The hip joint is complex structure supported by muscles and tendons. The core of the join is the ball and socket system which allows the legs to move in different directions. However, any imperfections in bone and support of the hip can greatly affect mobility and can contribute to the early development of dog arthritis.

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Although dog arthritis supplements can improve your dog’s mobility, they can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting, or a sudden onset of scratching. These side effects are often a result of an allergy, which means that something in the supplement may be setting the allergic reaction off.

Allergic reactions only happen when dogs are repeatedly exposed to an allergen (or antigen). And in dog supplements, these are usually the natural ingredients, such as:

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Most people don’t know how prevalent dog arthritis is. In a recent study, it was shown that one in five dogs suffer from it. This debunks the common notion that only old dogs develop the disease. More so, dog owners should be extra vigilant when they have a large or an overweight dog since these attributes make a dog more susceptible to dog arthritis.

Early treatment is the best way to deal with the disease. Dog arthritis targets the cartilage within the joints and when the right remedy is given along with some canine lifestyle changes, cartilage damage can be controlled. Hence, dog owners should take note of the following, as any of these may be indications that your beloved dog is already suffering from dog arthritis:

• Difficulty in sitting and standing, Limping
• Inactivity, reduced walking or jumping, always sleeping
• Constant licking in the joint area
• Stiffness in the joints
• Aggression or other behavioral changes

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Dog arthritis is very common in older dogs. With more than 5 million dogs affected in the U.S.A. alone, there are plenty of companies looking to grab a share of the money that’s spent every year on dog arthritis treatments.

One industry that’s really trying to grab some market share is pet food manufacturers. In order to attract dog arthritis business, some pet food companies are selling products that contain glucosamine, chondroitin, and Omega 3 fatty acids. But are the supplements present in sufficient quantity to help relieve the pain and swelling of dog arthritis? Let’s find out.

Although glucosamine has been successfully used to treat dog arthritis, there are three KEY questions you must ask yourself when it comes to buying supplemented dog food.

• Does the quantity of food your dog eats each day supply a beneficial dosage of glucosamine?
• Is the glucosamine provided the correct type for your dog?
• Are the other fortification supplements present beneficial and provided in the correct dosages?

In most cases, the answer you will find to each of those questions is “NO.” But before you walk away without buying dog food fortified with glucosamine to help treat dog arthritis, consider this:

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Recently introduced in the United States, glucosamine and chondroitin have been used to treat dog arthritis in both Europe and Australia for more than 20 years. When a drug has been in use for that long a period of time, its side effects are very well documented. And that’s good news if you’re treating your dog’s arthritis with glucosamine and chondroitin, because the safety of these drugs is well documented.

The only side effects that have been reported are the occasional bout of vomiting or diarrhea. Actually, both of these side effects are common across a wide range of medications, and the incidents  reported by owners of dogs being treated with glucosamine and chondroitin is very low. In most cases, the side effects are diminished, or stop altogether, when the dosage of glucosamine is reduced or stopped.

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