Arthritis In Dogs - A Very Painful Disease

There's nothing worse than having to watch your pooch suffer from arthritis pain. You can tell by the look in their eye they hurt. Chances are you desperately want to do something to ease their misery. The good news is there are things you can do to slow

There is no criterion for the dog developing arthritis as it can trouble dogs of any breed, age or health. Not much is known about the reason but a number of studies show that it is an ailment in which the body turns against its own immune system or an autoimmune disease.

The cartilage is inclined to break down when the pet develops arthritis. The opaque connective tissue which is present between bone and joints is known as the cartilage and it protects them. It is also present in the ankle joint, hip and knees of the dogs. Feet or spine can also be affected by arthritis. With the wearing off of the cartilage there is pain, stiffness and swelling as the bones hit against each other.

Symptoms of arthritis in dogs include:

The dog finds it difficult to stand, sit or move from the bed or floor  Some limbs are effected  Reduction in activity, extra sleep, no interest in playing  Gaining weight  Alteration in approach or behavior  Looking stiff with tender joints  The joints are inflamed

Glucosamine is considered as a treatment for arthritis in dogs by scientists nowadays. It is a molecule of glucose which is natural secretion of the body. It keeps the tissues in the joints together as a fuel for cells in the cartilage cell. There is less production of glucosamine in the aging dogs and this is the reason for stiffening and wearing cartilage.

The cartilage constituent which is supposed to control the enzymes which break down cartilage is known as Chondroitin. It is important to have the required amount of Glucosamine and chondroitin to keep healthy joints. They are able to maintain as well as restore the cartilage tissues together.

A clinical trial was done in 1998 where rats were divided into two groups where all were injected with arthritis. As per the study one set got glucosamine and chondroitin and the other was not given any cure. The result showed that 96.5 percent of the untreated rats developed the symptoms of arthritis compared to just 54 percent who got chondroitin and glucosamine.

Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements show promise in treating symptoms of secondary arthritis in dogs. This type of arthritis typically occurs after an injury or surgery. A study suggests this combination can significantly reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs.

You can give your dog a supplement of Glucosamine/Chondroitin from an early age and it has no side effects as per research. It is a good idea to check this with your veterinarian to be sure that it is good for your pet.

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