The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Norak (Tampa, Fl, United States) on 11/13/2012
★★★★★
I give my 70-lb boxer/pit mix 1 TBSP. In the morning for arthritis and that seems to last all day. It's amazing how quickly it transformed him. In fact, when I saw what it did for him, I started taking it myself for arthritis and it works!
Vitamin C
Posted by Es (Newton, NJ) on 11/07/2012
★★★★★
My dog, a loving and happy 10 year old golden retriever, was stiff and had trouble getting up. It was sad to see and I was worried. Vet recommended extremely expensive pills - an anti-inflammatory painkilling drug which is bad for their kidneys anyway. I tried it for a while but then was told about vitamin C by my neighbor who has 5 healthy black labs and his daughter is a veterinary technician. I worked him up to 2000mg of [vitamin] C daily, (1000mg twice a day) starting at 500 (250mg twice a day with food) and building up, adding more each week. Yes, he is SO much better now, we've been doing this faithfully for 5 months now. My boyfriend noticed how much better he was walking and getting up. It is a godsend. I never did need to get a refill of those pills from the vet in the end. The [vitamin] C worked much better, and instead of costing me hundreds of dollars per month, it costs us only $10. Per month. Thank you [vitamin] C!!!
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Blistersister (Brampton, Ontario Canada) on 08/01/2012
★★★★★
Thank you for information about the blackstrap molasses I started my 12 yr old lab on this and within 2 days I can already see a difference. I live in a basement apt and she has to go upstairs to go out. Before it took her almost 5 min to climb up the stairs today she bounded up like a little pup. Thank you so much for giving me back by baby.
Glucosamine, Turmeric, Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Tamara (Bellevue, Washington) on 05/18/2012
★★★★★
My boyfriend's grandma's dog Muffie was apparently born with arthritis, according to her vet. She's been on pain killers her entire 9 year life. Since they're so damaging to the liver, she was expected to continually get worse and die from this supposed cure. I noticed that the twice a day regimen (I believe it was rimadyl and tramodal) was indeed not enough to take away the pain any longer. She had a hard time sitting down and getting back up and whimpered while doing so. Instead of going to the vet or upping the dosage, since they both felt like downward spirals to the same end, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I put her on a diet (mainly, I told everyone to stop feeding her under the table, Lol. ) to help relieve the pressure the extra weight was putting on her joints. Then I started giving her leftover glucosamine tablets from when Grandma took them. I put them in the little pill pockets for dogs until we ran out, then I started to make my own. They are expensive and who knows what's in them! I think the "pockets" I make are also key. Here's what I do:
In a small bowl I mix peanut butter (maybe 4 tbls) with blackstrap molasses until it looks like chocolate (maybe 4-6 tbls?). I don't measure I just mix until it gets a good color. Then I add turmeric powder until it goes from syrup to a malleable putty that cleanly comes off the fingers. I put it into a small jar and then whenever Muffie needs her "medicine" I scoop out a little bit, roll the glucosamine into a little ball and feed her the pill.
She loves it and no longer has any mobility issues, or pain that I can tell. I've been doing this since November 2011. Muffie gets one pill, twice a day, and the amount of turmeric/bsm/pb "pocket" that I make lasts about 3-4 weeks. I buy the turmeric in a half pound bag from the Indian market for about 5 dollars, so this remedy is cheap for us (I haven't even come close to running out yet). It's cheaper than what the vet gives her. Plus, I know it's good for her!
I think the turmeric helped her liver detox the pain pills, reduce inflammation, and lose weight, too, since it helped her liver to process the fat she was losing from her "diet". The powder also allows the concoction to be rolled into a ball instead of just getting peanut butter all over your hands! Be careful, though, it stains yellow.
The BSM is also good for arthritis, but the peanut butter is just a tasty medium that she'll eat. Otherwise, she just spits it out. Before coming up with the homemade pocket I tried bread, cheese, and meat to no avail.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Edith (Ventura, Ca) on 03/11/2012
Hi there. When I was reading this I wondered if you would also consider getting little boots for your dogs feet in the snow? My little dog suffered through last year's blizzards in New York, and I had to get little boots to protect her feet from the snow and salt on the sidewalks and it helped her so much. Also, when she came inside, I would take the boots off and her feet would be dry--no mess at all.
