Q&A - Get Up & Go

You asked questions, and I've got answers. Just keep asking away.  I'm on a mission for everyone to use joint supplements because they really, truly, madly can help.

Is this a human-grade product? Standardized? High potency?

Absolutely. This is the same material that goes into capsules and tablets that are sold on the shelves for humans. You can take this, too. My supplier also supplies a very upscale, reputable chain of stores the same product for their customers, and it sells very well and at much higher prices.

These products have been subjected to rigorous testing. There are no fillers, so you KNOW you are getting just the product. This makes potency very high and there are no hidden ingredients to worry about. It's pure supplement.

Are all supplements created equal?

All supplements are not created equal. There are currently not any strong regulations on the creation of supplements, and some processing plants don't process a high-quality product. A high-quality product can help ensure positive changes, a lower quality product might not. Beware of products that don't disclose ingredients. Grocery stores, and warehouses are not always the best places to purchase high quality products. Do read labels.

 

What is the difference between Glucosamine HCL vs. Glucosamine Sulfate?

Some people don't feel there is a difference, but there is. The studies in Europe were done on Glucosamine sulfates (an Italian pharmaceutical company had a proprietary position on sulfate, and provided the entire supplement for the studies), and so many supplements on the market are created using sulfate.

Glucosamine HCL (hydrochloride) contains more Glucosamine than Sulfate. One of the reasons it contains more Glucosamine is because the process to create Glucosamine HCL is only one step. The process to create Glucosamine Sulfate is two steps.

I personally prefer HCL as it has only been processed once, and I've seen incredible results. Also Glucosamine sulfates are bound to either potassium or sodium salts. I feel both products can work well, with HCL working best.

What do you mean by 100%?

Get Up & Go  supplements contain only powder from the supplement. No fillers, no additional supplements, nothing else. With the recall on dog food ingredients recently, you want to purchase products where you know what the ingredients are. Get Up & Go products have one ingredient in them only. Pure powder.

Something you never see on labels is that in the processing of all Glucosamines, you never truly get 100% Glucosamine. The stable processed product only gives you a portion of the pure Glucosamine. However, you'll see labels stating 500 mg of Glucosamine. What that really means is if the processing was a high-quality one (like Get Up & Go), and if the processing contains no fillers or additional supplements (like Get Up & Go), then you would multiply the amount stated as milligrams by the following:

• 83.091% Glucosamine in Glucosamine HCL
• 59.179% Glucosamine in Glucosamine Sulfate

The resulting number would REALLY be the amount of Glucosamine in that pill.

Get Up & Go Glucosamine HCL contains 1600 - 2000 mgs in 1/2 tsp. That means you really get at least 1329.456 mg. of Glucosamine in every 1/2 tsp. Since other companies don't explain this on their labels, I keep my labels the same as others so you are comparing apples to apples.

Why is your product so much less than others on the market?

I love greyhounds. And I want all greyhounds to have a long, healthy life. I want everyone to give his or her ex-racing greyhounds Glucosamine. So I make it very affordable, without a ridiculous markup. This is a passion for me. Proceeds go to help rescue more greyhounds. I'm in this for very different reasons than everyone else selling you something.

Having said that, here are the other reasons I'm much less expensive.

• No additives. This product is 100% Glucosamine, so there are no extra costs for the addition of other products.
• No middlemen. I get the product direct, I pack it myself, I put on the labels, and I send it to you. Sometimes my parents help! A truly Ma & Pa operation.
  
  
  Ma & Pa Presto on vacation visiting Claudia
  and working hard - to help the greyhounds!

How do I give Get Up & Go supplements?

Get Up and Go supplements are powder. You put the required daily dose on your dog's food daily. If your dog is free fed, or doesn't eat all his food, here are some other suggestions:

• Using a small amount of canned food, mix in the powder and put on  kibble, or give directly to dog as a treat
• Using some form of mushy liverwurst stuff, make it into a flat pancake. Put the powder in the middle, wrap up liverwurst into a ball, and give it to your pet.
• You can put it in a sandwich (for you or your dog) with peanut butter.
• You can use lean deli meat. Just put it in the middle, fold over the meat and pop in the dog's mouth.
• You can add yogurt or cottage cheese to your dog's food, and mix the powder in that.
• Take raw  hamburger, put the powder in the middle, roll it a meatball, hand to dog.

 

Should I give supplements if there are no symptoms?

I look at every dog individually, and make the decision whether to give or not. However, joint supplements can be preventative too. Additionally, you might not be seeing an arthritic situation, but arthritis is happening.

My personal feelings based on what I've seen with all the greyhounds who have passed through the Gang's doors is that all ex-racing greyhounds need to replenish their joints and connective tissues. These supplements help do that.

I give every dog that I rescue Glucosamine HCL and MSM at least for 2 months. I will monitor their behavior and either continue to give or not, depending on the dog's condition, after a few months.With older hounds, or broken hocks,  I give all the supplements (Glucosamine, MSM, Chondroitin, Vitamin C) immediately. I want to fix what is wrong as soon as i can.

What are the symptoms of arthritis in dogs?

Watch for these telltale signs:

• When your dog gets up from sleeping, does he get up slowly and does it appears that he is in pain?
• Look at the toe joints, are any of them swollen?
• Does your dog lick his toes, or ankles or areas where he could be feeling some arthritic pain?
• Does your dog not run as much or as long as he used to?

