What Is Cosequin for Cats?

There are many new products on the market claiming to aid pets with joint health. Cosequin is one such product and is geared towards cats (and dogs) that have joint issues, particularly older pets that may be suffering from arthritis. Although a prescription from a veterinarian is not necessary to purchase Cosequin, it is a good idea to know what it is and what it does before you begin giving to your cat.

  1. What It Is

    • According to Pet Place, Cosequin is a nutraceutical, meaning it is not a drug, but produces drug-like effects on the user. Cosequin contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which are widely used to help ease joint pain and suffering in both animals and humans alike. But because it is not a drug, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

    What It Does

    • Cosequin helps reduce symptoms of joint pain and arthritis. Arthritis is inflammation (and is usually accompanied by swelling) inside the joint. Cosequin helps calm the inflammation and rebuild cartilage that is needed to provide stability inside the joint. The fluid surrounding the afflicted joint may also benefit from using Cosequin, as fluid level may increase, which provides more of a buffer inside the joint.

    Preventative Usage

    • Cosequin is also used to prevent the inflammation in the joints from ever happening, not simply to treat afflicted areas. In this light, Cosequin differs from most drugs or methods used to treat cats or other animals, as it can be used daily as a preventative medicine and may help stop arthritis or other inflammation from ever occurring. Cats may benefit from being placed on Cosequin during young or middle age, rather than waiting until they reach geriatric age and problems have already surfaced.

    Dosing

    • Though other glucosamine and chondroitin supplements or nutraceutricals are available in liquid form, Cosequin is available only in pill/tablet form. The benefit of this is that tablets have far greater shelf life and will often last for a year or more, while liquids will usually expire after 6 months. Normal Cosequin dosing range for cats under 10 pounds is 1/4 to 1 tablet every 12 or 24 hours. For cats over 10 pounds, 1/2 to 2 tablets should be given every 12 to 24 hours.

    Effects

    • Cosequin is not like a steroid or pain killer and results will not be noticeable immediately. Sometimes the full benefit of Cosequin won't be visible for several weeks or even months. For this reason, Cosequin is preferable as a preventative supplement, as it can help stop joint problems before they occur. Fortunately, there are relatively few side-effects associated with Cosequin, with slight nausea or diarrhea sometimes affecting cats during the first few days of taking the product.