Making my own joint supplement - can anyone help?

[pootler]

I have been researching the cost/quantity of various different joint supplements for years as they cost me a fortune!

I have found a pharmaceutical distributor who can supply (glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM) in bulk that will cost me a quarter of what I currently pay for my preferred supplement. Although I will have to buy in bulk which will cost a fair bit up front.

So my question is, do I assume that if I buy the above from the distributor I can just go ahead and feed the appropriate quantities straight to my horses without any problems and it will do the job.

MSM - 10g daily
Chondroitin - 4g
Glucosamine - 10g

I guess the companies that provide the ready made supplements spend loads on research (or do they)? Can it really be this straightforward!

I have managed to save 200 quid a year by buying one of my fave supplements in bulk (thank you Theresa_F!)

 

[lizzie87]

You need to work out if any of the extras added to the suppliment will help any of the products yuo are planning on getting be absorbed, allowing the horse to get more than if it was just the suppliment allone. e.g. (just a crazy one i have made up, not true) glucose added to the suppliment may help absorbtion of MSM, meaning 50% more would be absorbed than MSM alone.

I know not a lot about horse suppliments, but am just finishing a sports science degree, and this is the case with a lot of human suppliments

 

[Birker2020]

I swear I am not on commision - honestly. However at risk of repeating myself about 50 times on the forum I really think Equine America (from the same people who make cortaflex) have a brilliant joint supplement 10,000mg of glucosamine and MSM. Research has shown MSM is good for mild bone spavin. To be honest although it might seem good to make your own supplement (and very cost effective) these drug companies invest millions of pounds into researching products to make sure they are safe adn they are thoroughly tried and tested on research laboratory animals amongst other things and unless you can guarantee that the distributor is using the very finest ingredients without any dangerous bulking agents for instance you could be onto a bit of a sticky wicket. On the other hand I don't blame you at all. I used to use valerian which i bought in grams and ounces from the health food shop on my horse, and I have also fed dried peppermint from the same shop instead of saddlery shop mint so I take your point! I'd see if you could speak to someone like a drug rep or a pharmacist to see if they could advise and maybe see what your vet thinks before launching into this.