March is often associated with the color green. We think of green shamrocks and leprechauns, wear our green clothing, and might eat green food this month. It's also a great time to focus on your dog's joint health and think about our favorite green: New Zealand Green-lipped mussel. Green-lipped mussel is a powerful ingredient in Glyde Mobility Chews and is a natural and effective way to support healthy joints and reduce inflammation. Let's dive into the proven ingredients of Glyde, and how adding Glyde to your dog's diet is a great way to keep your dog healthy while celebrating the month of green with your furry friend!
Arthritis in dogs, also known as osteoarthritis (OA), is a joint disease that affects people as well as dogs. Arthritis in dogs can be as painful for our fur-babies as it is for us. Unfortunately, for most of our beloved furry friends, arthritis will happen. However, there are things you can do to help minimize the risk of it happening to your dog. Just as it is in humans, once the degradation of cartilage in the joints starts happening, it cannot be reversed. The good news is that it is treatable, and you can do things to make your dog feel better.
Check out the Glyde Ingredients Infographic here!
Dogs at Risk for Arthritis
First, let’s talk about which dogs are most at risk. While 80% of dogs will show signs of arthritis by age 8, some dogs show signs as early as the age of one year. It’s easy to say larger dogs are the most at risk, there are still smaller dogs who are at risk as well. Arthritis in dogs is usually seen as an old age, senior dog thing. This is certainly true that the older the dog, the more likely they will get arthritis. But there are other dogs who have arthritis at younger ages, as they start adulthood.
Dogs are disguise artists. They hide pain easily. They live to meet our needs. Some dogs will show no symptoms because they don’t want their humans to worry about them. Some dogs will show symptoms if you know what to look for. With no words to speak, you have to read their minds. Look for these tell-tale signs of arthritis:
- Stiffness, lameness, or limping after lying down
- Reluctance to run upstairs, jump or play
- Changes in appetite
- Sudden irritability when touched or petted
- Loss of muscle mass in the rear limbs
We all know our dogs love to play and be active. If they are not doing that as much, you may want to start now to try and help them get back to their playful puppy way of life. For more information on arthritis, including risk factors and what to look for, check out our article, The 4 Signs of Arthritis in Dogs.
Treatments for arthritis in Dogs
There are many ways you can treat a dog with arthritis. This includes joint supplements, weight management, activity modification, medications, holistic approaches like chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture, and even in the worst cases, surgery. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine which treatment fits you best:
- Is your dog a healthy weight? If your dog is overweight according to the AKC healthy breed chart, start with helping them lose the extra pounds.
- Is your dog active? If your dog just goes outside to do their business, and wants back in after, that is not enough activity to keep their joints healthy. Try taking them on walks more often or introduce some high activity games to get their step counts up. Just like humans, dogs get stiff if they lay around all day. Encourage more activity in their daily lives. It's good for you, and for them!
- Do you enjoy pampering your dog? Reward them for all those active steps and give them a good massage. There are professional dog massagers that can do it too, but start with your own massage.
- Do you prefer taking medications or vitamins? If you prefer taking a vitamin or supplement, consider adding a high-quality joint supplement to your dog's diet. Medications are good for short periods of time. But they come with risks and are not ideal or often safe for long term treatments, like dealing with arthritis.
Joint supplements are one of the best long-term, safe treatments you can easily add to your dog's diet. When looking for the best joint supplement for dogs, be sure to check the ingredients. And while you are looking at those ingredients, be sure to notice how much there is in each chew or pill of the joint supplement you choose. Joint supplements for both humans and dogs commonly include glucosamine and chondroitin. Look for additional ingredients that pack power like Green Lipped Mussel (GLM).
Glyde™ Mobility Chews are veterinarian recommended because their key ingredients help reduce inflammation and pain, improve function, and slow progression of joint damage through arthritis. While there are other joint supplements out there, none have the high levels of the proven ingredients as Glyde does. Here are the key ingredients of Glyde Mobility Chews.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine was discovered in 1876 and used clinically in Europe since the 1960s.Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound used to alleviate pain and stiffness by suppressing inflammation in the arthritic joint, inhibiting cartilage degradation, and boosting the repair of damaged cartilage. Unlike medications, glucosamine has proven safe for long-term use. Adding a joint supplement with glucosamine can be helpful as an early intervention for dogs predisposed to osteoarthritis, as well as a treatment for dogs suffering from progressive joint damage. Glyde contains 600mg of glucosamine to reduce cartilage deterioration.
Chondroitin
Chondroitin Sulfate has been used in Europe to treat arthritis for over 20 years. Chondroitin eases pain while still being a building block for joints. Chondroitin sulfate is another natural substance aimed at stimulating cartilage repair and is often used in conjunction with glucosamine. Chondroitin reduces pain, improves joint function and mobility, and reduces arthritis progression. Chondroitin sulfate can be obtained from many sources, such as fish, pigs, cattle, birds, and sharks. Glyde contains 300mg of chondroitin to help rebuild cartilage.
Green Lipped Mussel (GLM)
Green-lipped mussel is a shellfish native to the pristine waters of New Zealand and known for its anti-inflammatory properties. GLM is not something new and the immense health benefits associated with them have already been proven in humans. Adults already take advantage of this supplement to help relieve the signs of aging, especially when arthritis and swollen joints are an issue. Pets should have that opportunity as well.
GLM contains beneficial nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which have natural anti-inflammatory and joint-protecting properties to help reduce joint pain and improve mobility. Studies have shown that combined with glucosamine and chondroitin, it can help decrease pain and preserve joint function. Glyde contains 760mg of GLM per chew to reduce joint pain and inflammation.
Protect Today for a Healthier Tomorrow
Your dog may already be showing signs of arthritis, or you may be happily centered in the puppy stage still. Arthritis is a silent disease that steals the mobility, independence and freedom of your dog. But it doesn't have to. Protecting joints today helps your dog live their best life by preventing joint health problems tomorrow.
Glyde Mobility Chews provides the three key ingredients of green-lipped mussel, glucosamine and chondroitin, all at scientifically proven levels. The best thing is Glyde is safe for long-term use! Glyde can be used during all stages in a dog’s life, starting in young dogs as a preventative and ongoing throughout their dog’s lives to maintain healthy joints. Protecting your dog’s joints with the best joint supplement is an ongoing, daily commitment. Our dogs give us so much to add to our lives. Invest back in them what they need that will help ensure a good quality of life and time for many more adventures together.
Check out the Glyde Ingredients Infographic below!
