If you're thinking about supplementing your dog with some Glucosamine, then this is probably because you either have a dog at home that's getting older and needs help to get moving around the same way they used to before, or you have a dog at home that's feeling certain physical pains when moving around on a day to day basis.
Glucosamine sulfate is an amino sugar that's found in the bodies of dogs (just like they're found in our bodies), in places such as joints and cartilage.
When your dog's joints or other muscular tissue in their body is damaged, Glucosamine greatly aids in repairing these damages and getting these joints/muscular tissue working back the efficient way they used to.
Our List Of The Top 5 Glucosamine For Dogs - (Updated List For 2023)
Top Pick: Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewable Tablets for Dogs
Pick #2: Point Pet Glucosamine Booster Supplements for Dogs
Pick #3: GlycoFlex 3 Hip and Joint Support for Dogs
Pick #4: Advanced Hip & Joint Supplement for Dogs
Pick #5: Dr. Lyon's Advanced Strength Hip & Joint Health Chewable Dog Supplement
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*Note: The links in the table above, as well as several links in the remainder of the article below, will take you to over to Chewy.com where you can find out more information about the products, such as current prices and customer reviews.
Best Glucosamine For Dogs - (Best Joint Supplement For Dogs)
If you're looking for the best Glucosamine for dogs that is able to help your buddy get back on track with their activity levels and relieve them of the pain they're feeling each and every day, then you're right where you need to be.
Pick #1 - Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewable Tablets for Dogs
If you're looking for the best supplement that can get your dog's joint condition back to the good old days, the #1 choice you can go with is the Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewable Tablets for Dogs.
One of the things we love about this supplement is that the manufacturers have provided you with 2 choices of bottles to go with, one if you have a small to medium sized dog that's under 60 pounds of weight, and one if you have a large sized dogs that's over 60 pounds of weight.
Nothing groundbreaking there, but it's just so much more convenient than having a supplement that was designed with a "one size fits all" formula that has dogs of all different sizes in mind altogether.
As for how easy it is to give this supplement for your dog, you can be reassured that it comes in the form of a chew-able tablet that dogs find to be of very good taste, unlike other glucosamine supplements out there on the market that make your disgusted to the point where they don't want to get anywhere near that tablet ever again.
If you've got a dog at home that used to be the most active pooch out there, but took a recognizable snag to their activity levels because of the sudden joint pain they started to feel on a continuous basis, all you need is one month's worth bottle of this supplement and your dog will show great signs of improvement.
In short, the Nutramax Dasuquin with MSM Chewable Tablets for Dogs is by far our favorite joint supplement for dogs you can get your hands on today.
First off, this supplement is manufactured with a duck flavor, which means your dog will absolutely love the taste of it because, well, just have a look for yourself at how well duck flavored dog food sells.
Some dogs even think they're being given treats when it's time for their daily dosage of Glucosamine supplementation with these duck-tasting soft chews, as it looks like a biscuit from first sight, so that's a win-win situation!
Also, your dog won't give you a hard time swallowing these soft chews as well, just like our #1 pick above. By now you may have noticed that ease of consumption is a very important criteria in determining the best glucosamine for dogs supplement.
The fact that this supplement consists of soft chews and not pills is also a blessing for any dog that has suffered from any dental problems during their lifetime, because we all know the nightmare that comes with giving your dog a hard pill and hoping they don't chew away at it and re-damage their teeth in the process.
This Glucosamine for dogs supplement is also very rich in high Omega-3 essential fatty acids, which really help in promoting joint health in your dog.
Again, and just like our #1 pick above, you can expect to see tremendous improvement in your dog's energy levels and willingness to move around & be active in just under one month of proper supplementation, which is considered to be a very fast time frame for such results to show.
One thing you should be aware about, though, is that you should never supplement this product with your dog if she's pregnant or currently in heat, as that will have severe side effects.
Very similar to our #2 pick above, this joint supplement from VetriScience Laboratories is a life saver if your dog desperately needs Glucosamine supplementation and gives you a very hard time swallowing a pill or tablet, as these are some of the softest chews that you're ever going to come across on the market.
(Note: For those of you that prefer to give your dog a chewable tablet instead, there is a chewable tablet version that you could choose).
And, just like our #2 pick above that tastes like duck is absolutely adored by dogs that actually think it's a treat, the same is true for this supplement that tastes like chicken - and we all know how dogs love their chicken!
