More and more, we are realizing just how important strong, healthy joints are for our dogs. And, unfortunately, many of our beloved pets can occasionally feel joint stiffness or discomfort.
Inhibiting natural movements and limiting the enjoyment of daily life can even lead to excessive weight gain and cause other health challenges.
Healthy joints contribute to a strong and flexible foundation for your dog’s vitality and well-being, allowing your pet to enjoy every day to its fullest — free from any hassle or occasional joint stiffness.
But, what contributes to strong, healthy joints? What makes a good joint support for dogs?
One answer lies in a surprising marine animal… Shrimp!
Glucosamine – The Building Blocks of Healthy Joints!
Before we look at the amazing natural properties of shrimp, we must first understand the role of one particular amino sugar found in them: glucosamine.
Glucosamine is extremely important for the healthy functioning of our pet’s bodies, as well as our own. This natural compound occurring in cartilage is one of the building blocks of healthy joints and can help enhance bone/joint health and healthy joint fluid viscosity.
Acting as a shock absorber in the joints, healthy cartilage is naturally spongy and flexible, ensuring optimal function in day-to-day life. Glucosamine, combined with collagen, can be essential for supporting healthy cartilage. Glucosamine also promotes a healthy viscous consistency of synovial fluid — the natural lubrication that fills the joint cavities between bones.
Whilst glucosamine occurs naturally in the body, dogs produce less and less as they age – which can lead to joint health complications for our older pups.
All of this can result in occasional stiff joints, or worse… the development of canine arthritis. This means that increasing our pooch’s glucosamine levels in their body is a great place to start when you want to help maintain synovial fluid that lubricates joints or stimulates the production of proteoglycans which can help maintain the health and resiliency of joints and connective tissue.
Is Glucosamine Good For Dogs?
Yes! But, some dog foods claim to be a source of glucosamine, often failing to deliver the full RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) amount for supporting healthy dog joints and an active lifestyle for your pooch.
Veterinarians often recommend approximately 500mg of glucosamine per 25lbs of your dog’s weight per day. For some leading brands of kibble, for example, you would have to feed your pup over 20 cups a day, just to get the recommended daily dose of glucosamine!
As much as our furry friends may love the idea of feasting on mountains of kibble, we all know that’s neither healthy nor affordable. Therefore, this is where an additional, natural source of glucosamine to help provide that all-important joint support for dogs might come in handy…
You can do this by trying dog supplements that contain glucosamine! These can be a fantastic, natural source of glucosamine, and are often packed into a tasty and convenient daily chew. Make sure you source from a reputable, ethical pet-specific brand! Supplements containing glucosamine can support your pooch’s range of motion, flexibility, and mobility in their joints, which can help offer connective tissue support and ease everyday joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity.
Glucosamine also has natural inflammatory balancing properties, making it an excellent supplement for dogs experiencing joint discomfort and occasional stiffness caused by everyday activities.
Joint Support For Dogs
So where does PetLab Co. source their glucosamine from? You guessed it; shrimp!
As well as robust cartilage and thick synovial fluid, glucosamine is also a key component of chitin, the material that makes up the tough shells of shellfish and crustaceans. This makes marine creatures such as shrimp a fantastic source of glucosamine to supplement your pet’s diet, and to ensure they are getting their full healthy dose of glucosamine, every single day!
We believe it is particularly important to source glucosamine from as organic sources as possible. Synthetic forms of the compound have been found to be less beneficial, often demonstrating positive effects for only a short period of time.
Research suggests that the cells in your dog’s body may not recognize synthetic nutrients as they would those from non-synthetic sources, and therefore reject them. Because synthetic nutrients function poorly compared to natural nutrients, they are therefore not as easily absorbed by the body.
Glucosamine for Strong Joints in Dogs
PetLab Co. strongly believes that when it comes to supplementing your dog’s diet and health, authentically sourced, active ingredients are always best. That’s why we love shrimp for all their natural properties!
So, consider boosting your dog’s intake of glucosamine: it’s what they need to maintain strong, healthy dog joints and get the absolute most out of life!
