Caring for Pets, Disc Disease and Joint Supplements with Glucosamine and Chondroitin

In our last 6 blogs, we’ve discussed disc disease, covering
· Proprioceptive deficits,
· Chicken soup to stimulate appetite in painful dogs,
· Medication overview,
· Omega 3 Fish oil supplements,
· Homeopathy, and
· Western and Chinese Herbs.

Now, let’s cover another essential supplement for dogs with disc disease: joint supplements.

Joints in the spine
At first impression it might seem that the spine and discs are different than other joints in the body, but they are essentially the same:
· bones with cartilage over the ends,
· wrapped in a synovial membrane, and
· bathed in joint fluid.

Nourishing vertebral joints, maintaining moisture within the cartilage and disc, and maintaining healthy joint fluid is the same process in the spine as it is in the knees, hips, and all joints. Because it is the same process, joint supplements that help hips and knees also help the spine.

Joint inflammation, pain, and long-term damage
One of the roles of joint supplements is to reduce inflammation that occurs when the disc puts pressure on spinal nerves. Inflammation occurs when the pressure on the spinal nerves occurs suddenly when a disc ruptures and it occurs when disc pressure on the spine is slow and chronic, as it has been with Fleur.

Inflammation occurs because pain and cell damage caused by the disc pressure stimulates release of prostaglandins, interleukins, and alarm signaling molecules. These molecules summon white blood cells (WBC) to the damaged area. Although WBCs are helpful when there is an infection to fight, they are harmful when they invade joints. Within joints, WBCs cause harm because they release enzymes that thin the synovial fluid, and pit and destroy cartilage. The sooner the inflammation stops, the more quickly dogs with disc disease recover their proprioceptive knowledge of where their limbs are so they can walk normally. Because inflammation also causes pain, the sooner it is controlled, the sooner dogs with disc disease become pain free.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin
Two ingredients of joint supplements that benefit dogs like Fleur with inflamed discs are glucosamine and chondroitin. Glucosamine comes from the chitin or exoskeleton of shellfish such as crab, lobster, and shrimp. It’s usually safe to give glucosamine to pets with allergies to fish because the allergy-inducing proteins in the shell of the fish aren’t the same as those in the meat of the fish. Chondroitin comes from cartilage in cattle and shark trachea and lung tissue.

Glucosamine benefits to dogs with disc disease:

• stimulates cartilage to produce the mortar (glycosaminoglycans) that holds moisture around the bricks (cartilage cells),
• stimulates cartilage to produce collagen, which is similar to reinforcing fibers, within cartilage,
• and contributes to hyaluronic acid in synovial fluid.

Chondroitin benefits to dogs with disc disease:

• inhibits the white blood cell enzymes that damage cartilage,
• facilitates the absorption of nutrients into cartilage, and
• stimulates, or up-regulates, cartilage synthesis.

Chondroitin is a large molecule
Because chondroitin is a large molecule, it must be treated to make it small enough to be absorbed into the body. The best joint products contain chondroitin in the 17,000 dalton range. It’s more expensive to make chondroitin this size, but there’s no point in buying a cheaper joint product if the material cannot be absorbed. To ensure Fleur got the benefit of chondroitin, my recommendation was that she first use an injectable product, then switch to an oral product.

Injectable joint medication
When disc injury first occurs, use an injectable joint medication such as Adequan, which is 3,000-15,000 Daltons. Adequan is given every 3-5 days for 4 weeks, then it is given monthly when necessary. It does not sting and can be given into the muscle with a tiny needle without causing pain. In addition, many veterinarians give Adequan SQ, which is into the flesh just below the skin. Adequan also benefits pets with chronic joint problems, so that a dog like Fleur who has a long back and short legs and is prone to disc disease would benefit from a series of injections 2-3 times a year for life. Dogs with hip dysplasia and other chronic joint conditions would also benefit from regular injectable joint supplements.

No, I don’t sell Adequan or have stock in the Luitpold Animal Health company. I believe in their products because they work.

In a future blog, we’ll look at why joint supplements are safer and more effective for dogs with disc disease than are NSAIDs.