Glucosamine is a biochemical substance that is made up of a gluco part which is sugar and an amino part that is an amino acid. Animal bodies synthesise glucosamine in relatively high quantities until they start aging. Glucosamine is a major component of cartilage found in joints of animals in general. A form glucosamime known as N-acetyl glucosamine is required for synthesis of connective tissue in the GIT of organisms like dogs. It has anti inflammatory capabilities and this enables it to counter arthritis. Generally glucosamine is important in an animals body for the reasons stated in this article, basing on the fact that its synthesis is not abundant for body requirements of a dog for instance, supplements are used to avail ot more readily to help improve in the motility of dogs as they are meant to be fast pets.
Animal meat is an important source of glucosaminme and dogs fed on such meals have a vast supply of glucosamine. Man made forms of glucosamine known as supllements are given to dogs by intramuscular injections or orally. The dogs are made to consume large amounts of these supplements by their flavor. Three different form of glucosamine are availed as supplements judging from their side chain components as sulfur, a chloride and an acetyl group. Glucosamine sulfate can either be synthetically produced or as a product of shells and is the most common of the three forms.
Glucoseamine hydrochloride has an advantage over the other two form as it is highly concentrated with glucosamine, but like glucosamine sulfate it is from fish shells. N-Acetyl glucosamine is the third form and is a precursor of a component of synovial fluid found in joints known as hyaluronic acid. N-Acetyl glucosamine has another imporyant function in the gut as it produces connective tissue in its mucosa.
Glucosamine is deficiency leads to arthritis, this is however avoided by use of supplements that’s avail it in the body of the pet in bounded form and this glucosamine is then used as a precursor for several joint components to maintain healthy joints. Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are both required for healthy joints of dogs and other animals, they can be provided to these animals as supplements. Use of glucosamine is considered safe to use if taken in little quantities per day and their use discontinued after about two years. Qualified persons should be consulted before a dose of glucosamine supplement is given to a dog to ensure only enough of the supplement is taken by the dog, little or no supplements should be given to pregnant dogs, a failure to follow such important regulation may lead to more harm than good as adverse reactions would occur and may lead to more cost. Intake of glucosamine is important in dogs for their mobility and therefore its deficiency should be addressed early.