Why Glucosamine Is Important for Dogs
Very much like people, dogs also suffer from arthritis. It is caused by the cartilage, the natural cushioning between bones in the joints, wear thin, allowing the bones to rub against each other. This becomes especially pronounced with age when their bodies tend to be experiencing the highest levels of cumulative wear and tear, joint trauma, effects of diseases and a reduced capacity to rejuvenate.
So, what does glucosamine has to do with arthritis? Read on for a better understanding of its importance with regards to treating and managing arthritis in your dog. Importantly, you will learn about the best sources of this crucial nutrients.
Glucosamine: What Is It?
Also known as chitosamine, glucosamine is an amino sugar naturally occurring in dogs with the highest concentration of the substance found in healthy cartilages. Glucosamine in dogs aids the production of glycosaminoglycan which in turn helps to form and repair the cartilages by combining collagen. Cartilages are spongy, moist tissues that cushion the joint during movement.
The Various Functions Of Glucosamine
Improve And Sustain The Joint Health Of Dogs – As mentioned above, glucosamine is one of the main building blocks of cartilages. With cartilages providing a padding for joints and attracting and retaining moisture for lubrication, it is fair to say that glucosamine plays a crucial role in improving and sustaining the health of the various joints in your dog. As such, you can use glucosamine for dogs to improve the overall mobility of your dog alleviating the symptoms of joint damage.
Anti-Inflammation Treatment – Glucosamine has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties. As such, not only does it help repair and restore cartilages, it also plays an important role in alleviating pain that emanates from having joint issues.
Lubrication Of Joints – While glucosamine has been found to repair and improve the health of joints among old dogs, it an important nutrient in ensuring that your dog’s joints remain lubricated regardless of their age. Strictly speaking, you should ensure that your dog has glucosamine in their diet just for joint lubrication purposes.
Improving And Sustaining The Health Of Your Guts – A types of glucosamine known as N-Acetyl-Glucosamine (NAG) helps in the creation and repair of connective tissues in the gut. Furthermore, it also helps in the formation of the mucous membrane that forms the main barrier for your dog’s gastrointestinal system.
What Makes Natural Sources Of Glucosamine The Best Sources
They have high levels of bioavailability. Biodiversity is the number of nutrients that can be absorbed into the body for circulation. Unlike the synthetic alternative that many veterinaries prescribe, natural sources of the nutrient will be absorbed by your dog’s system. Importantly, your dog’s body will readily put the nutrients to good use as the body already has an intricate understanding of what to do with the nutrients. After all, glucosamine is natural food for the dog’s system.
Glucosamine Supplements/Sources To Avoid
When you take your pooch with arthritis to the vet, more often than not, the vet will prescribe prescription supplements in the form of flavored tablets, liquids, and pills. While these supplements will work in the short, in the long run, their effectiveness will diminish. When you start giving your dog this supplement, your dog’s body and cells will absorb a large amount of the nutrients.
However, since the cells’ receptors that control the function of the nutrients are unable to effectively absorb and process nutrients, the receptors become clogged and, therefore, are unable to make use of the synthetic nutrients.
Furthermore, synthetic glucosamine has been found to have adverse side effects. These typically include insomnia, fatigue, allergies, excessive thirst, excessive urination, and complications among dogs suffering from diabetes. As such, while it is important to provide your dog with glucosamine, place a priority on providing natural glucosamine supplements and less of synthetic glucosamine supplement.
Natural Foods Rich In Glucosamine To Feed Your Dog
Considering everything discussed above, you can appreciate the importance of providing glucosamine supplements to your dog. Nonetheless, it is best that you provide a natural supply of the nutrients as it is the best options. As such, below we will delve in the variety of natural sources of glucosamine.
#1. Bone Broth – A good source of glucosamine is broth cooked using gelatinous bones. Importantly, it is easy to make the broth. You simply have to simmer the bones for 24 hours, allowing glucosamine nutrients to be absorbed by water. What makes this a good source for glucosamine is that it allows you to add additional nutrients and ingredients that enhance the overall health of your dog’s joints such as turmeric, ginger, and blueberries.
#2. Trachea
#3. Pig Tails Or Oxtails
#4. Poultry Feet
#5. Shellfish Shells
#6. Beef Knuckle Bones
Glucosamine supplements are important. To ensure that your dog remains healthy and mobile, provide a healthy amount of glucosamine in their diet.
