Why Glucosamine Can Help
Glucosamine and chondroitin are normally found in the cartilage of living animals. In healthy animals, the body synthesizes glucosamine to keep the joints healthy. As your dog ages, his body's ability to create glucosamine diminishes, and osteoarthritis occurs. A glucosamine supplement for dogs can help your elderly dog's body maintain joint health.
Here are some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia that could indicate your dog might benefit from a glucosamine supplement:
- Difficulty walking, playing or going upstairs
- Lethargy
- Limping
- Difficulty getting up or lying down
- A sudden tendency to lie on cold floors or in the shade, in an attempt to soothe joint inflammation
- Pain when petted or touched; aversion to contact
These symptoms can be signs that your dog is in an extreme amount of pain. Glucosamine for dogs can help reduce your dog's pain and restore his freedom of movement. Unlike pain medications, glucosamine has few side effects, none of which are very severe.
What Glucosamine Does
As a natural dog food supplement, glucosamine can soothe the symptoms of arthritis and hip dysplasia in dogs. Glucosamine supplements work to restore and regenerate your dog's damaged joints. They also have anti-inflammatory properties. Glucosamine for dogs can be used as a preventative measure in elderly dogs who are at high risk for arthritis.
Glucosamine supplements for dogs can help treat the symptoms of dogs already suffering from arthritis. Within two weeks to thirty days, you should notice that your dog has become more lively and active. Some owners report a full recovery from symptoms of arthritis and hip dysplasia.
Dosage and Product Recommendations
You'll want to adjust your dog's daily dosage according to his weight and the severity of his symptoms. You'll want to administer about 750 mg of glucosamine per fifty pounds of body weight at a minimum; you can raise this dosage as necessary if your dog's symptoms are more severe. Look for a product made with glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine HCL. Avoid products made with 2KCL and NaCL.
Liquid glucosamine is the easiest to administer. It can be difficult to encourage dogs to swallow pills; if they are mixed with food, they may become stuck in the teeth and lost. A liquid can be poured directly over food. Liquid glucosamine tastes good to most dogs.
Vets recommend doubling the dosage of glucosamine during the first one or two weeks for maximum regenerative benefit.
Side Effects
There are few side effects of glucosamine for dogs. Glucosamine has been used in Europe to treat arthritis for over twenty years, without serious side effects. Some dogs may suffer vomiting or diarrhea, but this side effect can be alleviated by lowering the dosage or administering the drug with food. If the dog does not remain on the supplement for the rest of his life, joint degeneration will return.