The manufacturer recommends that periodic blood work to be done on animals that are on this product to monitor any developing liver problems resulting from its use. This product is often used initially with glucosamine therapy and then as the glucosamine product begins to work the carprofen dose is reduced or eliminated. Corticosteroids have been used for many years to treat the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis, although their use now is controversial. Corticosteroids act as a potent anti-inflammatory but unfortunately have many undesirable short and long term side effects. Because of these side effects and the advent of newer, more specific drugs, corticosteroids are generally only used in older animals where all other pain control products have failed, or in acute flare-ups.
Corticosteroids are a prescription product and come in both a pill and injectable form.
Vitamin C Vitamin C has received a lot of press lately, primarily because of studies done in humans that have linked it to preventing and controlling a variety of diseases. Much of the use in animals has been extrapolated from human medicine. We know that vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and is an important nutrient in the synthesis of collagen and cartilage. We also know that Vitamin C is water-soluble and it is very difficult to create a toxicity. The benefits of vitamin C in preventing or treating degenerative joint disease are purely speculative.