Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Are Dog Arthritis Glucosamine Supplements Helpful?

Do not let your dog suffer from the pain of dog arthritis; you should try everything to make his life better. And one of those things you’ve been trying is glucosamine supplements for canines.
That’s terrific! Obviously you’re a caring pet owner, but before you go congratulating yourself, let’s check to see if those glucosamine supplements are really working.
In just five minutes I’ll be able to tell you everything you need to know about glucosamine supplements so you can decide whether or not you’re going to continue to use the supplement, or try something different.
 
Here are The Top 3 Questions Regarding Glucosamine Supplements
1.    When do I know if the glucosamine supplements are really helping?
2.    How much time before I see improvement once I begin giving my dog glucosamine supplements?
3.    What are the disadvantages as to why my dog might not benefit from these dog joint supplement drugs?
Now let’s discover the answers:

How to tell if the Dog Arthritis Glucosamine Supplements are actually Helping
Search for improvements regarding the following:
•    Mobility: frisky and limber
•    Lameness: limping less and willing to put more weight on his arthritic joints when standing, walking, running or jumping
•    Joint Licking: less joint licking and chewing
•    Behavioral Changes: aggression and tension dropped or lessened, or have a more friendlier attitude and a good appetite
You can pay to have a professional study conducted but don’t bother. You can observe these conditions yourself without spending a penny. For best results, keep a log of your dog’s activity during his performance on normal movements once per week for a two-three month period for actual results. This is how long it will take to accurately judge if your dog’s arthritis symptoms are improving or deteriorating.
What Time Length Should I Continue Administering the Glucosamine Supplements?
A two month minimum trial is required for the glucosamine supplements - it’s never a quick fix for dog arthritis. After two months, without any improvements consult your vet before discontinuing treatments. It’s a possibility that there maybe extenuating circumstances that should be identified such as cruciate ligament ruptures.

Your veterinarian can diagnose the cause of you dog’s arthritis and recommend other  treatments. The treatment could include dog glucosamine, but the vet may recommend several supplements and progressive treatments to help your pet. Continued observations on your part and consultations with your vet, can go a long way to relieving your dog’s painful arthritis condition.