Millions of people suffer from joint pain. As a result, there’s a range of joint relief supplements readily available to bring them relief. But did you know that joint pain affects dogs, too? And, yes, there are supplements specifically formulated to alleviate canine joint aches. The basis of the majority of joint supplements for pets are glucosamine and chondroitin. Here are the essential facts you need to know about them:

They Are Not Regulated

In the United States, nutritional supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This means that anyone can make and sell supplements. As a result, there are a lot of rubbish supplements floating around the internet. Often these products look more impressive than the real deal. That’s because, rather than spending their money on quality control, they’ve thrown it all into marketing. Not all supplements are created equal, so don’t believe the hype. Take the time to find good information so that you don’t waste your time or money. If you have questions, ask your veterinarian.

Joint Supplements Are Not a Silver Bullet

No joint supplement is going to be the one cure-all for every dog. Different joint supplements work better with different pets. You may have to try different brands, even though your best friend swears by the one she uses. If your pet has significant joint pain, such as from arthritis, using nutritional supplements by themselves may not be enough. They may also benefit greatly from such things as weight loss or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine.

Research

The results of research into joint supplement are mixed. There are some really good products and some really bad products out there. There is research that has really good results, and there is research that has really bad results. So, what should you do? We recommend getting one or two bottles of a vet recommended nutritional supplement for joints. Try your dog out for a month or two to see if you can notice results. If the product is really good, you should start to see results in as little as two weeks’ time. This is especially true in mild to moderate cases of arthritis. If your dog has severe arthritis or joint pain, you might not see improvement because the damage has already been done.

Fish Oils

Fish oils do a lot of great things for joints. Researchers accidentally discovered that fish oils help with joint pain when patients with skin problems started taking fish oil supplements. Lo and behold, their arthritis problems began to disappear.

Dogs Are Not Humans

Human formulations of glucosamine and chondroitin are not the same as dog formulations. The human forms use different salts. They often contain too much magnesium, calcium, or phosphorous for your dog to handle. Calcium in human joint supplements is particularly bad for dogs because it can inhibit the normal cycle of bone remodeling. This can lead to worsening of arthritis in dogs.

Dog Arthritis Symptoms

More than 9 million dogs suffer from arthritis in the United States alone. However, unlike humans, dogs often don’t show any signs that they are in pain. Dogs are genetically averse to showing pain because, in their ancestral pack days, showing pain could get them banished, attacked, or even killed. As a result, arthritis could be condemning your dog to a life of pain without you even knowing it. So, what are the signs to look out for? If your dog is normally active and frisky, but is now showing signs of laziness by just wanting to sit around, not jumping on the couch, or lagging behind when you go for a walk, don’t automatically attribute these signs to laziness. Sudden changes in mobility are one of the best indicators that your dog is experiencing pain. Get your vet to take a look at your dog. If you see your dog licking or chewing over joints, this may also be a sign of arthritic pain. Licking is the dog’s way of rubbing that joint. Other signs that your dog may be suffering from arthritic pain include aggression, social withdrawal, staring off into nothing, and restlessness. You should take note of these potential symptoms and, if you have concerns, get them checked out by a vet. Dog arthritis is a subtle thing that causes a lot of pain to your best friend. If you are at all unsure whether your dog is suffering in silence, the best thing you can do is to take a trip to your vet.