This joint supplement has proved to be excellent in treating mild to moderate joint pain and problems and for dogs that are not very large in size, but we can't exactly say the same when it comes to the more severe cases or when you have a larger sized dog such as a German Shepherd or a Great Dane at home - with either of these cases, our #1 pick is a much better option for you to go with.
Why Is Glucosamine For Dogs Necessary?
For some dogs, supplementing with proper dosages of Glucosamine is very crucial in assuring they are able to go about their day to day activities without having to feel excruciating pains which will only slow them down and make them feel very uncomfortable all the time.
Physical Activity & Exercise
Dogs that feel excruciating pain in their joints will greatly decrease any exercise and physical activity they usually get on a daily basis, because it simply hurts way too much for them to get up and do anything.
And guess what happens when your dog greatly decreases the amount of physical activity and exercise they get on a daily basis because of this physical pain they feel? Their joints will only get worse and will only hurt even more as time passes.
This is why it's extremely important that you solve your dog's joint problems on the spot with safe & proper exercise as well as proper treatment and supplementation with something like Glucosamine.
Old Age
Now, this is not to say that old age isn't a factor that plays a major role in your dog needing Glucosamine supplementation, we're just saying this is not the only deciding factor out there.
With time and as your dog gets older, the Glucosamine that's naturally found in their body becomes produced in less and less amounts, which means that trouble is bound to happen if they don't replace these Glucosamine levels from other "outside" sources.
With less and less Glucosamine being naturally produced in your dog's body as they get older, their body's ability to repair whatever needs to be repaired due to daily activity and wear & tear also takes a significant hit and slows down, and cartilage isn't rebuilt nearly as fast as it needs to be.
All of these are factors which eventually lead to the most common of problems many senior dogs face - joint pain and arthritis.
Sure, you can greatly help out your dog with their arthritis and joint pain case by feeding them a specially formulated dog food for senior dogs that has anti-inflammatory properties, Omega-3 essential fatty acids and the like, but that doesn't always cut it as you may need something a little bit more powerful than that in certain cases.
And, this is where Glucosamine supplementation comes in to help out tremendously.
When your dog's body can't produce enough Glucosamine on its own to repair cartilage that needs to be repaired, supplementing your dog with Glucosamine that has been manufactured with their needs in mind goes a long way in rebuilding any damaged cartilage that needs to be rebuilt, hence enabling your dog to move around, be active and exercise on a daily basis like they used to before.
When Should You Consider Glucosamine Supplementation For Your Dog
In the community of dog owners, we often see a very unfortunate misconception going on, where dog owners assume that the much slower-moving version of their senior dogs is only a normal one because they have gotten older in age.
We tend to think this way because we compare the bodies of our dogs with the bodies we have ourselves, where we tend to slow down as we get older and our bodies get weaker.
When we see slow movement in young dogs, we assume something's wrong on the spot, but when we see slow movement in old dogs, we assume it's only nature taking its course.
This could not be further from the truth, as it isn't always about nature taking its course with an older body, it could sometimes be because of excruciating joint pain that your dog is feeling, which is causing them to greatly slow down in movement and limit activity.
Here's a list of some of the most common symptoms that dog owners notice in their dogs, for which it's highly recommended for them to consider Glucosamine supplementation.
Unusual Walking
You know your dog best, better than anybody else out there at least, and this is why you're the one that knows most when your dog is acting up all weird.
One of the most common symptoms that dogs which need Glucosamine supplementation exhibit is unusual walking and moving around in a weird way, a much different way than they usually walk and move around in.
For example, you may notice that your dog is limping, notice that your dog is walking around in pain and making noises that depict pain when they use a certain muscle or joint in their body, and/or notice that your dog is trying to avoid using a specific part of their body altogether.
Greatly Decreased Levels Of Activity & Moving Around
Because of all the pain and discomfort your dog feels in their joints when they're moving around and doing anything of physical activity nature, they'll greatly reduce the amount of this physical activity and moving around that they do because they want to avoid feeling this high level of pain.
When your dog feels these high levels of pain during exercise and physical activity, they associate this physical activity with the pain they're feeling and will think that avoiding it will relieve them from the uncomfortable pain.
Again, this is one of those cases where you know your dog's normal physical activities when nothing's wrong with them, so if you notice a sudden dip in activity levels out of the blue, that's a sign for you to consider.
Restlessness
Pain your dog feels when they're suffering from something that can be solved with Glucosamine supplementation doesn't always have to show when they're physically moving around or exercising, your dog can feel pain in these cases even when they're lying around and not moving at all.
