It is painful for any owner to see their pet suffering from the agonizing pain of arthritis. The hurting can be seen in the animal's eye and you have the great desire to do something to end the despair. You can actually do something about it now by preventing it from taking place and even checking the development of arthritis if the animal is already suffering.

As a matter of fact any breed, age or size of dog can get arthritis. It is not very clear as to why the dogs get arthritis, but as believed by many experts it is an autoimmune disease. What it means in simple words is that the body starts to fight against its immune system.

The cartilage starts to break up with the onset of arthritis. Opaque connective tissue which protects the joint flanked by bones is known as the cartilage. Knees, the hip, and ankle joints are included in the dog's body. It is also possible to get arthritis in the feet or spine also. The bones start rubbing against each other with the wearing off the cartilage. This results in extreme pain, stiffness as well as swelling.

Some of the symptoms of arthritis found in dogs are:

The dog finds it difficult to stand, sit or move from the bed or floor  Some limbs are effected  Reduction in activity, extra sleep, no interest in playing  Gaining weight  Alteration in approach or behavior  Looking stiff with tender joints  The joints are inflamed

Glucosamine has been studied by the scientists for some years as an element to cure arthritis in dogs. Glucose molecule which is made by the body naturally is known as Glucosamine. The main function of Glucosamine is to charge the cartilage cells to make the proteins which can keep the joint tissue cohesively. The cartilage also starts wearing off with age in dogs as lower amount of glucosamine is produced in the body leading to stiffening.

The cartilage constituent which is supposed to control the enzymes which break down cartilage is known as Chondroitin. It is important to have the required amount of Glucosamine and chondroitin to keep healthy joints. They are able to maintain as well as restore the cartilage tissues together.

A clinical trial was done in 1998 where rats were divided into two groups where all were injected with arthritis. As per the study one set got glucosamine and chondroitin and the other was not given any cure. The result showed that 96.5 percent of the untreated rats developed the symptoms of arthritis compared to just 54 percent who got chondroitin and glucosamine.

Symptoms of secondary arthritis can be treated by Glucosamine and Chondroitin in dogs also. Any type of surgery or hurt can lead to this arthritis. As per some research the signs of osteoarthritis can also be decreased in dogs with the help of this mixture.

Last, but not least, studies indicate Glucosamine/Chondroitin supplements are a safe and effective supplement to add to your dog's diet at an early age. However, there are conflicting reports on this topic and it's best to consult with your veterinarian and determine if this is the best option for you and your dog.

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