Is your pooch uncharacteristically dragging their paws? A drop in energy is a sign to cut the glucosamine and see if things change. Problems sleeping Chondroitin is commonly used to help dogs with hip and joint issues, including canine arthritis and hip dysplasia. You can find it along with glucosamine in many hip and joint supplements, as well as in some dog food targeted at senior dogs. But what are the benefits of chondroitin for dogs, and are there any risks to supplementing their diet? We’ll explore both the pros and cons of this supplement. What is Chondroitin?

Some studies have indicated that when administered to dogs as a combination, glucosamine and chondroitin are absorbed in as little as two hours (Beale, 2004). One commentary notes that glucosamine HCl and chondroitin sulfate require 10 to 20 times the quantity used in in vitro studies to reach a plasma concentration that will result in biological activity (Comblain et al., 2016). Chondroitin supplements for humans may also contain additional ingredients that could be harmful to dogs, so it’s definitely not recommended to use them. Is Chondroitin Better than Glucosamine for Dogs? Purity, quality, efficacy, dosing, and absorption of glucosamine and chondroitin vary and evidence is limited. There is a need for validated owner questionnaires, long-term studies with objective measures, and a better understanding of their mode of action. However, the amount of glucosamine and chondroitin in dog food may not always be sufficient, especially for dogs already dealing with serious joint issues. The concentrations of these compounds can vary widely from brand to brand, and in many cases, the levels may be lower than those found in standalone supplements.

How Much Chondroitin for Dogs is Safe?

Once a canine develops osteoarthritis, exploring treatment options becomes essential for minimizing the negative consequences of the disease. Non-pharmaceutical treatment options may include surgery, weight loss, exercise modification, and physical therapy (Beale, 2004). Although there will often be ingredients in dog joint supplements that you recognise, it’s important to never give them human supplements. Dog supplements have been tailored specifically to be perfectly safe for canine consumption, and contain just the right amounts that a dog needs. Although it can be tempting to share supplements, you could end up doing them more harm than good.

Exclusion criteria: Pregnancy; hypersensitivity to NSAIDs; neurological or musculoskeletal pathology; orthopaedic surgery within the same year; gait abnormalities involving both hind and fore limbs; concurrent osteoarthritis treatment Consider dividing the daily dosage of chondroitin into two equal parts per day to maintain a consistent level of the supplement in your dog's system throughout the day.Glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly recommended by veterinarians as an alternative for treating osteoarthritis in canines unable to tolerate the adverse effects of NSAIDs, or as add-on therapy,” concluded a February 2017 article in Open Veterinary Journal. “Although glucosamine and chondroitin have benign adverse effect profiles, the clinical benefit of using these agents remains questionable. Further study is required to clarify the uncertainty around the clinical benefit of using these agents and quantify any treatment effect that exists.” Does Glucosamine Have Side Effects?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the current gold-standard pharmaceutical therapy for dogs with osteoarthritis; however, NSAIDs may cause gastrointestinal ulceration as an adverse effect and are contraindicated in the presence of renal insufficiency or dehydration. Other pharmaceutical options include diacerhein, corticosteroids, and hyaluronic acid (Henrotin et al., 2005). Select nutraceuticals such as glucosamine, chondroitin, pentosane polysulphate, avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, green-lipped mussel, and milk protein have also been used (Henrotin et al., 2005). Immune System Boost: The rich nutrient profile of bone broth can help to strengthen your dog's immune system. AA): Ascorbic acid; (ALP): Alkaline phosphatase; (ALT): Alanine transaminase; (AM): Morning, (BA): Bioavailability; (BID): Twice daily; (BUN): Blood urea nitrogen; (CCL): Cranial cruciate ligament; (Cmax): Maximum or peak serum concentration; (Cr): Creatinine; (CS): Chondroitin sulfate; (CV): Cardiovascular; (GAG): Glycosaminoglycan; (GHCl): Glucosamine hydrochloride; (GlAm-CS): Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate; (GRF): Ground reaction force; (IV): Intravenous; (LMWCS): Low molecular weight chondroitin sulfate; (MA): Manganese ascorbate; (MSM): Methyl-sulfonyl-methane; (N): Number of study subjects; (NADG): N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; (OA): Osteoarthritis; (PGE2): Prostaglandin E2; (PO): By mouth; (q12H): Every 12 hours; (SAMe): S-adenosyl-L-methionine; (SA): Scintigraphic activity; (SI): Synovitis induction; (SID): Once daily; (Tmax): Time to reach maximum concentration; (UCII): Undenatured collagen type II; (ZS): Zinc sulfate. Fortunately, there are a number of supplements that seem to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, dysplasia, and other types of joint disease. These types of supplements vary in several ways, but most have two common active ingredients: glucosamine and chondroitin. The GHCl + CS arm exhibited a significant reduction in pain by day 90 with maximal effects observed on day 150. Specifically, overall pain had decreased by 51%, pain after limb manipulation had decreased by 48%, and pain after physical exertion had decreased by 43% from baseline at 150 days. Ground force plate-based parameters remained significantly unchanged by trial end.The meloxicam arm received a loading dose, the GCSM dose was decreased over the course of the trial, and the placebo arm was discontinued after 30 days while all other interventions continued for 60 days. While the GCSM arm did not experience any significant outcome improvements by trial end, it is possible that the intervention was ineffective due to the absence of a GCSM loading dose, the use of sub-therapeutic GCSM doses throughout the trial, and/or an insufficient trial length. The fact that the improvement in GRF values experienced by the carprofen arm was not accompanied by an improvement in subjective owner assessment scores questions the clinical significance of GRF values. Eight of the 71 subjects (11.3%) were lost to follow-up and the authors did not disclose which study arms were affected by dropout. Older dogs often benefit most from joint supplements, and these tablets are designed specifically to aid stiff joints and promote mobility. They have added N-acetyl D-glucosamine for lubricating and cushioning the joints, and there are also extra levels of Omega 3s compared to YuMove’s standard adult formula. The choice between supplementation and dog food containing glucosamine and chondroitin largely depends on the specific needs of your dog, as both have their own merits. For oral glucosamine supplements, here’s the daily dosage that one veterinarian recommends to obtain therapeutic levels: Dog Weight

Supplements, on the other hand, often provide higher and more concentrated doses of glucosamine and chondroitin. This can make them a better choice for dogs already suffering from joint conditions such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, where a higher dosage may be required for therapeutic effect. Regular Administration: Consistency is key with these supplements. They need to be administered regularly to maintain therapeutic levels in your dog's system. This product can be a little costly, especially if you have a larger animal, but if you have a fussy dog, it might be worth the extra investment to avoid the stresses of trying to feed them tablets. The carprofen arm showed significant improvements from baseline with regard to all five parameters at or before 70 days.Current literature does not support the use of glucosamine and chondroitin for the control of osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Side effects are reported to be rare, as chondroitin is generally considered to be extremely safe for dogs, but it’s important to pay attention to how your dog behaves after beginning supplementation.