There are lots of products on the market for pets that aim to help their bones and joints, and as a pet owner we know it’s difficult to know where to start. We’ve written this blog post to help you identify what to look for in a supplement, and spend your money in the best way for your pet.
Joint supplements belong to a product category called neutraceuticals. Unlike the pharmaceutical industry, the neutraceutical industry is largely unregulated. This means that companies can make claims about their products that are ultimately unfounded, and often untrue. Many of the active ingredients needed for these supplements are extremely expensive, meaning of course that the end product is not cheap either. The expensive ingredients are often the most beneficial, and this is where corners are often cut and compromises are made. For example, there are two types of Glucosamine (one of the more common ingredients in these supplements) – Glucosamine Hydrochloride (HCL) and Glucosamine Sulphate. The HCL form of Glucosamine is natural and can be found in every living organism, it is also very stable and has a long shelf life. Glucosamine Sulphate however is a man-made molecule, with over 20% of it being salt. Excessive salt, as we know, is not good for us or our pets. Most importantly there is 75% less Glucosamine in one gram of sulphate than in the equivalent HCL! Therefore, it’s very important to check the ingredients carefully.
Companies will make ‘label claims’ on their products – that is, the claim of the percentage of active ingredients the product contains. Many manufacturers take this label claim as a given, as further testing is often not practical, too expensive, or too time consuming. In a bid to reduce costs and boost profit, it can be too tempting to companies to ‘water down’ the active ingredients, and as the industry is not regulated this goes mostly unnoticed. In a study by The Internation Centre for Nutritional Excellence Ltd (ICNE), many joint supplements in the human neutraceutical market failed to meet their label claim. In fact, the most recent figure for this is a massive 6 out of 10 failing to meet their label claim! Understandably, this means that the benefits to our pets are often unknown, and not what we might expect based on the product labels.
Here’s where Synoquin comes in – Synoquin EFA is a tried, tested and trusted joint support supplement made locally in Lytham by a company called VetPlus. Synoquin contains Glucosamine Hydrochloride, the more stable form, as well as omega 3 fatty acids and Chondroitin (used to maintain cartilage). Synoquin is produced using only the best ingredients, and is clinical proven to assist in joint management. Synoquin can be a great starting point for dogs or cats who are beginning to struggle with their joints, or for breeds prone to joint problems. It can also be used alongside anti-inflammatory and pain relief drugs if necessary. Synoquin is the only joint supplement that our vets will recommend.
If you are concerned about your pet’s mobility, or would like to try Synoquin for your pet, please give us a call on 01204 525066 or call in to the surgery.
Photo by Oscar Sutton on Unsplash