LITTLE ROCK — My dog and cat are getting older and my cat already has a little arthritis, the vet says. I take glucosamine supplements for mine. Does glucosamine help pets too?
Glucosamine as a dietary supplement has been shown to improve an arthritic pet’s mobility and soothe joints. Although there are scientific studies supporting this, many people who give their pets supplements regularly report they are effective, and more veterinarians are recommending them.
Osteoarthritis affects the joints of cats and dogs just as it does humans. The signs that an animal may have arthritis include difficulty walking, lying down or jumping. An arthritic pet may seem to be in pain when you try to pet him or pick him up.
Glucosamine occurs naturally in humans and animals, according to pet education.com and vetinfo.com. Cartilage - connective tissue in joints between bones - contains the highest amount of glucosamine, which is necessary to keep the cartilage healthy.
“In a nutshell, cartilage consists of several different cells, one of which is chondrocytes,” peteducation.com says. “Chondrocytes are responsible for synthesizing new cartilage. ... Glucosamine provides the building blocks to synthesize new cartilage.”
Normal, healthy animals are able to produce enough glucosamine to keep the joints working smoothly.But as an animal ages or has a joint injury, his body loses the ability to synthesize enough glucosamine. That’s when supplements are needed.
Before giving a pet any kind of dietary supplement, you should consult your veterinarian. He knows your pet and will be able to decide what might work best for him. He can also tell you the proper dosage and suggest specific products.
“Not all glucosamine and chondroitin products are created equal. The difference in various products lies in the dosing, carriers, vitamins, minerals, and purity of the ingredients,” according to peteducation.com.
While glucosamine products for humans may have purer ingredients, the experts say, it’s best to use a supplement labeled for pets because the dose is more accurate. Also, pet-grade glucosamine will contain vitamin C or manganese to increase absorption.
Glucosamine comes in several forms - pills, granules, liquid - so you can choose the one you think will be easiest or most convenient. Some dogs and cats won’t take a pill without astruggle, so you might want to use the granules that can be sprinkled on their food.
Don’t expect immediate results. It could take up to eight weeks for there to be any positive effect, but you should see your cat walking more easily.
You can find more information about treatments for arthritis at glucosamineosteoarthritis.org. Just click on Arthritis in Pets.
Do bells on outdoor cats’ collars really help reduce the amount of prey - particularly birds - that cats catch?
Apparently so.
Researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand did a study in which 45 cats wore bell collars for six weeks, then wore collars without bells for six weeks, according to Wildlife Research, an Australian zoology journal.
While belled, the cats brought in 50 percent fewer birds and 61 percent fewer rodents than they did when wearing collars without bells.
Do you have a question about pets? We’ll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Rhonda Owen,
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or e-mail askcreature@att.net
Family, Pages 40 on 04/20/2011