Proper Dosing

Understanding our products are FLEXIBLE

Understand, all MD’s Choice products are designed with a FLEXIBLE DOSING, which take into account certain factors specific to the individual, as well as the CURRENT level of health (and time goals).

For example, if the problems are moderate, or the use is preventive, the 'usual' recommended dosing is on the label. However, IF the issues are more serious, and pain is evident, PLEASE CALL US if you still have questions after reading this page, FOR OPTIMUM DOSING during the bodies healing period.

In general, here is the scoop on Gluquestrian (powder)… Arthrosamine Beefy Chewables (chewables for dogs), and Arthrosamine Capsules (for all mammals 1 to 300 lbs, people, dogs, cats, and other mammals):

The Following are guidelines to help you get started, and determine a bodies joint health level (to start with dose) for Medium to Average Size body:

  • Level 1: NO CURRENT JOINT ISSUES, Low to Medium risk, young fast-growing body. (1 scoop – chewable – or capsule per day)

  • Level 2: Juvenile to Middle Age (for the species) with mild joint issues, those that can get around well… without limping or obvious pain issues, WITHOUT using painkillers and are not competing. (2 scoops – chewables – capsules per day)

  • Level 3: Bodies with moderate joint issues, those that are usable, but often experience joint popping, trouble with change-ups or limping after riding (running, climbing stairs, getting up & down, walking briskly, having lameness issues, and obvious soreness). (4 scoops – chewables – capsules per day)

  • Level 4: Bodies with serious joint problems or injuries, those that cannot be ridden easily (or carry weight – if a dog or person, trouble getting up and down), and just daily routines often require painkillers. (6 scoops – chewables – capsules per day)

  • Level 5: Bodies with extreme joint problems, those that should not be ridden at all (have serious restrictions, of dog or person). Then it’s recommended that you contact us to determine the proper dosage. (8 scoops – chewables – capsules per day).

As with all nutrition, it’s suggested to break it into at least 2 doses per day – morning and night. If possible, especially when there is a serious problem, three times a day is even better… and more nutrients will be used by the body more efficiently.

Often, if the dose can be split up into 3 times a day CONSISTENTLY, the dose can usually be reduced by about 20 to 25% with the same results and time frame… so 2 three times (6) a day would usually be equal to 4 twice a day(8)).

A body that is 20 to 50% larger than ‘average’ (medium) should add at least 1 level. So, for example: the average horse is 800 to 1000 lbs. The average dog 10 to 45lbs. The average person 125 to 180lbs.

IF you have a serious,
pre-existing, or chronic problem

you’ll likely need a bit more to start with… the only questions are how much more, and for how long. No one wants to ‘maintain’ a problem, they want to improve it, help it heal, and have it go away when possible.

So, taking a ‘maintenance dose’ will NOT HELP SOLVE AN EXISTING PROBLEM!


Yes, there are some issues our products can help, but will never make ‘go away.’ Our joint or bone products will NOT alter structural abnormalities, remove bone spurs, reattach ligaments tone lose, or straighten maladjusted healing. Surgery is what fixes those things, and our products CAN ACTUALLY HELP REDUCE RECOVERY TIMES when you have surgery on those type of things, which is why Orthopedic Surgeon’s recommend or prescribe our products before, during, and after joint related surgeries.

Our products supply the body the nutrients it needs, in forms it can actually use, to help expedite the repair and maintenance of the body in a natural and reasonable fashion. 

  • No magic;
  • no quick fixes;
  • no masking agents or pain blockers

(use pain reducers, blockers, killers as needed, when needed, as your doctor recommends). However, EXTREME CARE should be given when ever used daily for more than about 2 to 4 weeks.

MD's Choice offers pure, quality NUTRITION… the body CAN ACTUALLY USE! 

In general, nearly any and all ‘nutrition’ should be taken at, with, or just before a meal… so the stomach acid is activated, and starts to churn and optimize the use of what ever nutrients it finds within (whether food stuff or supplementation).

Do NOT wait until after you’ve eaten, if possible, as you want to get the most out of the focused nutrients you’re supplying to your body.

As for the food…

it doesn’t have to be a lot

or even a whole meal… it could be just a slice of bread, or lite snack, if you’re traveling or out and unable to get a meal to follow up.

The more regular your diet can be, is also better for your body… and easier on your systems.

Some people can effectively take a handful of pills on an empty stomach and actually obtain the full benefit from the nutrients supplied; but many can’t. It really depends on HOW HEALTHY your digestive tract is… how much stomach acid you normally have. Most people have an idea how long food stuff sits within their digestive tract, and that is a key factor to extracting nutrients (from food or supplements).

