We have a 16 year old cat with arthritis. When she went to the vet last
spring. He did a complete blood workup and x-rays. Her blood work came back
"very good for a cat her age". I think he said the x-ray showed her liver
was a little small but not beyond normal range. She has mild asthma.  He
prescribed Prednisolone (5mg.) for the arthritis. He also told us we could
use it if her breathing was labored or she was doing open mouth breathing.
She had a pretty good summer and there were only a few occasions when she
seemed in distress and we gave her the Prednisolone. Now that the weather
has changed she is not a happy camper. She's very stiff. Add to that the
stress of losing her long time companion and having a new cat and kitten in
the house over the last 2-3 months. I hesitate to give her
gluco-corticosteroid too often because of the many side effects. I was
talking to someone over the weekend and they mentioned Syn-flex. It contains
liquid glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine HCL, chondroitin, omega 3 and 6,
boswellin, yucca, vitamins A, E, and C, manganese, and bromelain. Has anyone
heard whether this stuff works or is this veterinary snake oil? Any opinions
on long term gluco-corticosteroid use?

Wendy