Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Paws - That's Right, Paws

Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Paws – That’s Right, Paws

What comes to mind when you think of glucosamine and chondroitin? Do you think about knees, hips and joints? You would be correct, but did you know that your dog’s paws have joints?

Your dog’s paw, or foot, is comprised of ligaments, bones and joints.

“The carpus is composed of seven major bony structures: the radial carpal bone, ulnar carpal bone, accessory carpal bone, first carpal bone, second carpal bone, third carpal bone and fourth carpal bone. These seven bones form a very complex set of joints,” writes Charles D. Newton on cal.vet.upenn.edu.

Gayle H. Jaeger, DVM, MSpVM, DACVS and Sherman O. Canapp Jr., DVM, MS, DACVS break down just how complex those sets of joints are on vetsportsmedicine.com: “The carpus (foot) is composed of three articulations: the antebrachiocarpal joint, the middle carpal joint and the carpometacarpal joint. The majority of carpal range of motion is at the antebrachiocarpal joint, while the middle carpal and carpometacarpal joints have minimal range of motion.”

They continue, “The tarsal joint is complex and composed of four articulations: the tibiotarsal joint, proximal intertarsal joint, distal intertarsal joint and tarsometatarsal joint. The majority of tarsal range of motion, about 80 percent occurs at the tibiotarsal joint. The tarsal joint is supported by numerous ligaments, including the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, dorsal and plantar ligaments.”

Carpal and tarsal joint injuries are quite common in dogs that participate in agility. The joints act as shock absorbers and are prone to injury because of their anatomic complexity and lack of muscle support. In short, they are taking a constant beating.

If your dog is an agility dog or leads an active lifestyle, i Love Dogs Glucosamine & Chondroitin with Green Tea and Reishi will help keep your dog running, jumping and fetching well into his golden years.

Why?

Because i Love Dogs Glucosamine & Chondroitin with Green Tea and Reishi is a premium, veterinarian-formulated supplement that supports joint function and cartilage health. It may reduce inflammation and relieve joint pain brought on by activity.

i Love Dogs Glucosamine and Chondroitin contains green tea and reishi mushroom—both powerful antioxidants known to reduce cell damage, slow the process of aging and reduce the risk of chronic, degenerative diseases like arthritis. They provide natural cartilage protection and anti-inflammatory support, both key factors in maintaining joint health.

Green Tea and reishi also help with cartilage repair. The anti-inflammatory benefits of green tea and reishi far surpass those of other common joint supplement additives.

i Love Dogs Glucosamine & Chondroitin with Green Tea and Reishi is tailor-dosed to accommodate dogs of all sizes and weights. Accurate dosing is crucial to ensure dogs are getting the maximum benefits of the supplement.

Ultra-palatable i Love Dogs Glucosamine & Chondroitin with Green Tea and Reishi comes in chewable liver-flavored tablets that taste like treats, so your dog will love taking them every day.

Click here to order some today!

PHOTO: jzabloski

Sonya Simpkins

Sonya Simpkins is a contributing writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. In her spare time, she loves to take her dogs for long hikes and treks to the beach, out to eat and on long road trips across the county. She then turns those adventures into useful advice for other dog parents who also love to take their dogs with them wherever they go.