3 Essential Supplements For Your Dogs Joint Health

Aging is hard on anyone, but it’s especially tough on dogs who love to play and run free. They can’t tell us that they hurt or that they wish they could get around like they did when they were a young pup. It’s up to us to act on their behalf.

There are three remedies and protectants for optimal joint health in dogs - glucosamine, chondroitin, and methylsulfonylmethane. That last one’s a mouthful but as you’ll learn, it’s not a scary back of the box ingredient. It is made by the body and is beneficial as a supplement.

Glucosamine

Joint pain and swelling are most often caused by a lack of glucosamine. When we – both dogs and humans – age, we stop making the necessary amount of glucosamine to create the substances that repair tissue and cartilage. This is how arthritis begins. Without the repair of tissues and cartilage, the joints aren’t well lubricated which leads to inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

When you add glucosamine to your dog’s diet you reduce that inflammation and make it easier for cartilage and tissue to heal.

Not only does glucosamine help dogs with arthritis, it is also beneficial to dogs with hip dysplasia, joint or spinal disc injuries, and dogs recovering from joint surgery.

Chondroitin                  

This super supplement assists glucosamine in its job by helping cartilage retain water and elasticity. Added to that are anti-inflammatory properties and improved tissue healing.

Other applications for chondroitin aid in relief from disc problems and in healing mucous membranes that protect the bladder and intestines. As with glucosamine, chondroitin also relieves pain from inflammation in the joints.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)

Even though it looks like the name of a manmade chemical, MSM is actually found in the body and in tons of fruits, grains, and vegetables.

It’s a multiuse substance that is used in the treatment of joint and pain problems as well as everything from skin issues to gum disease. If you think it sounds like gimmicky cure-all, fear not – it has been thoroughly studied and verified in its use for animals and humans. It’s in our food already!

Here’s how it helps our canine friends: MSM is a form of sulfur made and used naturally by the body to create blood proteins, connective tissue, and amino acids. All of these are needed for healthy tissues, cartilage, and lubricated joints. Dogs make less MSM as they age, but supplementation helps slow that process and provide pain relief and further damage.

In addition to supplementing with MSM for arthritis and other disc and joint problems, vets also prescribe it for dull fur and skin conditions.

Working together

These three substances used in conjunction give your dog a leg up against arthritis and improve joint health. Petipet's Advanced Hip and Joint Mobility Bars pack all three essential ingredients into a tasty soft chew. 

It is important to start even a dog approaching middle age on glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM soon so that joint damage is prevented. Extending the years your dog enjoys pain-free mobility may actually increase the years your dog lives.

Your dog will appreciate taking supplements when they’re packed in a tasty snack like Petipets Advanced Hip and Joint Mobility Bars!

Sources:

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/general-health/glucosamine-for-dogs/

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/chondroitin

https://www.petcoach.co/article/glucosamine-chondroitin-for-hip-dysplasia-arthritis-in-dogs/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372953/

https://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/msm-for-dogs.html