However, we do not usually know how well others respond, so we need to assume 'BEST WITH FOOD'

MD’s Choice products are designed

to break down quickly, with minimal stomach acid… and begin to be useful to the body quickly, BUT that doesn't mean results will be noticed quickly. Absorption starts in about 15 to 30 minutes for the average body.

The average Ph level in the stomach of an adult, with something ON THEIR STOMACH (the brain thinks is food stuff), is going to be around 3 to 4.5 for most people.

The lower the number, the more acidic… the faster the break down.

However, if a person has chronic digestive problems, that number might creep up to the 5.5 to even 6.5 range (7 is neutral… no acid = no break down, stuff sits, ferments, and causes ‘acid reflux’ from the gases of the sitting food stuff). At a Ph of 7, digestion is tough to impossible… unless food is basically liquefied. Often chronic constipation, or even impaction, and weight gain issues are more likely with higher ph levels and the poor digestion associated with that.

Remember, a Ph level of 7 is ‘neutral;’ and like water, doesn’t have the acids necessary to ‘break anything down’ (or apart) in the food we eat… so it just sits!

So, a liquid can help… getting ‘stomach acid’ (in a pill form), and pancreatic enzymes, via supplementation can also help… and has effectively helped some end some of their chronic suffering. BUT 'GLUCOSAMINE' in any form, but especially the HCL forms are absolutely NOT stable in liquid.

Our Liquid Complete Formula is a broad spectrum general supplement, containing 97 different vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, amino acids, and enzymes; and is part II of our CRITICAL CARE MEALS.  BUT THERE IS NO GLUCOSAMINE in it. 

ALWAYS TRY TO SPLIT THE DOSING…

Morning & Night, or even better yet, Morning, noon, and night…
the more you can split the dosing, generally, the better it is FOR YOUR BODY, and the more effectively nutrients will be used; just like your regular dietary meals… For example: over the years, for most people trying to actively solve (or significantly help) a joint problem, taking

  • ONE CAPSULE of the human Arthrosamine THREE TIMES A DAY (morning, noon, and night)
  • offers about the same levels of actual USE within the body as TWO capsules just twice a day.

    Splitting the dose more is not only the best for the body, but can also help save you some money. However, many people don’t ‘like to take pills’ or won’t take them faithfully every day around the same time, so twice a day is easier for many.

    There are very few supplements that can be effective, if there is really a need or deficiency you are trying to fulfill or support, with only one dose a day… or just ‘one a day.’

  • This is ESPECIALLY true if the supplement contains any calcium. 500mg of elemental calcium in the most popular form found on store shelves, calcium carbonate, is a huge cow pill packed pretty tight. That would be quite tough to swallow, but also nearly impossible for a body to actually use much of. Those ‘one pill a day’ general supplements are something to be wary of. They are barely better than nothing.

  • Basic Dosing: WITH FOOD is better, and SPLIT THE DOSE into as many consistent parts as you feel you can faithfully (and actually) commit to doing. Usually either 2 or 3 times a day, and usually with meals.

Common Sense Factors:

A full grown adult may require more supplementation of specific nutrients than a youth (kids usually requires more calories, and a broader spectrum of nutrients, because kids burn more energy… and are still growing).

However, the adult may require more specific nutrients, targeting specific systems, during a healing process… merely because they have a larger body and potentially years of ‘wear and tear.’

~ A large body will often need more than a small body.
~ An active body will use more than a sedentary body.
~ A body with an existing problem, will require more focused nutrient supplementation (during the healing process) than an otherwise healthy body.

Most bodies can usually drop to a ‘maintenance level’ dose within a few weeks, (though some more serious issues, and spinal problems often take months; sometimes as much as one to three years for some of the most serious issues).

Real improvement is not fast. Things like cartilage usually takes 18 to 24 months just to lay down 1/32th of an inch of new cartilage.

Other treatments, and Individual goals
WILL impact dosing

Some other medications and treatments may also impact the initial starting dose… negatively or positively.

For example, if a horse is doing a 5 or 7 shot series of Adequan, a person can usually drop one or two ‘levels’ with our Gluquestrian product for that horse (because Adequan will usually help act as a ‘loading dose’ for our oral joint supplement). Or a person getting an HA injection.


As tactless or mean as it sounds, the reality is that a person needs to determine what is more important (TO THEM) – Time, Money, or just killing pain.

A retired, not real active body will require less aggressive dosing than an athlete trying to effectively heal as well, and as quickly, as possible.  

Because each has potentially has a different dosing recommendation, requirements, and options… depending on the individual problem and goals. 

These things are sure:

if they can really improve things.

Why start with a ‘maintenance dose’ expecting any difference in a short time - IF THERE IS A PROBLEM?

you’ll absolutely need to start at a higher dose (more NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT) for a few weeks to months, and enough time to actually give the body a chance to fix itself whenever possible.

but use those KNOWING THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING, how much you're using, when, where, and how you're doing it.