Chicken Cartilage
Posted by Tazzle (Anhedonia, Southwest Usa) on 02/08/2012
★★★★★
My story is about what cartilage did for my little arthritic dog. I hope it is useful.
Last Thanksgiving I removed cartilage and skin leftover from boiling our turkey carcass, and blended it up with some hot water in my Vitamix. It made a kind of meat Jello that I have been adding to my old terrier's grain-free food. She has become like a different dog!
Before I could only walk her about a mile or two because she would get sore and become very slow. But now she can easily walk twice that distance with plenty enough energy left to jump in the car all by herself afterwards. I always used to have to lift her in and out of the car, she couldn't do it on her own.
I just now made the dog another batch of blended up cartilage, this time from a goose. I also hear Vitamin C helps you assimilate collagen into your tissues, I might try giving her some of that, too.
Olive Leaf Extract
Posted by Dr. Dana (Kalkaska, Michigan) on 01/24/2012
★★★★★
Two years ago, my brothers dog (a 70 lb Shepard mix named Cassie) could barely get up let alone walk around without pain and discomfort. He left her in my care while he went on a trip. I was taking Olive Leaf Extract for a flu like symptoms, as O. L. E. Is a natural antibiotic. Cassie had been suffering for quite sometime, I got this idea to give her some of the stuff. The plan was to use it in a 2 week regimen just like I do for myself. I put a 500 mg pill inside a hollowed out vienna sausage, first I had to feed her some w/o the pill so she began to gobble them down, kinda like a kick start to get her gobbling. Once she was used to eating them I gave her the one with the pill in it, worked every time, she gobbled down the sausage and the pill. Much to my surprise, the very next day she showed a great improvement! I continued to give them to her over the next two weeks. It has now been over two years since this dog, that I didn't think was going to make it another 3 or 4 months, took the Olive Leaf Extract and she is doing just fine, especially for an old girl.
You can find Olive Leaf Extract in any health food or vitamin store, my bottle of (120) 500mg pills only cost $22. Way less than a trip to the vet, and there was plenty left over for me for later!!! Since Cassie's health so quickly improved, I have used the same treatment plan on my smaller 10 lb Shitzu dog with great results and no sign of side effects. Hope this helps your dog and or cat, or maybe even you and or your family and friends!
Dehumidifier
Posted by Amy (Kane, Pa) on 11/12/2011
★★★★★
Anyway, I wanted to post this as an idea for others. I had a cat who was 18 years old who effectively cured his own arthritis. He was a very smart little fellow, and he had terrible arthritis that had caused such spots on his hip that were so hot to touch, and he'd limp around in pain. The glucosamine did help some, but nothing worked until we purchased a dehumidifier for our basement. This little tuxedo cat sat next to this dehumidifier day and night, for about a month or more. At the time, I thought he was doing it because of the heat. Low and behold, about a month after doing this, his arthritis was healed, his weight had dropped dramatically, and he was pouncing around like a little kitten. No more hot joints.
I have arthritis, and have thought about trying it, but I don't have the time to sit next to that thing all day. Ahhh the life of a cat... My best friend Snapper has gone to his reward... And may have found a cure of arthritis for some... Hope this helps.
Hyaluronic Acid
Posted by Dr. John (Royal Oak, Michigan, Usa) on 10/19/2011
★★★★★
Another holistic remedy I have found quite valuable in treating arthritis includes hylauronic acid which aids in supporting joint lubricaton. Acupuncture, chiropractic, and pulsed magnetic therapy are other effective alternative approachs to helping pets over come lameness. MSM, Celtic Sea Salt, and Vitamin E can be added to your pets food to reduce inflammation and free radicals both of which cause pain and lameness.
Dr. John Simon, Woodside Animal Clinic
Alfalfa
Posted by Lanehausen (Austin, Texas) on 10/10/2011
★★★★★
I was friends with Alan & Louise Shepard (the astronaut & wife) through a close friend at work in 1996 or so. On a trip to Wimberley, Tx, to visit thier daughter and husband (my friend), they brought a small aging mixed chihuahua with arthritis so bad he could hardly get around. I shared with them, my dad's teachings of giving aging dogs alfalfa tabs crunched up in thier food to help give the joints natural lubrication. In the following weeks I received a letter from Alan & Louise thanking me so much for the tip as their dog was rejuvenated and walking like he had not done in years. Try it, it works. 500- 1500 mg tabs in the food will do it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katnco (Palisade, Co) on 09/20/2011
★★★★★
It's a miracle! I posted here on 8/03/11 that I put my 72 lb, 10 yr old dog on Apple Cider Vinegar for three days at that time and he was able to run. Since then, I've been committed to putting 1 tsp in his drinking water every morning - he has so much energy and flexibility! I wish there were a chiropractor to adjust him, because he needs it, but other than that, his youthful vigor has reappeared! THANK YOU EC for blessing us with your information. I truly thought I'd have to put my dog down he was in so much pain. Now he is free to run and play again! I also give him Glucosomine/Chondroitin every morning (1crushed pill) in his food.