Again, this is one of those tasks where you know your dog best to be able to tell if it's something unusual or not. You know how your dog acts when they're resting and not doing much, so if they start to exhibit restlessness all of a sudden that's accompanied with cries of pain, then you know something is very wrong and not all is okay.
The pain your dog usually feels in these cases and complain from by crying/whining is because of inflammation in their joints that is felt all throughout the day and not only when these joints are put to use in physical activity.
A Quick Note About These Symptoms
One thing you have to keep in mind, though, is that if your dog exhibits these symptoms, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have joint inflammation and need Glucosamine supplementation.
These symptoms can be signs for something else completely, which is why you shouldn't self diagnose the situation (even if you notice all of these symptoms in your dog), but should tell your veterinarian about them so they can come up with a diagnosis.
Glucosamine For Dogs Side Effects
As long as you have your dog supplement with Glucosamine in appropriate dosages and for the right amount of time, the possibilities of them experiencing any serious side effects are extremely slim.
However, these rare instances do indeed exist, and if your dog is one of those unlucky few, then we have you covered on all you need to know.
The majority of side effects that your dog may experience when given Glucosamine supplementation are gastrointestinal in nature.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea/loose stool
- Excessive gas
- Constipation
If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog when having them supplement with Glucosamine, tell your vet about them right away so they take the necessary course of action.
Most of the times, your veterinarian will tell you to lower the dosage that was first prescribed because it's proving to bee a bit too much on your dog's system to handle.
However, this isn't always the case, as other times the brand of Glucosamine for dogs needs to be changed, the way you're giving your dog Glucosamine has to be changed, and so on.
A Quick Note About Glucosamine For Dogs And Shellfish Allergy
If your dog is allergic to shellfish, then you're going to want to pay attention to a very important point if you plan on giving them Glucosamine supplementation.
Dogs suffering from shellfish allergy have to be given a very special type of Glucosamine that's made from certain ingredients that won't trigger their allergies.
The mainstream Glucosamine for dogs supplement products on the market today all contain ingredients that will trigger your dog's shellfish allergy, so you have to inform your veterinarian about this allergy that your dog has so they can advise you what brand of Glucosamine supplement would be safest with their condition.
Your veterinarian will almost always suggest a Glucosamine supplement that't plant-based, as these won't trigger your dog's shellfish allergy.
Triggering this allergy in your dog is most certainly nothing to be taken lightly, as it very commonly leads to your dog going into a state of shock and passing away if not given medical treatment right on the spot.
A Quick Note About Glucosamine For Dogs And Other Medicine/Supplements
If your dog is currently taking other medicine or supplements at the timebeing and you want to have them start supplementing with Glucosamine, you have to let your vet know about any of these medicine or supplements.
This is because Glucosamine supplementation in dogs can conflict with other medicine/supplements you may have your dog taking at the same time, which may lead to very serious health repercussions.
How Can Dogs Take Glucosamine?
Supplementing your dog with some Glucosamine is one of the easiest tasks you'll ever have to do as a dog owner, because of how easy it is to just add some in a meal your dog is having and call it a day.
You just add some in, mix it with their food and they won't even notice that anything's changed, hence they won't give you a hard time taking it in.
Of course, this is only applicable for the Glucosamine for dogs that comes in liquid form. Besides liquid form, you can also choose between a regular tablet that your dog should swallow, or a chew-able form supplement that's very soft in texture.
How Much Glucosamine Can Dogs Take?
First thing's first, you should never consider giving your dog Glucosamine on a permanent basis and forever, as Glucosamine supplementation isn't meant to be done this way.
The required dosage of Glucosamine that one dog needs to take for their situation may be completely different than the required dosage of Glucosamine that another dog needs to take for a different situation they have, which is why a "one size fits all" answer is never applicable here.
And then again, there are so many different Glucosamine for dogs supplements out there on the market, and each has their own required dosages, so for us to state all the right dosages for all the possible cases your dog may have here is impossible.
Joint supplements such as this are meant to be taken for a certain amount of time to help out with your dog's situation, within the framework of a larger treatment plan that's ideally set by a veterinarian.
How Long Should Dogs Take Glucosamine?
Generally speaking, your veterinarian will tell you that your dog has to keep supplementing with Glucosamine for the rest of their lifetime, in order to keep the healing and rebuilding process of their cartilage going.
When you stop supplementing your dog with Glucosamine, the cartilage damage will come back again, which will only have you back at square zero.
So talk to your veterinarian about this, let them have a look at your dog and let them determine how much time your dog needs to take Glucosamine, as your veterinarian is the best person that's able to determine exactly how much of this supplementation your dog needs and for how long.
