Consumer advocates are concerned that Cosequin joint supplements for pets canโt deliver the joint health benefits their manufacturer advertises.
According Cosequinโs website, animal nutritional supplement manufacturer Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences, Inc. says Cosequin contains chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine and manganese ascorbate. The company claims the ingredients are โscientifically formulated to support and maintain the health of your dogโs joints.โ
The company even claims to include proprietary supplemental blends that have registered trademarks: TRH122 chondroitin sulfate and FCHG49 glucosamine. Nutramax says studies show Cosequinโs ingredients help maintain the structure of cartilage in the joints and inhibit enzymes that tend to break down cartilage.
In fact, published peer-reviewed studies were either done on different products, were poorly managed or proved just the opposite of Nutramaxโs claims.
Nutramax joint supplements are marketed to dog and cat owners who have observed their pets becoming less active, have trouble navigating stairs or experience stiffness in the joints. These supplements contain ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin that are promoted as beneficial for joint health.
While it is true that glucosamine is produced by the animalโs body and is found in joint cartilage and joint fluid, research shows little evidence that oral supplements can effectively deliver that orally provided glucosamine to the affected areas.
Chondroitin is another building block of cartilage, and most of the oral supplements contain chondroitin taken from cow cartilage. Again, there is little evidence that taking chondroitin orally can help with living cartilage inside the animal that takes the supplement. Even if a small amount of the absorbed materials reaches the joints, itโs difficult to prove that an adequate amount reaches the affected joints to have any therapeutic effect.
Marketing for Cosequin Joint Supplements
Nutramax advertises its joint supplements by promoting โThe Cosequin Difference,โ stating that it is the top veterinarian recommended brand, and saying it is the joint supplement used by the most โpet parents.โ
Thereโs no doubt that healthy cartilage helps bones glide over each other without friction that causes pain and stiffness. When cartilage wears down, bones rub against bones, causing pain, inflammation and perhaps even bone spurs. Still, clinical trials on humans have found no evidence that glucosamine or chondroitin can affect the loss of cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis.
In fact, no randomized, controlled scientific studies have indicated Cosequin can improve mobility, joint health or activity levels in either dogs or cats. One peer-reviewed study from the early 2000s published by the British Medical Journalโs VetRecord indicated that dogs that received Cosequin joint supplements saw no improvement in their health.
Dogs that received NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) did show signs of temporary pain relief, much like humans do when they are experiencing pain from inflammation.
Allegations that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements do not improve the joint health of animals comes on the heels of similar claims against supplements marketed for human use. For 20 years, humans have been marketed a variety of glucosamine and chondroitin pills, drinks and tablets that supposedly could provide relief from joint pain, stiffness and arthritis, but a growing body of scientific studies debunked those claims.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) both agree that glucosamine and chondroitin are not recommended to manage pain or other symptoms caused by osteoarthritis in humans.
Although there are few studies done on dogs, and even fewer completed on cats, at least one study found no difference in animals that received a placebo and those that received a glucosamine and chondroitin supplement.
Join a Free Cosequin Dog Supplements Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you purchased Cosequin joint supplements for your dog or cat, you may qualify to join this Cosequin class action lawsuit investigation.
This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.
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30 thoughts onCosequin Joint Supplements for Pets Under Investigation
I have a 9 yr old roddle (lab/standard poodle). Vet recommended cosequin for her joints. Following recommendation on bottle, Iโve been giving her 3 tablets per day for exactly 4 weeks as of today. Around 2:30am this morning, I woke up with her in a very narrow space between my bed and wall on the floor. She couldnโt get up, I got her to the kitchen, she fell and peed on the floor. When I got her back to bed, she just lay staring at the wall panting REALLY hard for at least two hours before i finally fell asleep. Would not lay her head down or acknowledge I was even talking to her. She has NEVER done anything like this. I immediately thought about starting the cosequin which is how I landed here on this site. Could be a coincidence but my heart says itโs not! ๐
Not โlabโ and poodle.. Rottweiler and Poodle
OMG, I have a Komodor and 2 Pulik that i started on cosequine in September, because they are older and i noticed them slowing down. I noticed with my 14 year old Puli that he was suddenly confused, and had excessive thirst and is occasionly incontinent. His left eye looked like it was full of blood in October, it turned white. The eye never caused him pain, but he is now blind in both eyes, but Pulik can have a genetic eye disease, and I never connected it to the cosequine. I looked up side effects to cosequine, and all I found was tummy upset. I continued the medication. Ziggy, his 12 year old son is panting like crazy and awake all night long, he is anxious and confused. First he started having excessive thirst, then panting and anxiety, now staying up all night. I was laying here in bed looking at Sundowners syndrome in dogs and planning for my Pulik final days, heartbroken. Ziggy, my 12 year old is spiraling fast. He is my absolute heart. He has never had a sick day other than a foxtail in his ear. My Komondor is 9 yrs old. He has slowed down alot. The cosequine has not helped him at all.
Update: 5 weeks after starting Cosequin, my precious Bella has passed ๐ญ . BEFORE starting this for her arthritis, I had bloodwork done and nothing came back negative! She was a very vibrant, active young lady that would run up and down the fence line chasing my neighbors business trucks TWICE DAILY (arborists trucks). When I would take her on 3-4 mile hikes, I noticed she would be stiff for a few days which is why I started her on cosequin. Again, this could be a coincidence BUT if I had to do it over again, I would NOT give this to her, I would just take her on shorter hikes. She just LOVED our hikes.
My dog is currently dying. Please add me.