What's the Difference Between GlycoFlex I, II, and III?
Joint problems can seriously affect the health and well-being of your pet and are extremely common in dogs. Whether it’s arthritis or degenerative joint disease that’s affecting your dog, it’s important to find the right treatment before any damage to joints becomes irreversible. Though a wide variety of joint supplements exist, only Glyco Flex offers three different formulas to address the needs of three distinct life stages of your dog.
Glyco Flex comes in three formulas that each feature a palatable taste and nutrients that your dog needs to maintain proper joint health. Though each formula is united by the same general ingredients, which include glucosamine, perna mussel and Dimethylglycine- each formula differs from one another both in the concentration of these ingredients and in their inclusion of supplementary ingredients that focus on different aspects of joint health.
Each formula is also easy to administer to your pet, requiring a short 4-6 week period of an initial dosage before switching to a dosage set for maintenance. Both periods of administration are facilitated by the easy-to-use chewable form of the supplements that each features a palatable chicken taste that dogs love.
Glyco Flex I
Glyco Flex I provides support to pets that are just beginning to experience discomfort, which may signal the onset of an arthritic condition. This formula is recommended for puppies and younger dogs that may need basic joint support. This formulation includes only those basic ingredients listed above, with no additional components. This formulation is perfect for dogs that are not in clear need of joint care but that are likely to suffer from arthritic conditions later in life due to a large breed size or especially active lifestyle.
Glyco Flex II
This formulation includes a few additional ingredients that make it more powerful than Glyco Flex I for adult dogs that are maturing to an age in which joint problems are regularly seen. Many larger breed dogs will experience symptoms when they are as young as seven years of age. It is also recommended for sporting and working dog breeds or for smaller dogs that have recently undergone orthopedic surgery.
In addition to the ingredients included in Glyco Flex I, this formula uses methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and manganese to further facilitate the healing of joints. Manganese is an amino acid that is one of the compounds used for synovial fluids that lubricate joints. MSM is also often included as an ingredient in joint supplements to reduce inflammation and chronic pain.
Glyco Flex III
The optimal solution for pets that are experiencing more advanced joint problems, Glyco Flex III provides comprehensive support for joint and connective tissues. Similar to Glyco Flex II, this formulation includes MSM and manganese, as well as all the base ingredients found in Glyco Flex I. However, this formula is set apart by its inclusion of grape seed extract, a bioflavonoid, Selenium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and L-Glutathione.
This additional support is ideal for geriatric cats and dogs and animals that are recovering from orthopedic surgery. Additionally, this formula is available in regular tablets or as miniature soft chews. Both formulations are simple to administer and can be used in conjunction with other treatments or supplements.
Additional Joint Care Steps
Though Glyco Flex offers three superb joint supplements, there are also a wide variety of supplements that can be used in place of, or in conjunction with, Glyco Flex. Two popular brands we here at EntirelyPets recommend are Cosequin DS for dogs and Joint MAX by PHS. Both products include ingredients that are essential to joint health such as glucosamine and chondroitin- while each includes its own proprietary assortment of supplemental nutrition.
Pet owners can also opt to care for their pet’s joints by using specially formulated treats that promote joint health. One popular treat, Bonies, offers a great tasting snack that also promotes both dental and joint health. These treats are available for dogs of different sizes and are perfect for caring for picky dogs that don’t care for capsules or tablets.
Joint problems affect a large number of dogs, especially those that are large and active. We hope this article helps you keep your dog active and out of pain. Do you use any supplements or treats to care for your pet’s joints? Let us know which in the comments!