Glucosamine for Dogs With Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a devastating illness that can affect dogs of any age or breed. Since hip dysplasia can be genetic, even puppies can be afflicted with it. Furthermore, long-term use of NSAIDs and anti-inflammatory drugs that combat hip dysplasia can cause liver and kidney damage. Since surgeries can be expensive, many owners turn to natural supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin to relieve some of the pain.

  1. Hip Dysplasia

    • Hip dysplasia is caused by abnormal joint connections, which cause extra wear on joint tissues. This can cause connective tissues to be worn away completely, in turn causing bone-on-bone contact, which is extremely painful. Dogs with hip dysplasia often limp or have altered gaits, may have difficulty exercising for long periods of time, and often have an unusual sit to avoid putting pressure on their hip joints.

    Benefits

    • Glucosamine is a natural supplement found in your dog's joints in the cartilage, synovial fluid and connective tissue. Thus there are no harmful side effects to adding it as a supplement to your dog's diet. In addition to having anti-inflammatory properties, recent studies have shown that glucosamine supplements can also be absorbed into your dog's body and redistributed in the joint tissues, actually regenerating cartilage and connective tissue, which may be lacking in a hip-dysplastic dog.

    Types

    • There are several types of glucosamine products available to dogs, which vary in effectiveness. Many products are mixed with other joint supplements, such as chondroitin, and can be purchased at pet stores and through veterinary websites. However, many owners claim that products purchased at health food stores for human consumption work just as well. Glucosamine HCl and glucosamine sulfate are of higher quality than glucosamine KCL and glucosamine NaCl, which should be avoided. Liquid forms are available and can be easier to add to your dog's food, though many dogs will eat glucosamine pills as a treat.

    Dosage

    • Dosage depends on your dog's weight and the severity of its symptoms. Consult your veterinarian if you are unsure on dosage. The commonly recommended dosage is 750 milligrams per 50 pounds of weight, given once daily. However, many veterinarians recommend doubling this dosage during the first two or three weeks of treatment to reduce symptoms more quickly. Since there are few side effects, this can be done safely.

    Preventative Use

    • Hip dysplasia is common among large-breed dogs such as German shepards, doberman, rottweilers, golden retrievers, labrador retrievers and boxers, just to name a few. If you have a large-breed dog, glucosamine can be administered as a preventative years before hip dysplasia symptoms occur. Though this won't prevent hip dysplasia, it may delay the symptoms, giving your dog a longer time frame before pain begins.