Glucosamine And Dog Arthritis

Dogs... "man's best friend." We love our dogs and we want them to be healthy and happy. We want to play with them, walk them, run with them and throw things so they can bring them back. Our dogs live to make us happy. They will actually do so until they literally can't do it any more.

Did you know that, like people, Dogs can suffer from arthritis and the symptoms are the same for them as they are for us? Additionally, there are also different types of pet arthritis for dogs just as there are for us such as: hip, elbow, and knee dysplasia; osteoarthritis; degenerative joint Disease; osteochondrosis; hypertrophic arthritis; shoulder degeneration; wrist arthritis; kneecap dislocation and others. As our dogs age, their joints, ligaments, tendons and joint fluids wear just like ours do.

Did you ever notice that, depending on their level of exercise and their diets, some dogs can remain very healthy until their last days but others get very stiff and immobile within a few years? A lot has to do with their diet and exercise. One problem is that, for most dogs, their main source of protein comes from red meat. Red meat is very high in uric acid and uric acid has been proven to be a main contributor to many arthritic conditions. So because we love our dogs and we want to be sure we supply them with foods we know they will like, we may actually be doing more harm than good.

So how do you really know when your dog may be suffering from some of these arthritis ailments? Usually the symptoms are very obvious. If your dog has difficulty or adverse reaction to walking, playing, or going up stairs or is falling behind you on walks it may be an indication of something wrong. Other things to watch out for are limping, difficulty getting up when laying down and signs of pain when petted or touched.

The unique thing about our dogs that very few realize is that dogs have a very high pain threshold. Since they cannot do anything about their pain they learn to deal with it. When the pain becomes so overwhelming that they are experiencing some of the symptoms above it means that they are in an extreme amount of pain and you should do something about it right away.

What to do? Well of course you should take any dog displaying any of the symptoms of pain and/or discomfort to a licensed Veterinarian or Animal Clinic for a professional diagnosis and treatment plan. Once there, if it is determined that your dog suffers from any form of dog arthritis, your Vet may recommend that you put your dog on a Glucosamine Supplement for Dogs.

It's been shown in multiple studies that Dogs can benefit from glucosamine to ease arthritis pain and rebuild damaged cartilage. Several recent studies have shown that oral Glucosamine is absorbed and distributed to joint tissues and that it does have anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can be beneficial in osteo-arthritic type conditions for your dog. You should begin to notice the results in your pet in as little as one to two weeks. Your dog will appear more lively, active and happier. For some dogs, the results can simply be amazing.

Glucosamine For Dogs As A Preventative

Glucosamine can also be used as a preventive measure that will ensure your beloved friend will have maximum joint health for all of his/her doggy years. It's actually recommended by many Vets that large dogs receive a glucosamine supplement starting at three or four years of age, before showing any symptoms at all. Any large breed dog is probably going to have stiff uncomfortable joints when he/she gets old and these products work very well at preventing joint damage and the symptoms it will bring. Actually, a variety of animals have successfully been treated with glucosamine. Glucosamine treatment is appropriate for active animals such as horses and cats as well as dogs and so many owners give their pets glucosamine every day to maintain their mobility.

Glucosamine Products For Dogs