Dog arthritis supplements are created to ease the arthritis symptoms that many dogs may experience at some point in their lives. There are ways of improving the symptoms of arthritis surgically, but, usually, these methods are not preferred by dog owners, which go for traditional and noninvasive treatments.
And in the category of traditional treatments, we have glucosamine and chondroitin, which are two nutraceuticals, meant to improve the overall health of your furry friend. These substances are normally found in a dog’s normal diet, but can also be bought in the form of dietary supplements.
Types of dog arthritis supplements
Glucosamine and chondroitin are used to treat the pain and inflammation of canine arthritis, but their main goal is to keep a dog’s health to a maximum. Some of the best dog arthritis supplements are those that contain these two substances, separately or together. But these are not the only supplements that can improve the arthritis symptoms, as you will see next. So, let’s take a look at the main arthritis aids for your beloved pet:
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is in fact a compound that usually resides in a dog’s body, and helps the dog grow healthy. In time, the dog’s body becomes less capable of producing glucosamine by itself, this is why it is recommended to start using arthritis supplements based on glucosamine. This substance helps the formation of tendons, skin, nails, bones and ligaments, being associated with cellular growth.
Chondroitin sulfate
This substance is usually included in glucosamine supplements and has as main purpose the protection against the negative effects caused by joint injuries. It keeps the cartilage in a dog’s body lubricated and supple and helps the damaged joints recover faster.
Methylsulfonylmethane
This substance is widely recognized as MSM; it contains sulfur in a form that the dog’s body can use without problems. Sulfur is necessary for the production of natural glucosamine and also of glutathione, which is one of the body’s greatest antioxidants.
Creatine
In humans, creatine helps the muscles work longer, allowing people to practice more difficult workouts, lift more weights and train harder. When it comes to dogs, creatine is useful in physical activities as well. Dogs that have problems with losing body mass and muscle should not use creatine alone, but combined with exercises that help them build muscles.
Perna mussel
These dog arthritis supplements are in fact an edible shellfish found in New Zealand. The shell is separated from the soft tissue, washed and then frozen. At the end of its processing, this type of supplement is a fine powder, and contains omega-3 and glycosaminoglycans, excellent for developing cartilages and protecting the joints.
Warning
Although the substances mentioned here are good for human joints as well, the supplements used for canine health are different from those created for humans. So if you suffer from arthritis as well, do not give your dog the supplements you take for your problem. And this goes the other way around too: do not take dog arthritis supplements if you suffer from the same medical issue as your dog.
P.S. We compared all the Dog Arthits retailers online and found the best overall service here
