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The Science Behind Glucosamine: How it Helps Your Dog's Joint Health

The Science Behind Glucosamine: How it Helps Your Dog's Joint Health

Did you know that Glucosamine is a helpful ingredient for maintaining healthy, agile joints in our furry companions? It's a nutrient found in numerous dog joint supplements. If you're hearing the term ‘Glucosamine’ for the first time and finding yourself a bit puzzled – no worries at all. We're here to break it down for you...

Joint supplements for dogs

We love seeing our dogs bursting with energy, playfully darting around, and enjoying life with a wagging tail. It’s one of the highlights of being a pet parent. But as our beloved furry companions enter their golden years, we may notice a gradual decrease in their energy levels, which may indicate the onset of joint stiffness.

If you've noticed your dog having a bit more difficulty moving about, struggling to get up, catching more zzz's than they used to, or generally showing less enthusiasm, now could be the time to explore the option of introducing a joint supplement into their diet. This simple addition has the potential to make a real difference to their lives, and yours.

Glucosamine for dogs in joint supplements

A high-quality joint supplement is designed to keep our canine buddies in tip-top shape, keeping them moving freely and flexibly. But, just like any good supplement, they need to pack a punch with some nutrient-rich ingredients. And that's where Glucosamine steps into the spotlight.

What is Glucosamine and why is it important?

Glucosamine is a compound that’s naturally present in your dog’s body, made up of glucose and amino acids that our bodies produce, and it plays a key role in supporting our dog’s joint structure.

In scientific circles, Glucosamine is the precursor to the Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) – GAGs are the important building blocks of cartilage and include Hyaluronic Acid, a key component of synovial fluid. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber, helping to cushion your dog’s bones and joints as they move. Meanwhile, synovial fluid helps lubricate and cushion your dog’s joints, allowing them to continue to sprint across a park or leap up to catch a ball without a second thought.

What are the benefits of Glucosamine in dog joint supplements?

Here’s a brief rundown of how Glucosamine can help your dog’s joint health:

  • Maintains healthy joints – Just like us, our pups need their joints to be in top condition for those fun playdates. Glucosamine helps maintain this by supporting joint structure in cartilage. It's like a little body mechanic for your furry friend.

  • Keeps them moving – Mobility is key for our dogs' health and happiness. By supporting joint health, Glucosamine can help ensure that your dog continues to wag their tail and chase after their favorite toy.

  • Lubricates joints – Glucosamine helps support the production of Hyaluronic Acid, which is a constituent of synovial fluid – our body's natural joint lubricant. It's like adding a touch of oil to a creaky hinge, allowing for smoother movement.

Giving Glucosamine to your dog

It’s amazing to see our dogs bound around, full of life and energy, whether they're playful pups or dignified seniors. But all that work and play can be tough on their joints, and we know that cartilage plays a key role in shock absorption for our pets. That's where joint supplements containing Glucosamine come into the picture. They're not just for our older canines, but also for younger dogs and those lively adults who love to stay on the move.

Now, you might be thinking, "Great, but what form should I get?"

When it comes to giving your dog Glucosamine supplements, you'll find a range of options to choose from. Whether it's tasty tablets or convenient one-a-day chews, finding the right form depends on your furry friend's preferences. It's worth giving them a try to see how well they respond.

The Science Behind Glucosamine and Chondroitin

While you’re now fully up to speed on why Glucosamine is such a helpful component in supporting your dog’s joint health, we’ve not yet touched on its equally useful counterpart, Chondroitin. This key ingredient is often paired with Glucosamine in joint supplements to help support your dog's cartilage and maintain joint health for a comfortable and active life.

When combined, Glucosamine and Chondroitin form a synergistic team that helps support their joint health, helping to keep your dog's joints cushioned, and allowing them to stay active and healthy. Just the way you like them.

Green Lipped Mussel

On our quest for top-tier ingredients, we discovered the amazing emerald-colored gem – Green Lipped Mussel (GLM). Packed with Omega-3s, supporting the body’s natural inflammatory response. However, quality varies, so we dedicated 15 years of research to find our GLM which we use within our unique YuMOVE formulation. The result is a carefully selected GLM, a source of Chondroitin and with a unique blend of Omega-3s, to nurture your dog's joint health. What’s more, our Green Lipped Mussel has been given a name you won’t find elsewhere: ActivEase® Green Lipped Mussel.

Our unique GLM works alongside Glucosamine and other ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, Manganese, and Vitamins C and E, to create a powerhouse of mobility support. And the best news? YuMOVE Joint Care’s scientifically proven formula delivers results in just 6 weeks* to help your beloved dog keep living their very best life.

If you’ve got any questions about Glucosamine, or any of the ingredients in the YuMOVE formula, you can get in touch with our friendly team via phone or email. We’d love to hear from you.

*YuMOVE Joint Care is scientifically proven to work in 6 weeks by an in vivo, double-blind, placebo-controlled, objectively measured canine clinical study by the Royal Veterinary College UK (excludes YuMOVE for Young Dogs).