Prevention

Human Glucosamine For Dogs

 
Ameera Mills
By Ameera Mills. Updated: August 27, 2024
Human Glucosamine For Dogs
Dogs

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Are you looking for the best dog arthritis treatment? If so, this is the article for you! Have you ever heard of chondroprotector for dogs? To understand what chondroprotectors for dogs are, it is necessary, first, to define the concept of 'chondroprotection'. Chondroprotection is the set of measures and actions designed to prevent or treat problems and join injuries in dogs. For this reason, chondroprotectors, which are products manufactured for this purpose, are mainly administered for arthritis in dogs. We can currently find chondroprotectors for dogs in different formats, such as: pills, capsules or as arthritis in dogs supplements.

If your furry companion is suffering from joint problems and you are looking for dog arthritis treatment or dog arthritis prevention, keep reading. In this AnimalWised article we will discuss different dog arthritis treatments, including the use of glucosamine and supplements to help your joint suffering pup!

You may also be interested in: 9 Diseases Dogs Can Transfer to Humans
Contents
  1. Glucosamine for dogs: arthritis
  2. Best glucosamine for dogs: treatment
  3. Natural glucosamine for dogs
  4. Glucosamine for dogs: side effects
  5. Human glucosamine for dogs
  6. Dog arthritis treament

Glucosamine for dogs: arthritis

Before discussing glucosamin for dogs, it’s important that you are able to identify the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. If you recognize any of these symptoms or changes in your dog’s behavior, we recommend consulting a veterinarian as soon as possible. In addition, any treatment that you offer your dog should be approved beforehand by a professional. Symptoms of dog arthritis include:

  • Walking at a slower pace than normal.
  • Stiffness and difficulty getting up.
  • Limping.
  • Decrease in desire to play, run or walk.
  • Lethargy.
  • Difficulty climbing stairs etc.
  • Whining from pain.
  • Mood changes.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • May become aggressive.
  • Show signs of pain when licking, scratching or moving their legs.

For more, we recommend taking a look at our article where we discuss everything you need to know about arthritis in dogs.

Best glucosamine for dogs: treatment

What is glucosamine? Glucosamine is type of chondroprotectors for dogs. This is a slow-acting medication administered to protect the joints, promote their recovery in case of injury, delay the progression of degenerative diseases or prevent their development. Its effects are not immediate, so it is essential not to interrupt the treatment to observe results. In general, the use of supplement for dogs, other than their aid in helping with arthritis, extend to the following join problems which are associated with dog arthritis symptoms;

However, chondroprotective agents are not always effective in alleviating the symptoms or preventing the onset of all the aforementioned diseases. Many factors have to be considered such as that of hereditary or congenital aspects. In the case of hip dysplasia in dogs, for example, if it is caused by a malformation at birth, the chondroprotectors will not be able to fix something that has been so long-lasting. Whereas, if the problem arises due to wear of the joint, its use is recommended. For this reason, experts point out that the efficacy of these drugs is noticeable specifically in dogs with osteoarthritis.

In addition, the administration of arthritis supplements is specifically recommended for sports dogs, subjected to a constant physical wear that can harm their joints. They are also recommended for dog breeds prone joint problems, such as: the German shepherd, the German bulldog, the Siberian husky, Golden Retriever and others.

Are chondroprotective agents sufficient for dogs with joint problems?

No, chondroprotectors or supplements should be administered as a ‘supplement’ and never as a single treatment. Depending on the individual problem , a veterinarian will indicate the best treatment, as well as exercise any extra needed care. On the other hand, quality feed adapted to the animal is vital to keep your dog’s immune system in perfect condition to promote recovery. It should be noted that chondroprotectors and such arthritis supplements do not have the capacity to regenerate lost joint particles but are instead used to relieve the symptoms that dog joint problems may cause.

Natural glucosamine for dogs

The best supplements for dogs are those made with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. These are both natural substances that are found in a dog’s joints which are possible to synthesize in laboratories. Therefore, we recommend opting for dog glucosamine chondroitin tablets. What is the best glucosamine for dogs?

