Glucosamine for cats is a popular treatment option for felines with hip dysplasia, which can be very painful and crippling. Cats inherit hip dysplasia, and both of his parents had to have had the condition or be carriers of it.
Feline Hip Dysplasia Explained
Hip dysplasia means the development of tissue in a cat's hip is abnormal: the ball and socket do not join correctly. The top a cat's femur (the ball) will move out of the acetabulum or joint (socket) easily, causing dislocation. The abnormal movement causes a lot of wear and tear on the hip joint and cartilage. Typically, a cat will experience dysplasia in both hips, but one hip may cause more grief to a cat than the other.
All cat breeds can have hip dysplasia, but the larger breeds seem to be more predisposed to the condition because of their weight.
Symptoms of Feline Hip Dysplasia
Since hip dysplasia is not obvious at birth, the condition is usually discovered by accident when a cat had x-rays taken for another purpose. The reasons hip dysplasia will go undetected are because cats are naturally flexible and do not move around as much as another pet would, like dogs.
Cats with more severe forms of hip dysplasia will have more noticeable symptoms. A cat will walk stiffly, possibly with a limp, and will be reluctant to jump up or down from objects. Climbing will also be difficult for cats with this condition.
Treating Feline Hip Dysplasia with Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring substance found in a cat's body, most abundantly in the areas where there is cartilage. When there is substantial wear and tear in a cat's joints, its body cannot produce enough glucosamine and chondroitin fast enough to mend the joints. Therefore, a cat will have to take a supplement that has glucosamine. Clinical trials have shown that glucosamine supplements help reduce the amount of pain a cat feels when he has hip dysplasia. Glucosamine can also increase a cat's range of motion. In some cases, treatments have helped cats rebuild the cartilage in their hips.
Glucosamine can come in a liquid or pill form and can be a supplement found in a cat treat. One should consult a veterinarian before giving a cat glucosamine supplements as cat may have to take a different dose than humans. This supplement may also come with chondroitin in it, which can also have positive therapeutic outcomes. One will notice improvement in a cat taking glucosamine supplements a couple of months after starting to take the product on a regular basis.
Side Effects in Cats Taking Glucosamine
Cats taking a glucosamine supplements rarely experience side effects. On occasion, a cat may vomit or develop diarrhea while taking glucosamine, but these symptoms can be alleviated if the cat takes the supplement with food. Most veterinarians deem glucosamine safe for long-term use.
The quality of life of a cat with hip dysplasia does not have to be extremely painful. Glucosamine supplements can not only help with pain management, but also the aid in the rebuilding of damaged cartilage.