Cat & Dog - Glucosamine and Chondroitin Products

For arthritis products available include: Synoquin, Seraquin, Cosequin, Glycoflex, Cartrophen, Superdog Ultimate Nutrition Glucosamine, Arthrotabs and C2 Collaplex.

For cystitis products available include: Cystaid and Cystease.

What is glucosamine?

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that occurs naturally in the body and plays an important role in forming and maintaining the body’s tissues. Nails, skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, heart valves, and discharging mucus from the lining of the intestines, urinary tract and respiratory tract all rely of a steady supply.

Chondroitin is a similar natural product that has a very similar action to glucosamine. They are often found together; their combined action is greater than the sum of their added individual effects.

Glucosamine and chondroitin also help blend sulphur into cartilage. Hence its popular use as a joint cartilage supplement. As our pets age, their bodies can lose the ability to produce enough glucosamine so cartilage in weight bearing joints weakens and becomes more vulnerable to wear and tear and arthritis.

Glucosamine is produced naturally in the body. Glucosamine is also a component of gelatin and cartilage is likely to be ingested in quantity by animals consuming ground bones in frozen ground meat-based diets or raw meaty bones.

Glucosamine supplements are often made from chitin, a substance found in the shells of crustaceans like crab and lobster as well as from animal connective tissues. While it is uncertain how much of glucosamine is absorbed when given orally, some studies have indicated it is as much as 95 percent.

Why recommend administration of glucosamine to my pet?

Pets with lameness, bowel, or bladder disease may benefit from treatment with glucosamine. Results may take 4-8 weeks to develop but may last for several weeks after glucosamine supplements are discontinued. Other patients experience a more rapid improvement and some none at all.

What species of animals are being treated regularly with glucosamine?

Horses, dogs, and cats are routinely treated with glucosamine.

How can my pet benefit from glucosamine?

Glucosamine works to stimulate joint function and repair. Pets with lameness (arthritis/osteoarthritis), sports injuries and sprains may show significant improvement when treated with glucosamine.

Other emerging potential indications for glucosamine include the treatment of intervertebral disc disease (slipped discs), recurrent cystitis, and severe inflammatory bowel disease. Disc disease is associated with abnormal compressive forces on discs, necessitating their re-modelling and repair. Glucosamine has been suggested as a potential source of the proteoglycan molecules needed during these processes.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as glucosamine are not just needed for joint remodelling, but are used as a mechanical and electrostatic defence against penetration of germs, toxins, and antigenic proteins through the mucosal lining of the bladder and intestinal tract. This GAG layer also prevents the leakage of normal body fluids through these same linings.

How successful is glucosamine?

Despite its widespread use, success using glucosamine for the treatment of lameness is variable. Some animals respond exceptionally well, while others experience no improvement. One of the possible reasons is the wide variation in quality of products, with some having very little of the active ingredient in them. We only stock trusted products.

How safe is glucosamine?

Glucosamine is very safe for long term use.

Occasional side effects of glucosamine include gastric irritation, nausea, diarrhoea and indigestion. These can be avoided by giving the product with food.

Where do I obtain glucosamine and do I need a prescription?

We use a range of glucosamine products in this practice. If you would like more information, please see one of the vets. A prescription may required.