Many people think that because joint supplements are herbal that they are generally safe. His joints are stiff, he seems to have lost interest in taking walks, and you would do anything to help him find the pep in his step again. Many pet owners buy these supplements because they are cheaper than ones sourced and made in the United States; however, they are often laced with toxic chemicals or are contaminated with deadly bacteria like Salmonella. The scary thing is that many of the products tested are name brands – ones that you can buy online from popular pet medicine dispensaries and pet stores. In a recent report published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal, toxicity levels of the joint supplements of glucosamine and chondroitin were reported when a studying dogs who overdosed. And much more troublesome is the addition of toxic chemicals and bacteria as fillers (lead, arsenic, Salmonella to name a few). Therapy options include joint massage and other therapeutic activities that help your dog move their stiff joints (e.g., water therapy that takes the pressure off the joints, but enables your dog to move their limbs more freely). There have been a large number of reports of highly inferior and toxic dog supplements on the market in the past few years. You just have to be vigilant. The problem is worsening due to the explosion of internet shopping and the import of cheap products from China that have not been tested and which have no FDA oversight. It also includes MSM but no curcumin. So in summary, many veterinarians recommend a glucosamine for dogs dosage of approximately 500 mg of glucosamine and 400 mg of chondroitin per 25 pounds. The good news is that even though your dog may be suffering from arthritis, the multiple treatment options available for canine arthritis have been shown to be highly effective, enabling your dog to live to a normal life expectancy, pain-free. The number one reason is because they are cheaper. Your dog is suffering from arthritis. It pains you to see your companion in such pain each and every time he gets up from a nap. However, the following table provides standard dosage information for your dog (as always, check with your veterinarian prior to giving glucosamine to your pet): The Good and Bad of Glucosamine A recent report by ConsumerLab.com uncovered that many joint supplements on the market contain lead and other contaminants. Your once vibrant and lively dog now has trouble walking down the hall. You can safely buy quality glucosamine chondroitin supplements for your dog’s health. There is no question that joint supplements can help dogs suffering from arthritis. The vet may be able to help you decide whether or not glucosamine is enough to relieve your dog’s symptoms, and if not, will be able to recommend more suitable medication. As previously mentioned, some products are legally labelled as Made in USA when the products are actually sourced from China. : Have other dog joint products that you’ve found to be highly effective? With the right joint supplements for decreased pain, increased mobility, and decreased joint inflammation, your dogs will be showing more pep in their steps in no time. Take your dog to the veterinarian. Normal glucosamine sulfate dose is 20 mg/lb of body weight or one 500 mg tablet per 25 pounds of body weight. Sometimes, you may be able to use supplements in conjunction with medication for added benefit. As we do not wish to plaster large banner ads throughout the site we have an advertising relationship with some of the offers displayed here. Below are two companies that we’ve tested and found to produce lab grade glucosamine and chondroitin. Turmeripure isn’t in the major stores yet but can be ordered on their website: This is a Belgium manufacturer of dog supplements and premium dog food producing this quality glucosamine supplement. Most of these unscrupulous brands are selling weak ingredients and often are being found to include toxic chemicals, fillers and dangerous heavy metals. There are multiple treatment options for canine arthritis, including arthritis medications, pain-relief therapy, and joint supplements. They are more expensive as the ingredients are of a higher quality and they’ve undergone independent testing in US and European labs. In fact, supplements can say “Made in the USA” on them, even if the ingredients are sourced from China. Even though there is a widely held belief that natural joint supplements are generally safe, you can see why this is not always the case. However, the following table provides standard dosage information for your dog (as always, check with your veterinarian prior to giving glucosamine to your pet): A recent report by ConsumerLab.com uncovered that many joint supplements on the market contain lead and other contaminants. Your veterinarian will be able to determine if taking glucosamine alone is suitable to treat your dog’s arthritic pain, or if it should be combined with other medications to provide the most optimal pain relief. The cost to maintain this website grows each week. Turmeripure is a US company sourcing their pesticide free ingredients in the US, maximizing the potency with high concentrations of glucosamine and supporting ingredients like curcumin, MSM, green lipped mussels and hemp oil. Glucosamine is effective in pain reduction, joint inflammation reduction, and increased joint mobility. We’ll purchase, test, and review them, and add them to the recommended buying list if they are lab grade and do not contain heavy metals or any toxic chemicals or otherwise damaging fillers. Your vet … In fact, one joint supplement product only contained 4.5% of the amount of chondroitin advertised, another contained no chondroitin (even though advertised), and another contained arsenic. These are sold in treat form and are manufactured in the USA in a certified GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) plant, which means the product has FDA oversight and everything in the product has been tested to contain exactly what it claims in include and nothing else. Your vet may also prescribe various pain relief medications. Irma J. Nobles and Safdar Khan suggest that many of the cases of joint supplement toxicity is because the FDA is not required to regulate herbal supplements for safety. When choosing which supplements to purchase, it is necessary to inquire about the product’s source before using. How can you tell if your dog is suffering from arthritis? In fact, only 50% of the joint supplements tested passed ConsumerLab.com’s quality criteria. For the loading dose, they recommend the following in the first 4-6 weeks: The most common joint supplements for canine arthritis are glucosamine and chondroitin. Because of glucosamine’s safety it’s difficult to administer a toxic amount. Why are people purchasing products from overseas and why are our pets getting sick? It’s pretty difficult for glucosamine supplements to be toxic to your canine, as it’s a safe and natural supplement. Arthritis is similar to other signs of dog aging. The most obvious tell-tale signs are stiff joints and decreased mobility. The average dose of glucosamine for a dog in a pill is about 700-800 mg, so the glucosamine dosage for 80 lb dog is two pills or squirt per day, or one per meal in a two meal day. What are the right supplements to buy? But the dose may vary according to the severity of the condition. 121 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32801 info@rheumatoidarthritis.org 1-877-284-0235. A dog that has 70 pounds may get between 1000 and 1500 mg of glucosamine per day, but a smaller dog will require a reduced dose. Your veterinarian will make a diagnosis of arthritis based on your dog’s age, medical history, and assessing your dog during a physical exam. Affecting one in five dogs, arthritis is a degenerative joint condition and most often affects the hips, lower back, knees, wrists, and elbows of our canine pets. RASN is dedicated to providing the most up to date and trusted information. Arthritis in dogs can be caused by a number of factors; however, the most common factor is natural aging. Note: Even though glucosamine is a supplement, you should still speak to your vet before giving it to your dog. Nor do we recommend anything we wouldn't use ourselves. Pet owners are attracted to the good price tag, even though what they are giving to their pets to ingest can be much costlier in the long run. Because many of the symptoms of canine arthritis can also be similar to many other illnesses, it is best to get your dog assessed professionally. Glucosamine for Dogs is a Bad Idea… Except When it Isn’t? Glucosamine supplements are often paired with chondroitin, which promote joint repair. The solution to keeping your pets safe from toxic chemicals and bacteria, while proactively decreasing the pain associated with arthritis? Joint supplements, sometimes called nutraceuticals, have also been found to be highly effective in relieving your dog’s arthritic pain. Only purchase lab grade glucosamine chondroitin made with ingredients sourced in the USA or in other countries with strict regulatory oversight and testing. What attracts people to buy supplements such as these? In fact, the FDA is currently investigating nearly 600 deaths and over 3,600 pet illnesses from pets ingesting products sourced from China. Most recommended products are used daily by our team and paid for with our personal money. We keep the number of high qualtiy advertisers very low.