Ive got a good vet who doesn't want to push medications on my dogs all the time for exactly the reasons stated in the article.
Our Vet preferrs to try glucosamine variants ( with chondroitin or MSM ) first, but our old girl could scarcely stand up after the rat episode.
The downside is that rather than snoozing half the day, she is constantly charging the fence and gates, and challenging every imagined intruder.