Greetings,
Welcome to this month's issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Please pass this along to your friends!

Table of Contents:

1. Featured Articles from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
2. Bioavailability & Cleansing
3. Pet Arthritis Message Boards

Featured Pet Arthritis Content

A Guide to Glucosamine Products for Pets Canine Hip Dysplasia Stories of Users of Rimadyl Natural Arthritis Relief for Pets Recommended Books on easing arthritis pain in Pets Using Glucosamine to Ease Arthritis Pain in Pets

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Bioavailability & Cleansing

Regular readers of this chronicle know that I advocate the use of liquid glucosamine to maximize joint health in pets. I am also quick to point out that other issues such as diet and exercise are very important factors in fighting arthritis in pets.

I would like to discuss three issues here. First, the use of liquid glucosamine as a preferred supplement for joint care. Secondly, a more powerful method of "cleansing" your pet's body of damaging free radicals. This latter issue also plays an important role in dealing with your pet's arthritis. Finally, the (limited) use of mineral water in your pet's diet.

Bioavailability: Getting Your Money's Worth
In its simplest definition, the bioavailability of liquid glucosamine as opposed to other forms means "how much" your pet is actually receiving. In other words, if you are using glucosamine for your pet's arthritis, how much are they actually receiving?

There is no shortage of pill and capsule forms of glucosamine. As well, many pet food manufacturers are now adding glucosamine to their products. What we know, based on the studies to date, is that a liquid glucosamine formula is going to provide as much as 80-85% "bioavailability" to your pet's body. On the other hand, pill or capsule forms will most likely deliver as little as 15-20%. While there is some speculation as to just how much glucosamine is absorbed when added to pet food, it is likely close to the 15-20% figure. Dollar for dollar, your pet gets a greater impact on their joints when a liquid formula is used.

As well, it is notable that if the liquid formula you are using is pharmaceutical quality (98% glucosamine) and it has other "joint beneficial" ingredients, the more quickly your pet will respond when arthritis has struck.

Fighting Free Radicals: The Role of Antioxidants
It is safe to say that water plays a significant role in both pet joint care and their overall health. It helps to detoxify your pet's body and rid them of free radicals that can cause damage to their joints.

For those who have not read this series of articles, free radicals are (atoms) that I like to think of as "debris." Once formed in the body, they cause damage at the cellular level. Fortunately, the body has a defense system for fighting them called antioxidants.

Antioxidants act to halt the destruction caused by free radicals. Even though there are certain enzyme systems in the body that scavenge free radicals, the best antioxidants are vitamins E and C. Since the body cannot manufacture them, they have to be supplied in supplement form and hopefully, if you are using a liquid glucosamine it supplies both.

Water
You should not only encourage your pet to drink a lot of water, you should (if possible) use clean, filtered water. Let's face it. Letting your pet drink from a stream or "standing water" opens the door to their ingesting harmful bacteria or parasites.

I have advocated the use of distilled water since it has almost no minerals and it works to "flush" the body in a more beneficial way. If it is affordable, I suggest that you give your pet mineral water about 3-4 days a month. It does an excellent job of ridding your pet's body of toxins.

One cautionary note though. Do not use distilled water on a regular basis. Used on a long-term basis, it can act to remove essential minerals from your pet's body.

See you next time.

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Pet Arthritis Message Boards

Dogs

• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Arthritis in Dogs
• Glucosamine for Dogs

Cats

• Feline Hip Dysplasia
• Glucosamine for Cats
• Arthritis in Cats

Other Animals

• Arthritis in Other Animals

Here's a few sample posts from the Forum...

Jo
Posted on 18 Sep 2003

I started my 8 year old rottie (OCD in the elbow) and 10 year cocker spaniel who has HD on green lipped mussel extract about 3 weeks ago, both of them have been on Metacam twice weekly since the beginning of the year.

I haven't noticed an improvement in the rottie yet but he seems to have pulled a muscle or something in addition to the underlying elbow problem... But the spaniel hasn't had her Metacam for over a week now and is really perky and lively... Fingers crossed it lasts!

I have a Shetland Sheepdog and was found to have HD at 3 months. It is now 11 months old and has been taking Syn-flex for about 6 weeks having taken aloe vera and arnica prior to that. My vet had nothing but doom and gloom to offer and I hope to prove him wrong. So far it's doing ok and mobility has improved although it can't stand up on its hind legs for more than a couple of seconds at a time. I will keep giving the Syn-flex. I know it isn't a cure but I am hoping that it will help to have as normal a life as possible.

Post your own message on The Pet Arthritis Message Board now!

This concludes the November Issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Look for the next issue in your inbox on December 15th, 2003!

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Have a great November from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center and The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. See you next month!