Glucosamine Dosage Dogs

Dog Arthritis Treatments and Glucosamine Dosage For Dogs

Glucosamine dosage dogs pr lbs are different depending if it's large or small. Why? And see what factors about the glucosamine pharmacology you just need to know easy explained

The glucosamine dosage dogs is around 30 to 40mg/kg/day (15-20mg/lbs). If the dog is a small breed, it,s the lower dosage. Big breeds needs more. Therefore you use the higher dosage.

I recommend a high glucosamine dosage in the first tree to four weeks, when beginning the supplementation. After this initial period you half the dose and see if you still get the same result.

But this is only general guideline.

The reason for higher dosage in bigger dogs is based on clinical trials and practical experience. Big dogs needs more of chondroproctive agents in order to obtain result. This is quite logical. It's a fact that bigger dogs more often suffer from arthritis than small breeds. Their weight is the reason for this.

Different Brand - Different Glucosamine Dosage Dogs - Why?

Different products contain different amount of active glucosamine.

This is logic. If more in it, less you need to give. But, even if two different brands contain same amount active substance pr tablet it can be different.

When the supplement enters the gut, and reaches the small intestine, absorption begins through the intestinal wall. This uptake varies a lot depending on the type of glucosamine salt in the product.

Glucosamin can be combined to chlorine or to sulfate group.

When it's a sulfate combination. It passes the intestinal wall much more efficient than the other.

You need to give more glucosamine-chloride than sulfate in order to get same blood absorption.

This is one reason why how glucosamine dosage dogs can vary and how much glucosamine for dogs is needed.

Liquid or tablets

Often you can see claims that liquid glucosamine for dogs are better and more efficient absorbed than tablets.

This can be true, but it doesn't need to be. Tablets can be done in a way that the very easy dissolves in the intestines and the active supplement becomes ready for uptake.

Being a liquid supplement, is not bound to make it "better".

Liquids can be more owner friendly. Easier to give on the food rather than tablets in the mouth. Well, this is both true and important to take into account as well.

What about if the liquid is more expensive? Would it be worth trying to give tablets instead if the same result is obtained?

Just remember, being a liquid may not justify the extra cost

The Seize of The Molecule

Important, as small molecules are better to pass than bigger complex molecules.

Using a formulation in where the molecular weight is lower can really improve uptake of glucosamine and/or chondroitin

Known Facts

The formulation is glucosaminsulfate and measured in humans.

In dogs it can be different.

Molecular weight is low (179). This is the same as for Aspirin. Much used as a painkiller in humans. So, in pure form glucosamine should not be difficult to absorb, from this point of view

Eighty percent is absorbed and passes the portal blood into the liver. Much of this is being first pass metabolized. A lot of the glucosamine passing the liver from the gut is being transformed and metabolized.

How much passing through the live is not known.

It is metabolized in the liver to carbon dioxid, water and urea. The speed of breakdown (elimination half-life) is around two hr. Fifty percent is being removed from the blood every second hour. for Aspirin the elimination half-life is tree hours.

Studies in humans has shown one daily administering of 1500mg glucosamine, maintain effective blood levels for 24 hr. It can also be divided in two or three administrations. As in dogs.

So.....

Glucosamine dosage for dogs is varying between different brands. It can be very difficult for you to see through all the promises and "hot air" statements in the different brands.

Be sure though, using glucosamine in dog arthritis treatments is very beneficial. Risks of side effects is very low and you don't have to believe on the result. You should be able to see it.

Your dog should get better within six to eight weeks.

If not, try another formulation or glucosamin dosage dogs, and see if the result gets better.

It might be.

Dog Arthritis Relevant Pages

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Arthritis supplements
Benefits of Glucosamine
Glucosamine studies
Dog food Glucosamine
Glucosamine and diabetes
Rimadyl for dogs
Rimadyl side effects


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