Supplements to Improve Hip Dysplasia in Dogs

Canine hip dysplasia is a painful form of arthritis that many large-breed dogs suffer from. The hip joint is made of a ball and socket, and dogs with hip dysplasia have ball-and-socket joints that do not fit together properly. They rub on each other, causing the dog to get arthritis in its hip joint. Dogs can start showing signs of hip dysplasia between 6 and 18 months, but most dogs do not receive a diagnosis until they are older and the symptoms are more obvious. The condition is largely genetic, but experts sometimes suggest supplements to help the dogs with their symptoms.

  1. Vitamin C

    • Studies on dogs with hip dysplasia found that treating them with vitamin C improved their conditions. The studies used Ester-C, a brand of vitamin C that is easy for dogs to metabolize and is buffered with calcium. One Norwegian study showed up to 75 percent improvement in just one week. A study in Utah also showed that vitamin C reduced discomfort in dogs with inflammatory conditions like hip dysplasia. They saw an improvement of 78 percent in four to five days.

      Vitamin C is important in bone and cartilage function. Vitamin C supplementation is thought to be helpful because dogs manufacture their own vitamin C but not in enough quantity to help their condition.

      The study in Utah used varying amounts of vitamin C, but in Norway they used 30 mg/kg of the product three times daily for six months. The studies showed that vitamin C is not a cure. Once supplementation stopped, the symptoms worsened.

    Fish Oil

    • Fish oil contains essential fatty acids like the Omega 3 fatty acids. Research shows that joint inflammation improves with fatty acid supplementation. Many fatty acid supplements are now available for dogs. Some of these products include vitamin E in the formula because dogs that consume fish oil regularly show signs of vitamin E deficiencies.

      Fish oil is a natural ingredient in canine diets and is beneficial for other conditions like skin problems and heart disease. Because of this, it is a natural supplement for dogs.

      Follow the recommended dosage for the kind of supplement you buy. Dogs generally take 1,500 to 2,000 milligrams of Omega 3 fatty acids a day, but this will vary depending on the size of your dog.

    Glucosamine and Chondroitin

    • Glucosamine and chondroitin are two supplements that have been used to treat arthritis in people and canines for many years. Glucosamine is a building block for making new cartilage, while chondroitin slows down the enzymes that break down cartilage. The hip joints on dogs are one of the most active joints in the body so they receive a lot of wear and tear. Glucosamine and chondroitin are believed to reduce the overall wear and tear on the hips.

      In Europe, these two supplements have been used for more than 20 years without any reported side effects. Follow the instructions on the type of supplement you purchase, but dogs usually take higher doses for eight weeks to get results and then a lower dosage to maintain the results. The supplement is not a cure. They will need to take it all of their lives.