  • Flexadin Plus is a chondroprotective supplement to ease join pain in dogs and cats. It comes in the form of a chewable tablet or granules that combine these substances and it aims to prevent and relieve the symptoms of arthrosis, as well as other joint problems. Flexadin Plus stands out as an easy-to-administer supplement. This supplement can be purchased through PetClic, an online store specializing in animal products.
  • Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM is a chewable and easily digestible tablet that helps treat join pain in dogs.
  • FlexComplete Vegetarian is a liquid glucosamine for dogs. This is a great option for dogs that suffer from food allergies or intolerances.

If your dog suffers from food allergies or intolerance to food, we recommend reading our article where we discuss dog food allergies and intolerance.

Glucosamine chondroitin for dogs

Because these substances act as anti-inflammatories and favor the production of glycosaminoglycans, they therefore include that of proteoglycans and glycolipids. Chondroitin sulfate is a type of glycosaminoglycan.

These compounds are essential to carry out correct joint treatment and recovery of worn articular cartilage and, therefore, the administration of joint supplements that combine glucosamine and chondroitin obtain better results. In addition, this is a much cheaper and less invasive option for your dog, since instead of giving the dog two separate supplements, you can offer them one single dosage.

Human Glucosamine For Dogs - Natural glucosamine for dogs

Glucosamine for dogs: side effects

The dose glucosamine chondroitin for dogs will depend on the problem that you are hoping to treat. Thus, it is essential to review the product's leaflet and consult your veterinarian, since inadequate administration can result in possible side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea. Side effects of glucosamine for dogs, although few, include: fatigue and insomnia.

As we’ve already mentioned, glucosamine for dogs does not usually present side effects, except in the following cases:

  • For dogs suffering from diabetes. Glucosamine, being a sugar-based supplement, should only be admjinistered to a dog with diabetes under veterinary consultation. For more, take a look at our article where we discuss normal glucose levels in dogs.
  • For dogs with allergies to molluscs, its administration is prohibited because some of the compounds of the chondroprotectors are sometimes extracted from molluscs, such as shellfish.

Human glucosamine for dogs

So, you may be wondering, can you give human glucosamine for dogs? Yes, but, only in some cases. You can only give your dog glucosamine by itself, in its pure form. If you notice other ingredients on the packaging, they need to be taken into consideration. There are many human products that are are incredibly poisonous for dogs.

Many human glucosamine products contain flavorings and sweeteners which are harmful to dogs. In addition, the glucosamine form matters. For example, if you want to offer your dog pure liquid glucosamine, it will be easier for your dog to digest than hard tablet form.

We here at AnimalWised recommend offering your dog only glucosamine for dogs. A dog’s digestive system is very different to a humans and, therefore, any human product can in fact cause problems in our dog’s digestive tract.

Dog arthritis treament

In addition to the already above mentioned arthritis treatment for dogs, there are other ways, in addition to glucosamine, to help treat a dog with arthritis and joint pain. Take a look at these suggestions on how to help a dog with arthritis;

  • Make sure your dog has a high-quality diet and remains as healthy as possible.
  • Keep your dog slim and healthy. If your dog is overweight, it can add extra painful pressure to its joints. Therefore, this needs to be addressed.
  • Make sure your dog exercises its joints, but not excessively. Favor of softer grounds and games.
  • Consult a veterinarian about additional anti-inflammatory drugs for dogs. This prescription will however depend on the individual dog and has to be approved by a professional.

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Human Glucosamine For Dogs, we recommend you visit our Prevention category.

Bibliography
  • Alexandre Navarro Alves de Souza; Alezandre de Oliveira Saladino; Caio Biasi; Julia Maria Matera. Uso dos condroprotetores na afecção articular degenerativa: revisão. 2010. Rev. Acad. Ciénc. Agrár. Ambient. Curitiba. v. 8, nº 3, p. 281-289.
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Human Glucosamine For Dogs