Just like humans, many dogs are suffering from arthritis, mainly as they grow old. This painful disease happens when the cartilage, the cushioning between the bones, starts to shrink and wear away and the tops of the bones begin to press against each other. It can be triggered by injury, illness, or wear off with age.
While there is no remedy for arthritis, some medications may reduce suffering and enhance mobility. Glucosamine is one of the most popular treatments.
Glucosamine and other joint supplements for dogs
Glucosamine, a naturally occurring compound, is one of the most common over-the-counter medications used in arthritis therapies. In case of commercial production, Glucosamine is obtained from crop sources in labs from shells of snails, oysters, and shrimps or synthetically created from the plants.
The organism of your dog generates its own Glucosamine. It helps produce molecules of your dog’s cartilage.
As your pet grows older, the body generates less Glucosamine so joints can stiffen while losing and their tension absorbing cartilage. That’s why you might consider using Glucosamine to keep canine’s mobility.
It is one of several natural products used in arthritis therapy both in humans and pets. In dogs, this substance also may come handy to relieve pain and joint wear in hip dysplasia or other structural issues. It can also ease recovery from joint surgery, assist in treating spinal disc injury and maintain dogs’ performance at a high level.
Glucosamine supplement in dogs is often used in combination with chondroitin sulfate, another naturally produced component. Chondroitin is mostly extracted from shark’s or cow’s cartilage and is known to help dog’s cartilage to maintain oxygen.
Can you use human Glucosamine for dogs?
Glucosamine is an amino acid and should be the same regardless of whether it is in a person or animal complement. However, human supplements can comprise components that may be dangerous for your dog. Unfortunately, some human glucosamine products use hazardous sweeteners and flavors.
For example, liquid Glucosamine by Tropical Oasis contains xylitol. While xylitol is harmless to animals, it is deadly to animals. This sugar replacement can kill your pet within 30 minutes because of an insulin shock. Even if your pet survives the shock, he or she may suffer from liver failure some days later.
And are chocolate flavored. And chocolate is also known to be poisonous to pups. Both of these products are fine for humans, but they can destroy your animal quickly.
So, never offer your dog medicines or supplements intended for people. Dog’s Glucosamine is very accessible in pet supply shops (online and offline) and at vet’s. So it wouldn’t be a problem to find your pup proper meds.
Best Glucosamine for dogs
To “delicify” the meds for your dog, you can choose from different varieties of Glucosamine. It can come as chews delightfully flavored like chicken, for instance, like one. And that type of supplements will make it easier to administer the treatment to your dog.
Glucosamine dosage for dogs
The proper dosage of Glucosamine relies on two factors: 1) pups weight and 2) the seriousness of their joint disease. Therefore, it is essential to check with your vet about the recommended daily intake for your pup.
The common recommendations are the following:
- 250-500 mg of Glucosamine for 5-20 pounds dog
- 500 mg for 20-45 pounds dog
- 1,000 mg for 45-90 pounds dog
- 1,500 mg for pets heavier than 90 pounds
But you should still discuss the matter with your doctor.
It may take weeks to see improvement in pup’s conditions, and veterinarians will suggest assessing therapy impacts after your pet has been taking the supplements for about three months. So it takes patience and a few chats with the doc.
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My dog already gets Glucosamine from his food…
Some commercial dog products claim that they are great for joints since they contain Glucosamine. But beware of these allegations, because the quantity of Glucosamine in most kibbles is far less than your pet would need to assist her bones.
A 50 lb dog would need about 1000 mg of glucosamine complement a day, but with some kibbles, you would need to eat more than 20 cups of food a day to get that quantity!
But if you consider supplying your dog not only with supplements but also with food rich in Glucosamine, think bone broth. Making a yummy bone broth with gelatine (and we covered the awesomeness of this compound in this article) is another excellent way to offer your dog natural Glucosamine. It’s simple to cook, has numerous health advantages and packed with Glucosamine and other nutrients that support the joint.
Can a dog get too much Glucosamine?
When you’re giving a supplement, dogs need about 500 mg of Glucosamine per day, per 25 lbs of body weight.
Very few side effects of taking too much of this supplement were registered so far. Those might include allergies (specifically among dogs who has issues with shellfish), lethargy, problems with sleep and excessive thirst or urination.
Plus, as it has some sugar in it, some veterinarians are cautious about its use in dogs struggling with diabetes.
Glucosamine for dogs. Summary
Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound produced up of sugar (glucose) and amino acid (glutamine). It encourages the development and repair of the cartilage and synovial fluid that protects the dog’s joints. The dog’s body generates Glucosamine naturally. However, the process is slowing down as the pet gets older so adding a Glucosamine supplement to canine’s diet can enhance overall joint wellness.
To keep it short, Glucosamine slows down the progression of arthritis, increases mechanical joints’ capacity, and enhances the body’s ability to restore it.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
