop in town tomorrow and pick up some chicken feet - they're supposed to help too.
 
Give an A plus for Green lipped Mussel..`cept I gave three a day to my old girl , but got good results,salmon oil sounds interesting.
 
Thanks for your replies
I am going to give fish4dogs a try, and I am going to get a very good quality joint supplement.
Thanks for everyone's advise and I'm ditching the Hills!
 
My boy with HD is on Pooch and Mutt mobile bones: I've had rave reviews and I'd say that he is much freer in his movement. It has glucosamine and I really think it's doing wonders. I'm not seeing anything in Hills that will help joints except the dog probably dropped weight on it, which would help HD! Dire ingredients!

You don't really need to buy special oil: something like tinned pilchards is fine-the ones in oil or spring water, not salted water or tomato as the latter contains an ingredient that exacerbates arthritis, although if you give them once a week or so, it won't cause damage.

Delighted you're dumping the Hills, yet another food that just doesn't make sense. I do wish vets would gen up a bit on nutrition and ask these companies to improve their ingredients.
 
My 9 year old boy has mild HD but his bigger problem is fusing vetebra (Cauda Equina). I feed him BARF/ RAW and add Yumega oil (I have it anyway for my show border collies coat) which has omega 3 and 6 and I feed him Arthriaid HA Powder. This has:
Ingredients per 5g:
Glucosamine HCl 600mg
Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM) 250mg
Chondroitin Sulphate 240mg
Hyaluronic Acid* 8mg (a glycosamine glycan, which acts to bind water and lubricate moveable parts of the body such as joint and muscles)
Vitamin C 50mg
Manganese Sulphate 2.5mg

5g being the dose for a 20 - 40kg dog.

The added benefit of feeding a supplement is that you can up or down the amount you add according to your dog.

My dog is also on Tramadol from the vet (human drug so cheap and can be fed over long periods of time) which I have cut down from 6 to 2 a day and he seems to be moving really well at the moment even with plenty of exercise and running of the lead every day. He has even been placed in every veteran class he has entered at fun dog shows this year so far.
 
Thanks for all of your replies.
I have ordered a bag of fish4dogs and some consequine tablets.
I will see how he goes.

I agree vets should ditch this Hills food. I am no expert! I just assumed that it was the best for my dog.

It's funny as I fed him Hills Large breed puppy food (before diagnosis) as again, I though it was in his best interests. The whole marketing ploy really is a con.


Just to add, mine also wears a bio flow collar. It broke the other day, and it was taken off for a few days, and I really noticed a difference. It may just be a coincidence, but I always go on the basis that animals dont lie, and I am certain that it makes a difference.

Just another suggestion whilst we are talking about joints etc

Thanks for all of your replies, it has helped me to make the decision
 
I had seraquin, like consequine for my creature. The main ingredents were glucosamine, chondroitin, turmeric. Rubysmum on here swears by turmeric for her older stiff horse. It's a darn sight cheaper than the commercial supplements.
 
Can you post your results? I put my staffie boy (4 1/2) on J/d - he has elbow displaysia. Initially they wanted to operate on both elbows. I did try a variety of supplements which didn't make any difference. He had the normal drugs (metacalm, the one beginning with R (!) and 4 x injections. Vet suggested putting him onto the j/d and he is completely mobile, no lameness still after nearly a year. I buy mine on-line from MedicAnimal which is a lot cheaper but if I am feeding him rubbish I would rather know - like the OP its not a question of the cost its a questiion of doing the best for my boy
 
If your dog who was previously clinically unwell is doing well on the j/d, as you think, I would very much advise to stay on it. Why change and risk losing that benefit? Be very aware however of taking any advise, my own included, off a forum as you are staking your dogs comfort on it. contact a reputable dog nutritionist, if you have a good dog vet discuss it with him. People on forums may have excellent qualifications and advise but they can write the biggest load of tosh as well.
Stick to your own judgement. If you have a dog who is happy, healthy, shiney coat, healthy digestive system, of a good weight and particularly in cases with joint issues, sound or more comfortable on a certain food what makes you want to change it?
 
Thanks SusieT. He is all of the above and looks very well. I will stick with the j/d!

He has so improved he is pretty much back up to hourly walks, plus playing hard with the new staffie and still no lameness and hooning around the yard..
 
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