As some of the 'herbal symptom maskers/pain blockers' can actually mess with the body, the blood flow (heart), and even ability to effectively 'know' when to 'take it easy' (so healing can occur, or at least the problem isn't worsened). 

~ will ‘shave off’ bone spurs, or ‘regrow bone’ that was disintegrated, dissolved, or was crushed…

ANYONE claiming it can be done with an oral supplement, without surgery, IS LYING TO YOU! (and Yes, there is at least one company based in California that claims to do those things). 

With MD's Choice products, YOU USUALLY CAN BACK OFF (the dosage), working your way down to a maintenance, or even preventive level, dose over time.

This works well. As a problem goes away or significantly lessens, fewer nutrients are necessary to maintain the health (unless there is an injury, genetic issue, or chronic disease… those issues will usually require more, for longer).

bodies ON OUR PRODUCT(s) on a daily basis generally heal about 20 to 50% quicker if surgery or a more aggressive treatment is necessary. 

Especially when they REMAIN ON OUR PRODUCT through their recovery process.

All orthopedic surgeon’s using our product have their patients on the product prior to the surgery, and tell them to remain on it (reducing the dose in a few months, usually 6 to 24, depending on the surgery… the patients age, and the health of the rest of the joints). Many actually send them home with product and specific instructions… because they’ve witnessed the difference our products make in their patients recovery, and the benefits to the OTHER JOINTS! Most of those surgeon’s over the age of 40 actually use our product for their own joint health.

Start off with the NECESSARY dosing level for the individual needs, supplying the nutrients to the body (in forms it can readily use) to actually promote healing and improved health will require a level appropriate to the individual, and their problem. There is no ‘one size fits all’ in nutrition.

We’re talking PURE NUTRITION, not drugs, no symptom masking … so you won’t feel (or see) instant change or ANY QUICK PAIN REDUCTION. It occurs over time, as healing happens.

Sadly, since the 60’s it seems that ‘fast food’ – ‘quick results’ and ‘easy dosing’ is expected by many… wrongly buying into the marketing fallacy that such things as ‘one ____ a day’ is really effective or optimum, just because some company’s marketing says it is. The misinformation allows less ethical companies to promote falsehoods.

A physically active – still growing 16 year old that is 6ft, requires considerably more calories (and nutrients) than a sometimes active, but otherwise healthy 6ft male age 45, and both require much more, and different quantities of, nutrients than a 5ft 2in sedentary woman in her 70s.

It’s all science, logic, and reality… which is somewhat flexible, based on the specific needs, diet, and lifestyle of the individual.  ‘One size fits all’ seldom does, especially where nutrition is concerned.

It’s science, common sense, and reality.

An active athlete training and competing might require 4,000+ calories, whereas a normal adult might sustain perfectly on just 2,000 to 2,500 calories, and a sedentary elderly person may need only 1200 to 1,500 calories (with any more than that causing unwanted weight gain, or other health issues).

Same is true with NUTRITION... not just calories. How the body is used, how much sweat, hydration, and system flushing determines 

PH level in the gut plays a vital roll in nutrition. The PH normally raises from about 2.2 as a child (very acidic – can melt crayons), to 3-4.5 as a young adult to middle age (can eat just about anything, and quickly digest it… often have trouble gaining weight). Then it often jumps to around a Ph level of 4.5-5.5 (more rumbling of the gut, food sits longer, tougher to get the nutrients needed, might start experiencing ‘acid reflux’ – though the cause is often misdiagnosed… and antacids can quell the symptoms, they are but a band-aide on a festering wound… and solutions CAN EXIST for those interested). Anyhow, there are Ph levels as high as 6 or more, for some geriatrics, which might even require their food to often be blended or liquefied, or they will have serious stomach and digestion issues, and painful discomfort; because what they eat just sits there.

especially as we age, when we are more prone to having problems (due to aging, over use, abuse, and injury). ‘Gut health’ is important to the health of our entire body! Diet & Nutrition absolutely impacts hormones, the immune system, and helps us deal with sickness, and even fight off most diseases.

It has also been proven that factors, such as how you eat your food will influence how many nutrients and calories can actually get into your system. The longer (and better) you chew your food, the more healthy calories the body can usually retain, verified by a team or researchers from Purdue University.

For this example, we’ll use the Gluquestrian 1,100g Powder product:

First, understand, this same product is used for virtually all mammals, including people. We use human grade ingredients specifically, and purposefully, and have it manufactured in a human grade, FDA inspected, cGMP certified, facilities, knowing that many people actively use this product themselves. It's identical to the Arthrosamine Capsules, except it's not encapsulated and it has a human-food grade excipient in it. 

