The Factors in Choosing the Best Glucosamine for Your Dog

Joint pain and arthritis is not limited to humans. Dogs too suffer from forms of arthritis such as canine osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia. And yet most of the time pet owners are unaware of this and do not take any measures to prevent it. As a result, by the time a dog is discovered to have arthritis, the condition has already become serious and the dog has suffered a considerable pain for some time. In order to prevent such incidents, pet owners are often advised by vets to add proper dietary supplements to a dog’s diet and to have frequent checkups. Often in such cases, the administration of glucosamine is considered to be both a treatment and a preventative measure against arthritis. Therefore this article will be focused on the importance of adding glucosamine to the diet of dogs and choosing the best glucosamine for dogs.

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that helps to prevent substances that are harmful to the joint from forming in the body. In addition it stimulates the production of substances that strengthen the joints, and thereby prevent arthritis and joint pain. Therefore the use of glucosamine as a dietary supplement will ensure that your dog is safe from arthritis and joint pain.

How Do We Choose the Best Glucosamine for Dogs?

When we are selecting a glucosamine product for dogs, there are several factors we should keep in mind in order to choose the best product. We should take into consideration, the ingredients, the form, the quality and the dosage of glucosamine as well as the dog’s weight and condition. It is much better to discuss these things with a vet for a recommendation on dosage and type as well.  

The quality and the effectiveness of glucosamine products are very important factors when choosing a supplementary glucosamine. For example, products such as glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine HCI are more potent and effective than other forms of glucosamine. And the dosage that is required per day should also be taken in to consideration.

Secondly, we should take the form of glucosamine product into consideration as well.  There are three forms of glucosamine – injection, solid forms and liquid forms.  Glucosamine supplement in pill form is more difficult to administer to a dog than the liquid form. Liquid forms are far easier to give than forcing a pill down a dog’s throat. Therefore we should also think about the most effective way of administering a dosage as well.

In addition, glucosamine is a far safer and effective addition to a dog’s diet than any other type of supplements or medicine. Since glucosamine is an amino sugar that is naturally produced in the body, the chances of side effects are extremely low, and even if they occur, are exceedingly mild. Therefore we do not need to fear any dangerous side effects or violent reactions to glucosamine supplements.

How Does Glucosamine Work?

As mentioned earlier, glucosamine is a natural product in the body. But dogs, even though they are omnivores, are more drawn to red meat. And red meat has a substance called uric acid which, if taken in large quantities, causes bone deterioration that leads to arthritis. Therefore, the main function of glucosamine is to counteract uric acid and strengthen the bone and reduce inflammation in joints.

Therefore the use of glucosamine is considered to be a very effective treatment for dogs in treating conditions such as canine osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia as well as a good dietary supplement against arthritis. It is a relatively low cost product that has various effects ranging from strengthening the bone and joints to fighting against arthritis. But at the same time we should consider several factors in order to choose the best glucosamine for dogs.