Could Your Dog Benefit By Using Glucosamine To Treat Canine Arthritis?

If you are a pet lover and especially a fan of the canines, there is no doubt you would agree with me if I said, "A dog is a man's best friend". Dogs are mammals, just like humans. This means most diseases that affect humans can also affect dogs. Arthritis is one of these diseases. If your dog is in pain, I'm sure it will affect you as well. Here's how to identify symptoms of canine arthritis and give your dog the best treatment it can get.

Canine arthritis is a common disease among older dogs. Studies have shown that one out of five dogs suffer from dog arthritis. It is not restricted to the older age group; it can affect younger dogs as well.

The disease is degenerative and can be caused by an injury or trauma to the joint. Common symptoms of dog arthritis include: stiffness particularly in the morning, limping after a period of immobility, lameness, abnormal gain of weight, loss of appetite, reluctance to be active, climb stairs, walk or run and depressed behavior. Glucosamine is a sugar compound naturally produced in shell fish and animals. In times like this, it would be a good idea to include glucosamine in your dog's diet.

The diet can be a combination of glucosamine and chondroitin. These two compounds play the role of assisting cartilage regeneration and repairing. Oral glucosamine has anti-inflammatory properties and it gets absorbed to the joint tissues. It is proven to be effective in treating inflamed discs, joints and the sciatic nerve. These are areas in the dog's body that get affected as a result of aging. The effect of this supplement does not show cast immediately. It may take about 4 - 6 weeks to see proper improvements in your pet's behavior.

Apart from osteoarthritis, glucosamine supplement can benefit dogs suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, skin wounds, hip dysplapsia and stomach ailments. Glucosamine is also used to speedup the healing of post surgical injuries and treat spinal disc injuries.

Glucosamine has very little side effects compared to NSAIDS and other treatment methods for dog joint pains. Your dog might experience vomiting or diarrhea but the symptoms can be alleviated by reducing the dosage. Remember you cannot stop the treatment. Since arthritis is progressive, glucosamine has to be given to the dog throughout his life.

Unlike humans, pets are unable to communicate their feelings. As the owner of the pet it becomes your responsibility to look out for your pet. If your pet is in pain, treat it with love. A glucosamine supplement a day can definitely keep the joint pains of a dog away.

Learn more about using glucosamine to treat canine arthritis on our website, Cactus Canyon. We offer tips and advice to pet owners who seek all natural methods for treating this joint disease.