From: noSPAMme@somewhere.net   
      
   I used Osteo-Biflex with my dog Barney with success.  It won't probably give   
   the dog enough relief to do away with the Rimadyl but possibly allow you to   
   cut the dosage back.  Take into consideration that it can take as long as 8   
   weeks for any of the glucosamine products to build up in the body and be   
   effective.  The only issue I had with it is that pills are huge.  Sometimes   
   getting the dog to take them can be a hassle.  Fortunately for me Barney   
   would eat anything that had peanut butter in it so I would split the pill in   
   half and give him half in the morning and half at night.   
      
   Also I hope you had blood work done on your dog before putting him on the   
   Rimadyl.  It's an NSaid and all nsaids can cause liver, kidney and internal   
   bleeding problems if not properly monitored.  The majority of dogs have no   
   problem with it but the side effects are bad enough that you have to have   
   labs drawn regularly to catch any problems early on.   
      
   Once they get arthritis really bad it's a question of quality of life verses   
   the risk in some situations.  In Barneys case the arthritis was severe and   
   with out the medications he just could not walk.  Barney took Rimadyl for   
   over two years before we switched him to Deramaxx once we maxed out the   
   dosage of Rimadyl for a dog his size.  In total he was on the two drugs for   
   over 5 years without any issue but I watched him like a hawk and got regular   
   blood work drawn to check on his liver & kidney function.   
      
   Even now I have a beagle/retriever mix who takes it for arthritis and even   
   with him he gets labs drawn to check his values.  I wish I could get Buddy   
   to take the Osteo Biflex but he will spit out the pill no matter what I put   
   it in.  I did purchase some MSM powder and I'm going to try it with him   
   instead.   
      
   Celeste   
      
      
   "Bob"  wrote in message   
   news:45d5efaa$0$28141$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...   
   >I have an 11 year old sharpei who vet says is getting arthritis. She is now   
   >taking rimadyl which seems to help but is rather expensive. I have heard   
   >that the over the counter pills, osteo bi-flex, which of course is for   
   >humans, also helps in animals. Has anyone here had any experience with   
   >this. Have not asked the vet, figure he'll want me to keep buying the   
   >rimadyl, which I will if theres no other choice. Thanks for any advise.   
   >   
      
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