Glucosamine chondroitin for dogs can provide relief from the symptoms of arthritis and even reverse the progress of the disease. Your dog's body produces glucosamine and chondriotin naturally, and these substances help maintain healthy, lubricated joints and promote cartilage health. As your dog ages, his body produces less glucosamine and chondroitin, and arthritis may occur. Supplements can help relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis and rebuild your dog's joints.
Uses of Glucosamine and Chondroitin in Dogs
Glucosamine and chondroitin are good for digestive problems, skin wounds and joint disorders. In dogs, glucosamine and chondroitin are very effective in the treatment of arthritis and hip dysplasia. The symptoms of arthritis in dogs include:
- Decrease in activity levels
- Difficulty sitting, standing or lying down
- Stiffness
- Lameness
- Inflammation of the joints
- Soreness in the joints
Arthritis occurs when the cartilage in your dog's joints degenerates, leaving the bones to rub together painfully. The bodies of healthy adult dogs synthesize, or make their own, glucosamine, so that the cartilage in their joints regenerates itself and remains healthy. As dogs age, their bodies produce less glucosamine, and arthritis sets in.
How Glucosamine and Chondroitin Work to Rebuild Joints
Throughout your dog's life, the cartilage in his joints is wearing down and being replaced. That's why his body synthesizes glucosamine and chondroitin, the substances that form the building blocks of healthy cartilage. With age or with bone deformities like hip dysplasia, the body fails to produce enough glucosamine to keep the cartilage in the joints healthy and in a constant state of good repair. Glucosamine and chondroitin supplements can help your dog's body rebuild and regenerate lost cartilage, relieving the symptoms of arthritis and even reversing the progress of the disease.
Treating Canine Arthritis with Glucosamine and Chondroitin
You can treat your dog's arthritis with the same kind of glucosamine and chrondroitin that people take, though types marketed for dogs also contain a little vitamin C because that helps them absorb it. These supplements have very few side effects in dogs, and those side effects are rare. Sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea occur. You can avoid these side effects by giving your dog the supplement at mealtimes.
Your dog can continue to take his normal painkillers while he starts glucosamine treatment. The supplements won't begin to have any noticeable effect until your dog has been taking them for six to eight weeks. Your vet can help you wean your dog off of aspirin and other pain relieving drugs.
Your dog will need to take glucosamine and chondroitin supplements for the rest of his life, because if he stops taking them, he'll begin to experience a recurrence of arthritis symptoms in four to six months. In many cases, however, dogs who take glucosamine and chondroitin experience significant reductions in their arthritis symptoms and some may experience a complete reversal of the disease.
Arthritis usually occurs in middle aged to geriatric dogs. Younger dogs who have undergone joint surgery or spinal surgery may also benefit from short term use of glucosamine and chondroitin.