Can you tell me a little about Adequan? I heard it is an injectable polygycosaminoglycans that can help dogs with joint pain.

I am not an expert on this and do not have a lot of experience with it. Here is what a friend told me. She is a vet and owns one of my dogs.

Adequan is a brand name for injectable polygycosaminoglycans (PGAGS). It is a horse preparation that has been used "off-label" for years by veterinarians to treat degenerative joint disease in dogs. Basically, Adequan prevents the enzymes from being made that degrade naturally occurring Glucosamine. It provides the building blocks for natural Glucosamine and the components of hyalurionic acid (the natural lubricant for all joints). There is now a “canine” Adequan, but it is more expensive than using the horse preparation and there is no difference in the drug - only the picture on the label.

A 90-lb. dog who is not showing clinical signs would require 1.5 ml intramuscularly. The frequency is variable. Initially, in a dog who is painful, I would do a start-up series of twice a week injections for 1 month, then 1 injection every other week or once a month, depending on severity and response. In a sound dog, as a preventative, I would do a loading dose of 1 injection per week for 1 month and then 1 injection in 2 weeks and then 1 per month thereafter. The 1.5 ml in a 90 lb dog is a mid-range dose.

I use a generic form called Condroprotectant that is half the price. My philosophy toward veterinary practice is to provide good medicine with common sense. I still have my own horse practice and understand the economics of "herd health" from dealing with large breeding farms.