After a recent trip to the vet I learned that my dog has mild patellar luxation in his hind legs.
I always noticed that sometimes on walks he would suddenly raise a back leg, but after a few paces he could usually put it back down.
Now I know that this was the kneecap actually popping out of place! While Peanut only has Grade 1 patellar luxation, I figured I would do everything I could to help keep it that way.
Proper diet and exercise are a great start but I wanted to do more, so I turned to oral joint supplements.
I know that most conscience pet parents, like myself, hate to give their dog anything that is unnecessary, so I did some digging to find the best supplement that would benefit my dog, without any extra junk.
Whether you are looking to help a dog with pre-existing conditions, or just hoping to prevent any issues from developing, supplements can be a great way to give your dog an added boost.
After some late nights researching different supplements I decided to go with one of the most widely, and highly, reviewed joint supplements: Cosequin D5.
Cosequin D5 did NOT ask us for this review and we received nothing in exchange for this post.
Cosequin D5 at a Glance:
- Active ingredients: Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Sodium Chondroitin Sulfate, MSM, and Manganese.
- A #1 vet recommended brand.
- Unique formula aids in cartilage production and protection, as well as helping with mobility and joint health.
About Cosequin D5:
The company that makes this supplement is Nutramax and they have six products in their standard joint supplement line.
I chose Cosequin D5 because it also had MSM, an organic sulfur compound that has been shown to benefit joint health, along with many other health benefits.
I also like that the glucosamine hydrochloride and sodium chondroitin sulfate are naturally sourced from shellfish and bovine cartilage, respectively. I prefer this to synthetically created compounds when at all possible.
This pill is a chewable tablet that can be adjusted depending on the size of your dog.
For dogs 15lbs. and under you give 1/2 a pill every other day, for 16-30lbs. it is ½ a pill daily, 31-60lbs. is 1 pill daily, and over 60lbs. is 1-2 pills daily. This is for regular maintenance. There is an initial period where you give your dog more for the first 4-6 weeks.
My Thoughts on Cosequin D5:
Peanut has been taking Cosequin D5 for about 3 months now.
I wasn’t sure if I would actually notice a change but he is definitely experiencing a lot less patellar luxation symptoms!
Since nothing else has changed I think I can safely say that this supplement has had a positive effect for Peanut. Since peanut is a small dog it is also a very affordable supplement.
There are 132 pills in the bottle I chose, there is also a 250 pill option, and he only takes half a pill every other day now, though he started out as taking half a pill every day for the first month.
We won’t need to get a refill for a while, and at $34.95 a bottle that isn’t too bad. This particular bottle of Cosequin is fine for all size dogs, but Nutramax does have a type specifically for small dogs that also has Omega-3s that I would definitely be interested to try.
My Dog’s Opinion of Cosequin D5:
Our dog is very picky and it can be hard to get him to eat, even his treats! The first day I tried giving him the pill he spat it right back out.
I then gave it a little dip in some peanut butter and had no more issues. Now I can give it to him plain and he will happily eat it all. You can also crush it into your dog’s food.
Drawbacks of Cosequin D5:
For me, a drawback is having to break the pill every day. While there is a little tab to break it in half I often end up breaking it unevenly or into multiple pieces.
For this reason, I wouldn’t mind using one of the pills formulated specifically for small dogs.
The only other drawback to this pill is that it has artificial flavors. I prefer not to give anything artificial to Peanut, but having read the lab reports on the active ingredients I still thought this would be the best choice.
Some supplements can contain heavy metals and other nasty things in their active ingredients. The purity of Cosequin D5’s active ingredients were an important factor in my decision.
Overall Thoughts:
So far I am really pleased with this supplement, as it has shown positive results with no negative side effects.
The price is reasonable and the number of positive reviews and vet recommendations has assured me that Cosequin D5 choice for my dog.
