To keep your dog in good health as the years advance, you must choose a proper diet that is rich in canine nutrition and has ingredients like glucosamine and chondroitin that help to avoid early degeneration of joint tissue and cartilage. The weakening of joint issues can happen due to aging and arthritis can affect dogs of all ages that impairs mobility and movement of your pet. Larger breeds of dogs face joint mobility more than the smaller ones, and choosing some dog food with glucosamine can keep the problem under control by reducing inflammation and pain.
From antioxidants to pet vitamins, minerals, and superfoods, there are so many varieties of dog nutrition available in the market that you might often not pay attention to glucosamine, which is the most vital ingredient to keep your dog agile and active.
Why your dog needs glucosamine?
Glucosamine consists of sugar and amino acids, which occur naturally in the cartilage and connective tissues of dogs and humans. It helps to maintain healthy cartilage by acting as building blocks to replace any damaged tissue quickly. Glucosamine molecules act like shock absorbers due to their high compressibility. As dogs being to age, the cartilage thins down becomes weak, and finally starts breaking down. The bones in the joints rub against each other and cause pain. If the cartilage does not rebuild, it can lead to osteoarthritis that can even cripple the dog.
Supplement glucosamine in your dog from the early years by choosing some food containing glucosamine. It will help fight the rapid degeneration of cartilage and reduce the chances of developing arthritis.
Why your dog needs Chondroitin?
Older dogs are more likely to suffer more from arthritis that causes joint pain and can affect mobility and movement. These dogs can benefit from another naturally occurring compound Chondroitin found in the cartilage of joints. Chondroitin helps to maintain mobility and movement by reducing joint pain while keeping the cartilage healthy during the advancing years of pets. Like glucosamine supplement, you must also feed your dog with Chondroitin from an early age to maintain good cartilage health that delays the onset of arthritis, which can happen due to aging. Regular intake of Chondroitin will reduce the use of other pain medications that can have some side effects if used for a long time.
Which kinds of dogs need glucosamine?
Although arthritis can affect all dog breeds, not all dogs need high doses of glucosamine or its supplements. Foods enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin work better on large sizes of dogs, which exert more pressure on the joints and ligaments. Moreover, you must consider your dog’s overall health before supplementing glucosamine because an extra amount of the compound is harmful to dogs that suffer from blood clotting disease. Similarly, dogs that suffer from diabetes should not be given glucosamine, a sugar-based ingredient that might worsen diabetes.
The standard dosage of glucosamine is 20 mg per day per pound of body weight, and if the dog has any specific mobility issues, it might need higher doses.
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