Glucosamine for dogs is still an active glucosamine that is a monosaccharide and can be found in almost allorganisms like crustaceans, arthropods, fungi and other multi-cellular organisms. It can be synthesized naturally byreacting glutamine with glucose. Glucosamine is an essential compound for glycosaminoglycans, which is the maincomponent in the formation of cartilages and body tissues. It is through the important role of glucosamine that thecartilages are able to repair themselves and this is helpful in treating osteoarthritis conditions in dogs. For you to beable to understand the benefits of glucosamine for your pet, it is important to understand canine osteoarthritis first.
Canine osteoarthritis is considered as the most common ailment in dogs. Based on statistics, 30% of the entirepopulation of dogs suffers from this condition at some point of their lives. Osteoarthritis in dogs is known as adegenerative joint disease that is responsible for the loss of cartilage that supports the joints. This condition exposedthe bones due to lack of protection from the cartilages. The result of the absence of cartilage is pain when the bonesget in contact with each other. The affected joints may swell and becomes inflamed.
In dogs, the most obvious symptoms of canine osteoarthritis are muscle atrophy, altered gain, limping, lethargy andsigns of pain when moving or touching the affected body part. Depending on the severity of the condition, your petmay display behavioral changes as well as appetite loss. Dogs with congenital joint problems are at high risk ofdeveloping canine osteoarthritis. Other risk factors may include aging process and joint injuries. If your pet shows anyof the mentioned symptoms or if there is any changes on your pet’s behavior, it would be best to take your pet to aveterinarian.
If canine osteoarthritis is diagnosed, various treatment options will be suggested. The most common treatment optionis glucosamine. Glucosamine supplements for dogs come in three different types – glucosamine sulfate, HCL or2KCL. When this treatment is prescribed for your pet, make sure that you check on the ingredients of the supplementto determine if it is of high quality. You can get this supplement in the form of pills or liquid and the choice shoulddepend on your pet’s convenience. This should then be given to your pet as dietary supplement.
The majority of dog breeds show positive response to glucosamine supplements, especially in the treatment of theirosteoarthritis condition. Your pet can be cured in as short as two weeks, depending on the dose and your pet’sgeneral health condition. Since glucosamine has natural anti-inflammatory properties, it can help relieve the pain aswell as the swelling in your pet’s joints. When you start supplementing your pet with glucosamine, make sure that youobserve your pet’s condition and determine if there is any improvement.
Commercially, glucosamine supplements are produced by fermenting grains like wheat and corn or by hydrolyzingthe exoskeletons of various crustaceans. Glucosamine can also be combined with chondroitin sulfate, which is alsohelpful in increasing joint elasticity and in protecting the cartilages from damages. In some cases, dogs may sufferfrom the side effects of glucosamine and this includes diarrhea or vomiting, two days after the administration of thesupplement. In this case, double check the dosage or contact your veterinarian immediately.