GSDude | 
10 1st, 2009| 
Dogs are social animals that love to play and be active. If you’ve ever met a dog with severe joint problems, such as arthritis or hip dysplasia, you know how heart breaking it can be. A few years ago I was at a dog camp touring their facilities. All of the dogs were running around and having a blast, but I noticed this one Retriever sitting and watching longingly at the other dogs playing. This poor little guy wasn’t able to join in on the fun. I spoke with his dad who told me that he had problems standing up, never mind running. His dad blamed the decline in mobility on old age—a very common misconception. As it turned out, his dog had arthritis.
The bad news is that joint problems are far more common in dogs than we would like to believe. This is especially true for older dogs and larger breeds, such as German Shepherds and Retrievers. Failing to care for your dog’s joint health can lead to painful arthritis and hip dysplasia that may require expensive surgery. A glucosamine supplement is a simple, non-invasive, and affordable solution. Glucosamine is a natural substance and it is a key building block of cartilage. You will typically find glucosamine for dogs in the form of glucosamine sulfate or glucosamine hydrochloride (sulfate and hydrochloride are necessary carriers for the main ingredient or else it will break down too quickly). Glucosamine is often paired with chondroitin, as chondroitin inhibits the enzymes that break down cartilage. This duo works very effectively together to greatly improve joint health.
If you’ve ever looked into glucosamine supplements, you’ll know that the market offers a dizzying number of brands and formulas. Not surprisingly, not all glucosamine supplements are created equal. Factors such as dosing, concentration, purity of the ingredients, ingredient sources, and additional ingredients all play crucial rolls in the supplement’s effectiveness. The obvious question then is, which one is the right one for your dog? Well, stick around! Go Glucosamine for Dogs will be exploring the different glucosamine supplement products available to help you make the right decision for your dog’s joint health.
If you need a glucosamine supplement right now, I am very confident in recommending Cosequin Regular Strength (for small dogs 24 lbs. and under) and Cosequin DS (dogs over 24 lbs.). These are fantastic products with Cosequin DS being what I give my German Shepherd. I will be going into more depth about Cosequin Regular Strength and Cosequin DS soon, but until then check out the following links for more info:
Cosequin Regular Strength Capsules
Cosequin DS Capsules (my personal choice for my German Shepherd)
Cosequin DS Tablets