Gelatin
Posted by Dalene (Johannesburg, South Africa) on 09/04/2011
★★★★★
This remedy helped my old arthritic dog recover, nothing short of a miracle, he's like a young dog after the Prednisone the vet prescribed nearly killed him! I suspect this might help for human arthritis? I give him a teaspoon of unflavoured gelatine every day, dissolved in some warm (not boiling) water, add to his food and let cool. It's tasteless so no prob there, and he also gets a fish oil capsule twice a week. He weighs about 10kg so the dose must be adjusted for bigger dogs. God bless al you dog lovers
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Cathy (Cape Coral, Fl, Usa) on 07/18/2011
★★★★★
After reading blogs on molasses for dogs I have put our 2 older Dobermans on it. Our 10 year old female had been having difficulty getting up, and she wasn't interested in a lot of activities. Our 9 year old male still has lots of energy but I felt it would be advisable to start him on the same regimine as a precautionary measure. Our female, after 2 weeks is doing so much better, even trying to get our male to play yesterday.
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by April (Hollidaysburg, Pa) on 03/20/2011
★★★★★
Thanks to everyone who posted on here. You have helped my eleven year old Rottweiler in ways you can never understand. I've been reading up on natural products for arthritis, began giving her organic black strap molasses and organic extra virgin coconut oil and in twenty-four hours she has become almost completely pain free and feeling like she is getting stronger each day. Thank everyone so much for your notes on what you have tried.
Yucca Extract
Posted by Josie (Atlanta, Georgia) on 12/28/2010
★★★★★
I happened across a yucca extract when ordering a wormer for my cat. The enthusiastic reviews got my attention so I ordered it for my 10 year old, arthritic, pit bull. She has been steadily getting worse this last year... Limping, can only walk a couple of blocks and not very enthusiastic. Recently I've noticed it taking a lot longer for her to empty her bladder and the chronic yeast infection in her ears is getting worse. She's been on the liquid extract for one week today and the change is unbelievable... In fact, if other people weren't noticing it as well I'd suspect wishful thinking on my part. The limp is almost completely gone, she walks further faster, urination is normal, ear infection is improving, no more itchy-scratchy and a visible increase in muscle mass. She wrestles with me on the floor again! All this after only one week! Other users said they continued to see improvement for three months before it leveled off. Dosage is 1 drop liquid extract per 10 lbs body weight 2x daily. I've looked and can find no known negative side effects. Try it!
Blackstrap Molasses
Posted by Kami (Virginia Beach, Va) on 12/04/2010
★★★★★
My 13-year-old Beagle mix has had hip problems (displaysia) since he was about 6, tore his ACL and had knee surgery to fix it at age 8, and has suffered from arthritis pain in his hind quarters for years. We were given the typical arthritis meds from the Vet, but it didn't seem to work, and we hated taking him in for blood tests all the time. This past year he really seemed to get worse - to the point of me lifting him to his feet, carrying him outside, and bringing him food and water in bed. He moaned in his sleep, and yelped when he tried to get up on his own... I was thinking it was time for that dreaded visit to the vet.
Then someone referred me to this website. I've tried a few of the remedies (ACV, tumeric, all 3 mixed), but Blackstrap Molasses, alone made the biggest difference. About a month ago, I started giving him about 1/2-3/4 tsp Blackstrap Molasses wrapped in a small piece of bread once a day (in the morning after his breakfast. He weighs 42 lbs. ) Now, he gets up on his own, goes up and down small flights of steps on his own, runs, goes on walks, plays with his doggie sister, and doesn't moan. He jumps up to get food off the dining room table, gets into the trash... He is back to his old bad behaviors. Even my husband (who was very skeptical) says it's like night and day. This site is wonderful. Thank you!
