| The Importance of Glucosamine for Joint Health in | | | | However, evidence is increasingly demonstrating that |
| Dogs | | | | glucosamine supplements can counter arthritic |
| Glucosamine is a natural substance found in the | | | | development in dogs, and is particularly effective when |
| cartilage of people and animals. Dogs naturally produce | | | | used as a preventative measure. |
| glucosamine in their bodies, but amounts decrease as | | | | The Mayo Clinic states that there is now solid scientific |
| they age. Eventually, the majority of dogs reach a | | | | evidence that glucosamine is helpful in the prevention |
| point where they fail to produce enough to stimulate | | | | and treatment of osteoarthritis for both animals and |
| healthy levels synovial fluid, glycosaminoglycans, and | | | | humans. |
| chondroitin sulfate, which are essential for maintaining | | | | Other studies conclude that glucosamine reduces |
| cartilage health. | | | | inflammation and pain caused by arthritis in dogs, and |
| This result is a progressive degeneration of joint health | | | | show that glucosamine both inhibits enzymes that |
| that causes canine arthritis. Because of glucosamine's | | | | degrade animal cartilage and enhances the activity of |
| availably as a supplement, treatments have developed | | | | important cells necessary for cartilage growth. |
| to help replenish the supply of glucosamine and | | | | Prevention of Canine Arthritis |
| prevent the onset of arthritis. | | | | The most conclusive data on glucosamine treatments |
| Causes of Arthritis in Dogs | | | | for canine arthritis indicate that it is effective as a |
| Arthritis is associated with aging, and most dogs | | | | preventative therapy. |
| develop it to some degree when they are older. It can | | | | Vets now commonly recommend that dogs start using |
| also be caused and exasperated by trauma or injury, | | | | a glucosamine supplement in the middle years of life. It |
| and certain breeds have developed a genetic | | | | may be called for even earlier if they are a breed with |
| tendency for developing canine arthritis. | | | | a predisposition for arthritis, or if they have had an |
| Arthritis develops when there is a decrease of joint | | | | injury that is contributing to stiffness and immobility. |
| fluid, and can result in a degenerative joint disease | | | | It is worth noting that glucosamine has not proven |
| called osteoarthritis. With this condition, cartilage gets | | | | effective as a quick cure or powerful pain killer. Most |
| stiff, loses its elasticity, and in time deteriorates | | | | supplement manufactures call for a waiting period of |
| completely. Unfortunately, this condition is often | | | | at least 4 weeks before expecting any visible signs |
| asymptomatic in dogs until the cartilage is gone, leaving | | | | that your dog's mobility or pain levels have improved. |
| them with arthritic related lameness, immobility, and | | | | Glucosamine aligns with medical trends that focus on |
| muscular atrophy. | | | | the goal of preventing disease and maintaining health. |
| Glucosamine as a Preventative Arthritis Treatment for | | | | This is a holistic philosophy that naturally preserves |
| Dogs | | | | health rather than reacts only after issues have |
| Generally, glucosamine is viewed as a holistic, | | | | become serious and debilitating. The regular use of a |
| preventative treatment for canine arthritis. It has not | | | | glucosamine supplement beginning in your dogs' middle |
| always been readily recommended by the mainstream | | | | years will cost less than invasive treatments for |
| veterinary community because of a lack of studies | | | | osteoarthritis, and moreover, it will improve the overall |
| verifying its effectiveness. | | | | quality of your dog's life. |