One level scoop (which is 1 tsp) = 4 capsules = 4 beefy chewables.

If there is no problem, the goal is preventive, helping the joints be the best they can be… the horse is either young (without problems) OR usually under 10 years old, and isn’t being worked real hard or competed on… then a 1100g container (which has 220 scoops) lasts up to 220 days.  (Level 1 – preventive… no current issues).

An older 800-1000lb horse, with moderate signs of arthritis, not being ridden hard, would be at a maintenance dose of about 2 scoops a day, lasts up to 110 days. (Level 2- average maintenance dose).

Whereas, that same 800-1000lb horse, with severe joint issues or injury… that isn’t really ride-able (or not without serious pain killers)… might be starting at 6 to 8 scoops a day (4 in the morning, 4 at night… although 2 scoops 3 times a day can usually accomplish the same thing, a little faster). Which would  make it about a 27-36 day supply (depending on # of scoops) out of that same 220 scoop container… during the treatment period (usually 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the issue). These would be a Level 5 – severe issue, major joint injury, founder, or navicular syndrome (can’t hardly walk, climb steps/inclines, or get up or down without severe joint pain, and absolutely shouldn't be ridden).

Understand, a ‘scoop’ is equal to 1 TEASPOON (about the size of a stack of 6 dimes)… it's very tiny, and extremely concentrated. No fillers, expanders, or waste. It has virtually no smell, and only a slight salty taste (from the potassium salts used in the 2KCl form, which helps enhance bio-availability). Most people say they can't taste it in juice, hot blooded picky horses eat it without issue when top dressed, and even finicky dogs eat it without issue when sprinkled over their food. 

The scoop should NOT be ‘heaping’ or ’rounded,’ but level to slightly dipped.

Over time, as pain goes away, flexibility & mobility restored, 

the dosage can be reduced… often to a maintenance dose within a few weeks (or months).

If there was a health problem, step the dosing down slowly… don’t reduce the dose by more than one level every couple weeks. If everything appears to be good for at least two or more weeks, drop the then current dose by ONE scoop (or capsule, or chewable) per day – not per application. Stay at THAT new level for at least a week or two.

If things are still good after that week or two… and keep doing that until you’re either at a maintenance dose.

IF, at any time, things appear to get worse, jump the dose back up to the last level that was working for them for at least 2 to 6 more weeks, then try working them down again.

So, if you’re at 6 scoops a day, and all is well, drop to 5 scoops (2.5 and 2.5, or about 1.6 of a scoop three times) for a couple weeks.

Still good in a week or two at that dose? Try going to 4 scoops (2 and 2). Most horses will maintain at 1 or 2 scoops a day off season, 2 or 3 when they are regularly being ridden or competing. Endurance and 3-Day Eventing Horses, and Olympic Class Jumpers will usually be at 1 three times a day, or 2 – twice a day. Especially if the body had problems in the past that were NOT INJURY related (i.e., genetic or chronic).

If, at any time, after dropping a scoop (a day) things get worse… bounce them BACK UP to the previous level for 2 to 4 weeks, before trying to reduce levels again.

IF they get a new injury, increase the levels appropriately for at least 2 to 4 weeks.

If there wasn’t a problem – or it was minor, after the initial ‘loading dose,’ you can safely drop them to the maintenance (or, if they are young and not having chronic problems, half a maintenance dose).

A body will benefit from the right nutrients, in forms it can readily use. That’s what the MD’s Choice Products supply, targeting specific systems.

The length of time a given body is at a certain dosing level really depends on the individual, the severity of the problem, the location, length of time the problem has existed, and a few other factors.

The average is about 2 to 16 weeks per level, until it reaches a maintenance or preventive level. 

Quality & Service are our chosen specialties

Since 1995, MD's Choice has maintained the very best guarantee in the nutritional supplement market, bar none;  with over a 90% success rate for those that actually use the MD’s Choice products as directed.

An unheard of commitment in the health industry. Our guarantee covers the initial period of use, usually 6 to 24 weeks, depending on the problem, not just 1 bottle, or 30 days, the majority of our competitors have.

For serious problems, please contact us directly for the most effective dosing for the specific body and situation. We want our product to work for you, and believe YOU WILL POSITIVELY SEE RESULTS or GET A FULL REFUND for the containers you purchased (limit 3 large containers). No formal testing (or doctors note) is required for reimbursement (as some of our competitors have).

Our company stands behind our product, because the science is solid, and we have a results based guarantee you can honestly trust! MD’s Choice has had zero complaints with the BBB for over 20 years, and either A+ or 'unrated' (because we don't pay for ratings); something few businesses of any type can brag about, especially businesses in the nutrition or health industries.
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