Maintenance Dose of Joint Supps

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Snipe

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I remember reading somewhere on here that the maintenance doses advised on the back of joint supplements don't supply enough of the essential ingredients to be effective. If this is true then feeding joint supplements at the manufacturer's 'maintenance' level is in fact an enormous con, and complete waste of money! Feeding at the loading rate is very expensive, though.

What are your opinions on this? Trying to decide if its worth shelling out for...
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I have been told by countless vets and my physio who does humans & horses that the research has major question marks over whether or not joint supplements actually work! My vet is a lameness specialist and says she has yet to see one really work. Interesting reading: http://www.veterinarywatch.com/Oral_GAGs.htm My 15 year old showjumper who has competed at a high level and has lots of miles on the clock is not on a joint supplement. She did recently have her hind suspensories medicated but joint wise she is perfect! Having researched joint supplements etc alot I would be alot more inclined to go direct and medicate the joint IF it needed it rather than spend vast amounts of money on a maybe.
 
Interesting link, thanks for posting. I'm inclined to agree about not wasting vast amounts of money on an unproven theory! Feeding the maintenance dose, though, doesn't work out that expensive. So if it had some effect I'd consider it, but if you *have* to feed the loading dose for it to make any difference then I don't think I'll bother, if that makes sense...
 
Well, I never fed a loading dose, and I feed the maintenace dose for a competition pony (shes 13.1h and 378kg) daily. I started to feed it more because I felt at her age, I wanted to at least try to help her.

It made a supple pony VERY supple & bendy!! She feels fab on it.
 
Which supp do you feed, CrazyMare? Lots of people say they do notice a difference, and trials in humans seem to suggest that glucosamine, at least, SHOULD work...
 
NAF 5* Superflex powder - I've found its quite paletable too. She doesn't refuse to eat her feed when its in there.
 
Just looked at the NAF one, but it would be cheaper to feed suppleaze gold, which has more chondroitin and HA, but less MSM... this is complicated!
 
Interesting you find the Naf so good CM. I am a huge fan of their Respirator product having had it recommended to me by my trainer who is the biggest supplement sceptic going. To my understanding the loading dose is to build up reserves and get a positive reaction....similar to starting to fight a severe infection with IV antibiotics before switching to oral. While I am sure many retailers/sellers would disagree if you are going to feed for prevention rather than cure then I don't see why starting on a regular dose shouldn't help if it is going to help at all.
 
I think its very much horses for courses - I am loathe to change, as mine is a mega fussy eater!!!

For now, its working well, so we are sticking with it - maybe you need to try a few?
 
amage said:
Interesting you find the Naf so good CM. I am a huge fan of their Respirator product having had it recommended to me by my trainer who is the biggest supplement sceptic going.
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I hve to say, my feed room looks like a NAF store...! We have NAF Superflex, Devils Claw, Ice cool, Electro Salts, and I'm told by my OH's farrier who researched hoof supplement that their Pro Feet is the best - and my broodie needs some help with her feet....!
 
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