Dog Arthritis - Glucosamine

We all love our pets do everything possible to keep them feeling their best but certain conditions such as dog arthritis can cause a great deal of pain and reduce both you and your pets quality of life. In this informational article titled "Dog Arthritis Glucosamine" we will briefly cover arthritis and whether or not there is any truth to the claim that it can help reverse the condition.

Arthritis affects about 20% of all dogs in America and is a reason often sited by pet owners for veterinary visits. It can be an inflammation of a single joint or multiple joints, which causes localized pain, swelling, and stiffness. The most common form of arthritis seen in dogs is osteoarthritis more commonly known as degenerative joint disease, which is brought about by changes in the joint cartilage as a result of overuse, age, birth defects, trauma, or disease. As the cartilage deteriorates, the bones of the joint thicken and become distorted which may lead to swelling. Because your favorite canine friend can no longer move the joint without pain mobility becomes limited leading to muscle atrophy.

So what if there was a non toxic compound that improves joint mobility? The answer is that there are a number of natural compounds including glucosamine which have been shown improve joint health and mobility.

Glucosamine is a simple molecule made up of glucose and amine. The primary physical benefit of glucosamine on joints is to stimulate the production of glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine also promotes the incorporation of sulfur into cartilage. It appears that as your dog ages it loses the ability to manufacturer sufficient levels of glucosamine. The result is that cartilage loses its gel like nature and its ability to cushion shock from even the most ordinary of physical activities.
 
While there has been very little research done on the benefits of glucosamine in dogs there have been numerous studies done on people. The results have been very positive overall and with one head to head double blind study suggesting that glucosamine sulfate produces better long term results than NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) in relieving pain and inflammation almost always present with osteoarthritis. While this is impressive it is also important to point out that there was no evidence that suggested glucosamine produced any pain relieving benefit whatsoever.

In summary, there is good evidence to support the use of dog arthritis glucosamine as a way to halt and possibly reverse degenerative joint disease. There are currently a handful of very well regarded supplemental arthritis treatment blends containing glucosamine that are both affordable and safe for almost all animals. These supplements are certainly an option worth considering, but as always, if you have questions consult your veterinarian.