An ex-racing greyhound has taken a lot of abuse on his body -- his feet, his legs, his back, his neck. Making sure those joints stay lubricated is a preventative measure you can take which will help him, and is easy and inexpensive for you!

How much and how often should I give Glucosamine?

If you've done some reading you'll see a wide range of answers to this. I believe 1500 mgs a day of each product (glucocsamine, chondroitin, MSM) should be given to a dog 50 lbs and over. That is the dose I've used, successfully on every greyhound passing through Greyhound Gang. This is also the dose for a human. The dose should be given daily for at least two months. Most older dogs need to stay on the product until they leave us.

My recommendation for the best chance of seeing a change in your dog's arthritic condition is to give 1500 mg a day for at least six months, for a dog over 50 lbs. If after  you see improvement, and money is an issue,  then go to a lesser dose of around 1000 mg. I would watch the effect though, and if he/she is doing well, then stay at that level. If you see arthritic conditions returning, go back to the higher dose, and add Chondroitin and MSM too.

Get Up and Go Glucosamine gives you more than that in a 60-day supply. You get enough to give 1/2 tsp. daily, which translates to 1600 mg - 2000 mg, for 60 days.

 

How do I know which supplement to use? Why just Glucosamine? I've been reading about Chondroitin and Glucosamine together.

I believe that Glucosamine HCL is the foundation for all natural arthritic healing. So depending on your economic situation, and the shape of your hound, you can start with just Glucosamine for a few months. Whole Dog Journal also agreed that Glucosamine is the main supplement for arthritis.However, if you don't see the change you'd like to see, then add Chondroitin and MSM and Yucca. If the dog is still displaying some arthritic issues, add CMO and Vitamin C, while still giving the other supplements too. However, every dog is an individual, and what they may need will be individual. With joint supplements, because there is no negative side effect of giving them all immediately, that is what I opt to do initially. I want to get to the root of the problem quickly, and fix what can be fixed quickly. However, if you are only going to use Glucosamine, it's OK. It's better than giving nothing. I recommend this because:

• Glucosamine is less expensive, and you can try the least expensive option first if money is an issue
• Glucosamine alone might help with the arthritic conditions.
• If Glucosamine alone doesn't help, then you'll be able to add another ingredient for less cost
• If Glucosamine alone doesn't help, then you'll be able to track the use of the addition of another product too

Of course, if you have a dog that already has chronic arthritis, as diagnosed by a vet, or is older, I would definitely give all products. Damage has already been done, and you need to try to reverse as much of the damage as you can. Giving Get Up & Go supplements will be the best and most affordable natural care for arthritis you can buy.

Some situations. You adopted a hound.
He is four and has trained and raced. I would give Glucosamine HCL for at least two months. You can then stop it, and see if there is a difference between when he was on it, and when he wasn't.

He is 7 or 8, but you don't see any signs. I'd put him on glucosamine and MSM for at least two months. When he isn't on the product watch and see what the difference is. These products can be preventive also, and will lower vet bills when used before something happens.

He is ten or older. He definitely has arthritis issues. Put him on the 4-pack. Keep him on it for 6 months. You can stop the Chondroitin and Vitamin C after that, if money is an issue, and see how he does when not on those products. But keep him on the Glucosamine and MSM for the rest of his life.

Your hound has a broken hock. He needs Glucosamine and MSM, potentially for the rest of his life. It would not hurt, to use the other supplements too.

Your hound has a broken toe. Glucosamine and MSM will help prevent the arthritis that will develop in the future.

I've read that Glucosamine causes diarrhea. Is this true?

Every dog is an individual and what works for one, doesn't always work for another. Just like with humans, some dogs have more sensitive tummies. I've had very very few reports of diarrhea because of glucosamine, but if you're worried, give a lesser dose for a week or so. Keep an eye on the stools, if they are hard, then up to full dose. It's kind of like when you start eating more fiber. Your body reacts by having you go to the bathroom more often. But in a bit, your body adjusts to the better food, and more fiber, and all is well with you and your stools. Introducing anything new to your dog's diet, can cause an inbalance. But that doesn't mean it's bad for them. Of course, diarrhea for days is not good, as it dehydrates a dog. But don't give up on glucosamine, just try a different product, and hopefully that one will help the arthritis, while not disturbing something else.

Where do Get Up & Go supplements come from?

Since 1999, Get Up & Go glucosamine has come from China. I believe that almost all glucosamine comes from China, as they are the ones catching and selling the majority of shellfish. I get it through a very reputable distributor on the East Coast. It is always tested. It is always pure. The problems come with food products from China where fillers are used in products, and not noted. All of Get Up & Go products are pure product. No fillers. I believe most MSM is also made in China. Chondroitin comes from China/USA/CA. Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C) comes from US. CMO comes from the US.

I tried Glucosamine and it doesn't work for my dog.

Ask yourself - Did I give the correct dose? Did I give it daily? Did the dog get all the correct dose? Does my dog really have arthritis, or something else? Is the product I'm giving high quality? If it is arthritis, and you've answered yes to all of the above, then I would try a different product. They are all created differently, and every dog is an individual, so not all products will work exactly the same for all dogs. But glucosamine does help with arthritic situations. You can read these testimonials.