Dog (Canine) Glucosamine
Just like humans, dogs can develop joint problems as they grow older and dog arthritis is today quite a common ailment among canine pets. Wolfs, dingoes and other wild canines rarely grow old enough to suffer from serious arthritis, but when cared for by a human and served food in a bowl each day, a dog can grow really old and therefore develop a series of ailments associated with old age. This is why canine glucosamine supplements are getting increasingly common in pet shops world wide. Dog glucosamine is a dietary supplement used to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation in dogs suffering from joint pains brought on by arthritis.

Arthritis is a very common condition in humans and there is still no known way of actually curing it. The most commonly prescribed type of medication is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (commonly abbreviated NSAIDs). A lot of arthritis patients do however experience significant pain reduction and increase mobility when they use dietary supplements containing glucosamin. When dog owners with arthritis realized how much better they felt with extra glucosamine in their diet, they started to give their old dogs glucosamine too. As dog owners witnessed their own dogs regain mobility, they started to spread the word about the benefits of glucosamine, and today we can buy dog glucosamine in most pet shops.

Canine glucosamine supplements usually contain glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride. One of the main differences between these two supplements is that glucosamine sulfate can contain quite high levels of sodium, and checking the label to find out the exact sodium content before you make a purchase is therefore a good idea. Canine glucosamin is sometimes combined with chondroitin sulfate, the primary glycosaminoglycans found in joint cartilage. Scientific studies have shown that orally administered chondroitin sulfate have anti-inflammatory effects on humans. This is naturally a highly desirable treat, since arthritis causes constant inflammations. No comprehensive studies have been carried out on dogs with arthritis yet, but when it comes to joint cartilage, old humans and old dogs are quite similar and it is not unreasonable to assume that chondroitin sulfate willhave the same effect on dogs.

The glucosamin in canine glucosamine supplements acts as an important biochemical precursor for all sugars that contain nitrogen. The body will turn glucosamine into three different types of compounds: glycolipids, proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. In order to understand how dog glucosamine really works, it is necessary to take a look at some of the biochemical processes that takes place in the body of a dog. Once glucosamine has been turned into glycolipids, the glycolipids will create new tissue by attaching cells to each other. Glycolipids will also keep cell membranes stable, act as recognition sites for other chemicals, and provide the body with energy. Proteoglycans have another highly important roll to play in the body; they will make up a good part of what is known as the “extracellular matrix”. The extracellular matrix is the filler substance that we find around cells. Proteoglycans are also known to form extraordinary long complexes by affixing themselves to collagen. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are very long polysaccharides found in the connective tissue of all vertebrates, including dogs and humans.