Glucosamine For Dogs: Benefits & Sources

My dogs are getting old now.

Just about any veterinarian you meet will recommend glucosamine for dogs … especially if they are getting a little stiff or achy with arthritis. Most vets have a product to sell you too … a supplement like Cosequin or Dasuquin. But there are sources of natural glucosamine for dogs too. They’re cheaper and much tastier for your dog!

What Are The Benefits Of Glucosamine For Dogs?

Glucosamine is a natural anti-inflammatory. This makes it a very popular supplement for people and pets with joint pain or stiffness. It can help improve mobility and range of motion. It can help slow the aging process in your dog’s joints.

Glucosamine is naturally produced within the joints, where it combines with collagen to produce and repair cartilage. Healthy cartilage is naturally flexible and spongy. So it acts as a shock absorber in the joints. Synovial fluid naturally lubricates the joints. Glucosamine can help maintain its viscous consistency.

With the aging process, your dog’s body makes less glucosamine. This means her cartilage deteriorates, leaving less cushioning in the joints. There’s also less lubricating synovial fluid … which is why your dog’s joints might be getting a bit “creaky” as she gets older.

So it’s a good idea to give glucosamine for dogs, especially as they age.

How Much Glycosamine Do Dogs Need?

Dogs need about 500 mg of glucosamine per day per 25 lbs of body weight.

But don’t bother adding up the grams of glucosamine your dog gets through her food. Just feed some of these foods regularly and she’ll get plenty of natural glucosamine.

For example, beef trachea is mostly cartilage, which contains about 5% glucosamine. A 28gr piece of trachea will provide your dog with over 1400 mg of glucosamine. Or take another food, chicken feet … just one chicken foot contains about 400 mg of glucosamine.

What Foods Are High In Glucosamine?

These foods are delicious for your dog and are also good sources of glucosamine for dogs.

Trachea
Trachea is made up of cartilage, which is rich in glucosamine and chondroitin. Beef trachea is the easiest to find,

Chicken Feet
Chicken feet are loaded with naturally occurring glucosamine for dogs. And they make a delicious crunchy snack or can be part of your dog’s meal. And don’t worry about the toenails – they’ll go down fine!

Pig Tails
Tails are made up of cartilage surrounded by some meat. Cartilage is 5% glucosamine. Pig tails are another good way to give your dog a healthy meal with plenty of glucosamine for dogs.

Bone Broth
Making a rich, gelatinous bone broth is another wonderful way to give your dog natural glucosamine. It’s easy to make even though it needs to spend 24 hours or so simmering on the stove (or in a slow cooker). Bone broth has countless health benefits, and it’s loaded with glucosamine and other joint-supporting nutrients.