I was at the vet the other day, and they brought up how next year, my dog, Zoey, will be turning seven. Seven years old is a big number for dogs. Once they turn seven, they are now considered a senior dog. It's scary to think, but we all age. Dogs just happen to age faster than humans. But how do we prepare our fur baby for their old age? It's time to implement glucosamine. What is glucosamine? Glucosamine is a natural compound found in everyone's joints. You have it, I have it, even our dogs have it. But once your fur baby reaches old age, Glucosamine levels start to drop. And they need that glucosamine to cushion the joints. Glucosamine comes in a powder that you can sprinkle on their food. It comes in chewies that can be given orally every day. It comes in treats. It comes in the kibble you get at the dog food store. That is one of the main reasons you can find senior kibble in the dog food store. If you look at the packaging of senior dog food it has high amounts of glucosamine that you wouldn't find in regular kibble. Good examples are Nutrisource Senior Dog food which has the daily glucosamine your canine friend needs and Open Farm Senior Dog food which has even higher amounts of glucosamine than Nutrisource. My friend brought up how her dog was turning seven in less than a month. She knew right away that once that day came she would begin implementing glucosamine into her dog's diet just like every dog parent should. You want your dog to be able to get up and down stairs, move with agility, and not have those aches and pains that come with old age. That's where glucosamine is here to help. Not only do humans take it but dogs need to take it too. So what happens when you give your dog glucosamine? It replaces the cartilage functionality in their hips and joints that they lose over time. It can also ease the pain in the hips and joints that your dog might have. Remember that glucosamine is an over-the-counter supplement where if you have any concerns about whether you should give it to your dog you should speak with your veterinarian.
Remember to read the appropriate dosage amounts on the package of whatever type of glucosamine you choose. It could be from anywhere from a chew a day if you choose the chews or a quarter cup of powder sprinkled onto their kibble if you choose the powder. Or, if you are switching from adult kibble to senior kibble, then the recommended glucosamine dose is already in the amount of kibble you already feed your fur baby. But of course, remember to talk with a vet about the glucosamine dosage because they might advise more or less. You can communicate as to the dosage there is in the kibble and as to however much glucosamine, they might want you to add to their diet. Remember that there could be mild side effects to adding glucosamine to their diet including diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and nausea. All in all, glucosamine could be a wise choice for you to take in helping out your senior dog in their old age. Whether you like it or not, all dogs get old just like us, and we have to be prepared for their old age and what comes with it. That's why glucosamine might be their new best friend and ally. If you liked this blog post remember to subscribe to All Healthy Dog and stay updated with posts every month.
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AuthorA. C. Zito Archives
June 2024
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