Glucosamine For Dogs: Dosage And Benefits
When pets reach certain years they begin to suffer diseases, just as it happens with people. Joint and cartilage problems are very common in old age, but the good news is that there are several treatments to mitigate them. The most common is to use glucosamine for dogs. We tell you more in this article.
Joint problems in dogs
Believe it or not, many dogs suffer from arthritis or osteoarthritis as they age. It is a common degenerative disease in large breeds, such as the Great Dane or the German Shepherd.
Over time, cartilage becomes stiffer, thinner, and less able to cushion movements. And this brings with it a lot of pain and lack of mobility: the animal cannot and does not want to get out of bed, play or walk.
When cartilage breaks down, the area around it becomes inflamed and puts more pressure on the joints, causing more pain and less mobility. Also, damaged cartilage is more prone to serious injury.
What is glucosamine for dogs?
The first thing we should know about glucosamine is that it is a compound that occurs naturally in the body and is present in cartilage. It is made up of an amino acid called glutamine and glucose, and it helps in the formation of cartilaginous cells.
However, when for different reasons – mainly age – pets suffer from arthritis or osteoarthritis, the veterinarian indicates a glucosamine treatment for dogs in supplement form.
There are three types of glucosamine for dogs in supplement format:
- Glucosamine Sulfate: It is extracted from shellfish and contains sulfur.
- Glucosamine hydrochloride: comes from other marine species and does not provide sulfur.
- N-acetyl glucosamine: derived from glucose and allows the production of synovial fluid to lubricate the joints.
This nutrient can also be found in certain foods, so it is essential that the pet complies with a healthy and balanced diet at all ages.
Glucosamine treatments for dogs are used to relieve joint pain, as well as to repair cartilage, reduce inflammation of the tendons, treat hip dysplasia, arthritis or spinal disc injuries.
In turn, glucosamine accelerates the recovery process after any joint surgery, slows down the aging of cartilage and even improves the digestive system and reduces irritable bowel syndrome.
Glucosamine for dogs: dosage
This medicine is available in different forms: tablets, powders, liquids, or tablets. The veterinarian will indicate which one is appropriate according to the condition of the animal, since if the dog is very old, and cannot chew well, it will be better to give it a syrup than a pill.
In general, the administration of glucosamine for dogs is daily, divided into two doses every 12 hours or a single dose every 24 hours, and the dose – prescribed by the doctor – will depend on the weight of the pet and how advanced the condition is. . It is mostly 20 milligrams of glucosamine sulfate for every pound the dog weighs. The calculation should always be done by the professional.
You must bear in mind that, although this treatment is good to improve the life of our best friend, so that he can walk without pain or prevent a disease from progressing, it can also suffer some side effects. Among them we can highlight fatigue, insomnia and excessive thirst.
Glucosamine for dogs is not the solution to the problem of osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia, but it is true that it greatly improves the situation of the animal. When the problem is detected early, and the treatment is followed to the letter, it is more likely that the pet will suffer less and can continue with its daily activities without so much pain.
