Glucosamine is a naturally occurring supplement used by both humans and pets to help aged or damaged joints in the body. As your pet ages, they begin to run less and have greater difficulty moving around. Arthritis, stiff joints, dysphasia or osteoarthritis are some of the causes of this decline in activity. You may notice your pet runs slower than normal (or does not run at all), won't or has trouble climbing stairs, or just becomes less mobile. All of this is most likely because your pet is in pain; Glucosamine helps to ease the pain of your suffering pet.

Because your dog or cat is a mammal, its joints are similar to those of your own. Both have cartilage protecting the places where two bones meet-such as knees, elbows and shoulders. The cartilage cushions the blows your joints take like shocks absorb the potholes and bumps your car takes. A component of cartilage are Glycosaminoglycans, which help build the cartilage structure. Glucosamine helps your pet's body produce Glycosaminoglycans, which in turn improves your pet's cartilage. Though your pet cannot return to the healthy body it once had when it was young, Glucosamine can help ease the pain of sore or arthritic joints and help the body rebuild some of the torn and damaged cartilage.

Some Glucosamine supplements contain Chondroitin Sulfate which is produced by the body and is an important structural component of cartilage that provides much of its resistance to compression. Chondroitin Sulfate attracts water to the cartilage which adds nutrition and elasticity to the joints. Chondroitin Sulfate slows down the destruction of cartilage and reduces swelling. Glucosamine supplements can also contain MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane). MSM is a naturally occurring sulfur containing compound that acts as an anti-inflammatory reducing joint inflammation. Glucosamine supplements and those also containing Chondroitin Sulfate and MSM will help reduce the pain and inflammation in your pet's joints and help slow the effects of arthritis.

Arthritic joints can be painful both during movement and when your pet is being still. Joints are naturally surrounded by a liquid called synovial fluid which is one of the elements that helps rebuild cartilage. Glucosamine, along with the synovial fluid and other elements, helps to rebuild and maintain the cartilage.

In some cases, specifically Rheumatoid Arthritis, excessive amounts of synovial fluid can make the disease worse. With Rheumatoid Arthritis, the body produces more synovial fluid than needed which can lead to extreme joint swelling. In this instance, the immune system itself is causing the problem and not poor joint alignment or joint stress. Glucosamine in combination with Chondroitin and MSM can help to remedy the situation by providing the other elements needed to repair the joint and reduce the inflammation.

Glucosamine supplements alone cannot reverse the aging process but when combined with a proper diet, weight management and the right amount of exercise, they can help your pet's body rebuild injured cartilage and relieve joint pain to help your pet live a happy, healthy and active lifestyle.