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Glyde Oral Joint Powder for Dogs - Review

With so many joint supplements on the Australian market, it is hard for pet parents to make an educated choice! But one thing is certain: our senior dogs need all the help they can get. 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a silent disease that steals mobility, independence and freedom and by the time you notice its symptoms, this disease may have already progressed a lot.

80% of dogs over the age of 8 [1] will show signs of arthritis but surprisingly we learnt that even 20% of dogs over the age of 1 [2] could be affected…

Early recognition and treatment is essential but it’s so easy to miss the signs in the early and mid-stages of the disease, we certainly did!

Things to look out for in your dogs include: 

✔️ Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, play and jump
✔️ Lameness, limping and a slow cautious gait 
✔️ Limb weakness or stiffness after laying down
✔️ Unexpected aggression or guarding behaviour due to pain

There are many factors that can lead to arthritis in dogs such as their breed*, age, weight (weight over 20% BMI), and prior health issues such as bone fractures and dislocations, hip or elbow dysplasia, and joint surgery.

* Breeds found to have a predisposition and therefore at a very high risk of osteoarthritis include: the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Great Dane, Labrador and Rottweiler.

If you're unsure if your dog is at risk of osteoarthritis, you could use this free assessment tool. Simply answer a few easy questions on the signs of OA you've noticed and it will place your dog in a risk category of low, medium or high risk with the recommendation to speak with your vet for treatment options depending on the results. 

Despite not suffering from any of prior health conditions - other than epilepsy - our then 11.5 year old dog Conner started showing a reluctance to jump on and off the bed in 2018. Fast forward another two years and he now displays all the signs mentioned above which made him the perfect candidate for trialling the Glyde Oral Powder for Dogs.

What is in the Glyde Oral Joint Powder for Dogs?

Glyde for Dogs is a relatively recent addition to the large and somewhat confusing range of arthritis supplements which are now available for our dogs. 

Glyde is available both as an Oral Powder and also as heart-shaped Mobility Chews

No prescription is needed for either but it is advised you speak first with your vet to ensure there are no contraindications for your dog, based on his personal medical history. 

Glyde Mobility Chews and Oral Powder are APVMA registered nutraceuticals that contain proven levels of three key components, sustainably sourced from nature, that together can help relieve the painful signs of arthritis. 

What are the main ingredients?


✔️ Green Lipped Mussel Powder 253.3 mg/g: A powerful anti-inflammatory. 

Green-Lipped Mussel (GLM) contains cartilage building blocks and multiple naturally occurring anti-inflammatory compounds including specific fatty acids that can assist in reducing stiffness and improving mobility in dogs with osteoarthritis.

✔️ Glucosamine Hydrochloride 190 mg/g: Inhibits cartilage degradation 

✔️ Chondroitin Sulfate (Bovine Origin) 95 mg: Helps rebuild cartilage 

Glucosamine and Chondroitin are key building blocks of healthy cartilage that must be readily available in the bloodstream to protect and maintain good joint function, especially once dogs suffer from arthritis.


Most joint supplements source their Chondroitin Sulfate from shark cartilage, which is often harvested in an unsustainable way from shark fins. Glyde for Dogs uses Chrondroitin sourced from beef production. Not only is this environmentally sustainable, but it also results in a higher quality, more consistent product.

Our Experience with Glyde Oral Powder for Dogs

Because NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are known to cause adverse effects e.g. gastrointestinal ulceration and bleeding, they should be reserved for short-term use and it was not an option we ever felt comfortable with. There are also contraindicated if your dog suffers from renal insufficiency or dehydration.[2]

We understand that many vets question the efficacy of nutraceuticals in the absence of conclusive and widespread clinical trials and we don't have a veterinary science degree but you can’t blame pet parents for trying to protect their dog’s ability to run and play - key to preserving their quality of life - for as long as possible.

Many nutraceutical products are formulated as over-the-counter “diet supplements” to offer a low price point without little available clinical and scientific evidence that would support the proportion and concentration of their ingredients. 


First I take the powder, then we go on a picnic?
Outside the 3 ingredients used in the Glyde Oral Powder & Mobility Chews, many of the “novel” ingredients of supplement products don’t have any independent published data supporting their use. 

We found the Oral Powder easier to incorporate into our dog's meals mixed with a small amount of water but you could just sprinkle it on top of your dog's food (if moist). 

Both the smell and light green colour of the green lipped-mussel are unmistakable and all dogs showed an interest at dinner time.

As with most supplements, we started with the loading dose for the first 4 weeks and then switched to a lower maintenance dose once we noticed improvements.

Based on Conner's 30kg bodyweight, we have been using 3 level scoops daily (15mL - 9g approx.) for the first four weeks.

Honestly, we could not notice much difference after just the first couple of weeks but Conner is now jumping on and off the couch and our bed with more ease and he's also a bit more active during the day. 
He's still reluctant to use our steep stairs and now needs to be encouraged to toilet in the backyard but at nearly 14 years old, he's proving quite resilient and we're looking forward to a few more good years with him.

At the end of our 4-week trial, we found Glyde Oral Powder for Dogs easy and safe to use and providing improved mobility for our senior dog.

Parnell Living Science (the manufacturer of Glyde) also offer a Zydax Injection - only available from your vet - which uses Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium (PPS). To put it simply, it’s a derivative from beech pulpwood, which has been found to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic properties. 

Once your dog has been diagnosed with arthritis, it is worth having an in-depth discussion with your vet to uncover what may best benefit your dog: it could well be a combination of both
"These chews smell yummy, bro! You should have one too..."
Please note that Glyde can not be recommended as an alternative treatment in acute joint inflammation and a long-term treatment will be required. But as a preventative or in the early stages of arthritis, why not give Glyde Oral Powder or Mobility Chews a try? 

Using the risk assessment tool, both our 7-year old active Malinois with no pre-existing conditions are currently in the low-risk category but would benefit from a maintenance dose of 1.5 chews a day (1 chew per 20kg/daily). 


We certainly had two very eager puppers ready to become Glyde dogs! 
Unlike their older sibling, they thought chews can be trusted, especially when they taste this good...

Price & Where to Buy:

RRP: $120.00 (360g) for Oral Powder; $65.00 for Mobility Chews (60 chews) from go.parnell.com/en-au

To receive 25% off Glyde Mobility Chews (60 ct.) + Free Shipping, use the Promo Code PAINFREE25.



Follow Parnell Living Science on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParnellLivingScience/ 
and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/parnelllivingscience/

References:

1. Rialland P, Bichot S, Moreau M, et al. Clinical validity of outcome pain measures in naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis. BMC Vet Res. 2012;8. doi:10.1186/1746-6148-8-162
2. Bhathal A, Spryszak M, Louizos C, Frankel G. glucosamine and chondroitin use in canines for osteoarthritis: A review. Open Vet J. 2017;7:36-49.


Disclaimer:  A 360g Oral Powder for Dogs and Mobility Chews were gifted to us by Parnell Living Science to complete this review.
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