Hi again Sorry it has taken me so long to give an update...Thanks for all your contributions.. I have always been one to look for opinions on both sides of the fence and I think this time I really hit the jackpot. About my goat (Lily) she made some initial improvement but then it got really cold so now she hardly puts weight on the that right leg at all. I have been giving her and Aspirin and Glucosamine every day for a little over a month now, and then last week I started giving her MSM every day. I have also been trying to put warm packs on it in the mornings and I try to rub it down and put some topical salve that is like bengay but also has glucosamine in it ( I got some for my Grandma and after talking to the gal at the store she was telling me that they tested in on goats so I thought I might as well try it). Anyway the left knee is really doing well but it's still just the right knee that keeps bugging her. With hoof trimming and such her hoof rot is gone--her hooves look great now and she gets around really well--she keeps the right knee bent and off the ground and walks or runs (at a pretty good clip too) on her other threee. She is eating and drinking better than she was at first, and she is really pretty playful and curious--which she really wasn't when I originally posted-- so I think maybe her pain is getting a little better. I am anxious to see if she will use it more in the spring once it warms up. Also I have an odd question about DMSO. Does anyone know if that is the same thing that gets instilled into people's bladders for various bladders diseases (like chronic cysts, stones in the bladder etc.)? Although I haven't done it recently, when I worked day shift (I work weekends now) at the hospital I work at now it seemed like we would instill that into people's bladders and leave it in for an hour and then drain it out. I am not exactly sure how it was supposed to help but I pretty sure its DMSO. If I were to use it on goats is it better to use a topical preparation or give it orally? As for my chickens they are great! Their is a light on for them all the time and I did start mixing 1 part chick starter, 1 part oats to 2 parts layer ration and egg productions was back up in just a few days. Thanks a bunch! Thanks again for all your comments and tips, and please feel free to contribute any new ideas! Have a great night--marie

One thing about diatary supplements, is there is no government regulation of these products. Consumer's Report did a study of several over the counter products a couple of years ago, and found vast differences between brands as to the amount of active ingredients. Amazingly, Walmart had some of the best brands, if memory serves. Maybe I need to take Ginkgo biloba! ...Anyway, look at the expiration date and I'd spend the extra bucks and get them from a health food store. My doctor, who has studied alternative medicines in addition to the normal kind told me to only buy tinctures of herbal products. He said since these are alcohol distillations, they won't degrade on the shelf like a powdered herb in a capsule would. I'm glad to hear that these products are working for you. To those who have had no luck, it may be due to the particular brand not having enough active ingredients in it. In this case, they may want to try another brand.

There is still no evidence that MSM does anything to help with arthritis. It is supposed to have an anti-inflammatory effect, but this has never been documented. It doesn't appear to cause any harm, but it also doesn't appear to do any good. Glucosamine and chondriotin are both substances that are required for healthy cartilage. The most effective forms are glucosamine HCL and chondroitin sulfate; they are most readily absorbed and used by the body. The most effective ratio is glucosamine HCL 500mg/chondroitin sulfate 400mg. The most common dose is 3-6 times that ratio in humans, starting with a higher dose during a 6-8 week loading period then decreasing to the lowest effective dose. If there is no improvement after 6-8 weeks, there is no use continuing to supplement. I use it and it helps with my knees, which I injured many years ago. I recommended it to my FIL and it didn't help him at all. It helped my husband, and I also give it to all of my dogs to prevent cartilage break-down (they are large breed dogs). In humans and animals, it seems to help about 50% of the time. I think it depends on how much cartilage-producing cells are still in the affected joints. Glucosamine and chondroitin appear to have a better effect when the cartilage damage isn't severe. Glucosamine and chondroitin are not pain releivers, but work by building up the cartilage in the joints. This helps protect the bones in the joints from rubbing against each other, which is the source of joint pain. One major problem with supplements in general is that there is no government regulation on them. Many brands have been tested and some have almost no glucosamine or chondroitin in them! Look for a symbol on the packaging that says USP, indicating the manufacturer follows guidelines from US Pharmocopeia, which is an industry self-regulatory board. The link below has more information on glucosamine/chondroitin. Here is a link that might be useful: Info on glucosamine and chondriotin

I had a dog who developed CCD (canine cognitive dysfunction) in her last year or two of life. It was very disconcerting for both of us. She was frequently anxious, and she was constantly getting "stuck" behind furniture or in corners. Her vision was adequate, but she was functionally deaf. Even so, she couldn't find her way out of a corner or from behind furniture, and she seemed to seek out those locations. I also had to watch her very carefully outside, because she would just start walking very purposefully down the driveway for no apparent reason. She once got 1/2 mile down the road before I realized she was gone. When my SO caught up to her, she was still walking like she had somewhere to go - where, I have no idea. Although I never pursued it with Sarah, I believe there is medication that can help with CCD. This is something you should discuss with your vet. Laurie