Many of us take glucosamine daily for joint health, but is it safe to give your dog the same glucosamine to aid in their joint health? It is important to understand what is in the supplement and how these additives can react with your pet before trying to give them some of your daily supplement.
Some brands use sweeteners or added sugars in their glucosamine that can have a bad reaction with your dog. While typically not serious, these side effects can be unpleasant for your dog. Luckily, they are avoidable so you do not need to worry so long as you are purchasing the right product.
A great example of a human supplement that should not be given to dogs is the GNC TriFlex chocolate flavored glucosamine supplement. As you likely know, chocolate is toxic to dogs and therefore should not be given to them.
What Is Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a crystalline compound which occurs widely in connective tissue, especially as a component of chitin. It is commonly taken in a synthesized form to relieve arthritis pain. Many people, including professional athletes, rely on glucosamine to reduce inflammation and joint pain.
The glucosamine compound has been shown to help restore the cartilage in joints which leads to a reduction in joint pain. Depending on your pets’ diet, a glucosamine supplement can help them reduce their risk of arthritis and joint pain.
This supplement can be given to both treat and prevent injuries. The most common way of ingesting glucosamine is orally, but there are also salves that can be rubbed on the affected area.
For dogs, the chewable glucosamine supplement is typically the best way to get your dog to eat it. These chewable come in a variety of pet friendly flavors like Bacon and Cheese. Rather than trying to shove a pill down your dog’s throat, make it pleasant for both of you and give them a treat they will love and benefit from.
Dogs have an excellent sense of smell and taste. The moment you try to give them something unfamiliar or bad smelling – like glucosamine – they will resist and make it tough to consistently give them their supplement. Furthermore, a dog’s digestive tract is much shorter than a humans. This means that those same dissolvable pills you take, will not be have time to dissolve and be absorbed into your pets’ body.
Other Options for Joint Pain
With the recent revision to the farm bill that de-criminalizes hemp and allows for mass production, farmers and brands are scaling their hemp product to a level never been seen before. With this massive increase in new product, scientists can now have unlimited access to researching benefits that can come from the hemp plants.
A recent re-discovery of cannabidiol or CBD oil has shown to have amazing positive effects on reducing joint pain and inflammation. While CBD was first discovered in the early 60’s, cannabis and hemp have been illegal for sale in the United States until recently in January 2019.
With the passing of Federal legislation legalizing CBD, many scientists are finding ways to extract pure CBD oil for use as a daily supplement.
Because CBD is non-toxic and non-psychoactive, it can be taken regularly and without the worry of overdosing or “getting high”. It is also a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids which is making it a top contender against fish oils.
As people become used to having a hemp-based product in their homes, we will be likely to see more families using CBD oils for themselves as well as for their pets. You can read more about what CBD oil is on our previous post here. You can also checkout the comparison between CBD oil and Fish Oils here.
When it comes to choosing between glucosamine and CBD oils for dogs, it comes down to what your vet thinks will be the most effective for prevention or treatment of your dog’s specific ailment. When starting a new supplement, be sure to start with a small dose so not to cause an upset stomach.
This article is not meant to diagnose, treat or offer cures to any illness. It is written as an opinion on a topic and not as a medical recommendation. These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA for accuracy.