If you have an older dog, he or she may be affected by arthritis, which is a common problem in older dogs. Some of the signs include lethargy, a reluctance to move around, and visible signs of pain when touched. One effective solution is glucosamine, a supplement that has been proven to be effective in fighting this problem. It works by building up the cartilage, allowing the dog to enjoy being able to move around once more.
If you are considering this option for your dogs, check with your vet before doing anything, as your dog may need to have sulfate, HCL or 2KCL glucosamine. Regardless, a low quality product will not be as effective, and you should ensure that the product you use was produced in a GMP certified plant and is of high quality. Most dogs will readily drink liquid glucosamine as they like the taste, making it easy to administer.
Recommended Glucosamine Dosage for Dogs
There is a recommended dosage of glucosamine and it is important not to exceed that dosage and give your dog too much of it; at the same time, you need to make sure you are administering enough to lead to improvement.
Your dog's weight will determine how much of the medication to give to him or her; in general, the heavier the dog, the higher the dosage needed. However, it is essential to talk to your vet, as he or she will be able to advise you accurately how many fluid ounces your dog should be given in a day.
The type of glucosamine being given will also determine the dosage, and your vet will also be able to help you with this. A second opinion from another vet is often a good idea, especially if your dog seems to be very sick, and a double dosage of the drug for the initial four to six week period is generally recommended by most vets. Over time, the dosage amount can be reduced as your dog shows signs of improvement.
How Effective Is It?
There are various factors that determine the right glucosamine dosage for dogs and the dog's weight is one of the most important. The following are meant to be guidelines only, and your vet will be able to advise on the dosage that is both safe and effective. A maximum of 300 mg of glucosamine should be given to a dog weighing under 10 pounds, while twice this amount can be administered to dogs weighing between 11 and 29 pounds. A dog that weighs from 30 to 59 pounds should be given 1200 mg, while a dosage of 1800 mg is recommended for a dog weighing from 60 to 120 pounds.
Once you start giving your dog this product, it will generally be several weeks before you start to notice signs of improvement, and you should not expect to see results overnight. The original dosage may be too low if you do not see any signs of improvement after about a month, or it could mean that your dog also should be prescribed anti-inflammatory medicine.
Our dog needs to have a very strong bones in order to indure the training we have. It is important that dogs with arthritis get adequate, but not excessive amounts of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium. If you are feeding a commercial diet, there should be no need to supplement with any of these. If you are feeding a home made diet, it might be helpful to supplement with small amounts of vitamin D and magnesium. Glucosamine is the natural substance which makes up cartilage which is the cushion between the bones and joints. Shellfish carry this substance. There are several types of Glucosamine, even synthetic forms. It is formed in labs or taken from bovine cartilage or in fish such as shark.To know more about the Glucosamine dosage for our dog you can visit http://glucosaminedosagefordogs.com/
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