Glucosamine & Co. - What You Need To Know

There’s a buzzword circulating the headlines of the health and wellness industry: glucosamine. It’s easy to skim past these articles since the word glucosamine isn’t the most digestible to start, but it’s an important nutrient to learn more about—especially relating to your dog. 

Take five minutes to read this post. You’ll learn the essentials of glucosamine and if you should be adding it to your dog’s diet.

What is glucosamine, and why might it be right for my dog?

An amino sugar derived from seashells, glucosamine provides your dog with the necessary building blocks to form new cartilage. Beyond cartilage support, it plays a key factor in your dog’s total joint support. The catch is, your dog needs to take the supplement for a few months before they feel the benefits and you see a substantial difference in their mobility.

If you notice your dog limping or having trouble moving, this may signal inflammation in their joints. Inflammation isn’t something to ignore, especially since your dog is in pain. But don’t worry, some extra nutritional support may be just what your dog needs to get back to enjoying her best life.

In many cases, inflammation in your dog’s joints can be addressed by supplementing their diet with nutrients that have anti-inflammatory properties. Ingredients like glucosamine, CMO (Cetyl Myristoleate), MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), & Omega 3-s all help with inflammation in a dog’s joints.

Glucosamine can be a crucial supplement to support your dog’s joint health. If your dog’s breed commonly suffers from hip dysplasia or other mobility issues, we recommend starting them on a supplement with glucosamine before you see any issues. This ensures they have the nutritional foundation to protect them in the future. If your dog already shows signs of mobility problems, we still recommend glucosamine with the addition of ingredients like CMO, MSM & Omega 3s, to support and prolong their current joint health.

Does My Dog Need a Joint Supplement?

Joint pain and arthritis affects nearly 20% of dogs over one year of age. If your dog shows any of these signs: Limping, difficulty or hesitation when moving, spinal issues, laziness/sleepiness, or licking/chewing at the joints, we’d recommend looking into a joint supplement to help improve her quality of life.

Which glucosamine supplement is best for my dog: chews, powder or tablets?

One thing to consider here is nutrient absorption and the bioavailability of glucosamine and other key factors. We wrote about the importance of supplements a while back, so here’s that deep dive for reference.

Look for the sources of the key ingredients. If a product claims that its ingredients are “a source of glucosamine or chondroitin” then the bioavailability of these ingredients is not as strong as their isolated forms.

For example, “shellfish, a source of glucosamine” isn’t as effective as simply ‘glucosamine’. That’s like saying that a car bumper is a source of iron. Adding an additional ingredient your dog must breakdown before getting to the desired nutrient isn’t an efficient method. We say look for the source. Keep it simple.

What About Chondroitin, MSM & CMO?

Joint health is maintained by a variety of nutrients, not just one. Along with glucosamine, look for this trio of ingredients for full joint support.

Chondroitin: Naturally occurring substance found in animal joints, chondroitin prevents destructive enzymes from breaking down cartilage in joints. Studies have also shown when chondroitin is combined with glucosamine for dogs it can help reduce the pain from arthritis.

Cetyl Myristoleate (CMO): Found in the connective tissue of animals, CMO’s properties help fight symptoms of osteoarthritis. This can translate to pain relief, improved mobility and increased range of motion.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): A byproduct from oceanic plankton, MSM contains bioactive sulfur, a critical ingredient for any tissue or organ, including muscles and joints. MSM is a strong antioxidant, able to bind to and inactivating harmful free radicals. The result is help in reducing joint pain, inflammation and degeneration.

How much glucosamine does my dog need?

When looking at the serving size of any supplement these are some general guidelines for glucosamine quantities:

• 250-500mg for 5-20 pounds dogs
• 500mg for 20-45 pounds dogs
• 1,000mg for 45-90 pounds dogs
• 1,500mg for dogs weighing more than 90 pounds

Why K9 Power?

As a company, we have over 25 years of experience researching & developing premium pet supplements for health-conscious dog enthusiasts, breeders, trainers, and competitors. We believe that our supplements combined with a balanced diet, can greatly improve any dog’s quality of life.

If you are looking for a powder-based supplement that contains all of the important joint ingredients, K9 Power offers a supplement called Joint Strong. We recommend Joint Strong for dogs with visible mobility issues and those that are more susceptible to joint issues.