Whether you’re looking for personal protection dogs for sale or you already have one, it’s crucial that you keep any protection dog in optimal health. A dog that has health issues, such as stiff joints or arthritis, can’t provide the best possible protection. For your safety, you need to keep your dog’s health, particularly its joint health, in mind.
One of the most common recommendations to keep a dog’s joints healthy is glucosamine. But not all sources of glucosamine are created equal, as there are quite a few ineffective options out there. In this guide, you’ll learn why glucosamine is so important and the best source for your personal protection dog.
How Glucosamine Works
Glucosamine is a substance produced by both dog and human bodies, and it combines an amino acid called glutamine with a sugar called glucose, hence the name. The substance leads to the creation of cartilage in a dog’s joints.
The problem is that aging causes a dog’s body to gradually reduce its glucosamine production. This means less cartilage in its joints, which can reduce mobility. The joints also won’t be able to absorb the same amount of shock.
You can avoid these issues by making sure your personal protection dogs get more glucosamine as they get older. Glucosamine is found in certain foods and in supplements, but it’s important to choose the right source.
Sources of Glucosamine to Avoid
Although there are veterinary glucosamine supplements available, these aren’t a good choice. They tend to be expensive and they don’t come from natural sources. They’re synthetically made, and a dog’s body often won’t recognize a synthetic supplement like it would if the supplement was coming from a natural source.
What often happens with synthetic supplements is it does some good when the dog starts taking them, but that’s only because the dog’s glucosamine receptor sites are looking for anything they can get. But the synthetic glucosamine clogs those sites, which means they can’t function correctly. After that initial improvement, the protection dog’s issues will come back.
There are also dry dog foods that claim they have glucosamine and provide joint support. If you check the nutrition facts on the packaging, you’ll find that the actual glucosamine amount in the kibble is very small. With a 50-pound dog, you’d need to feed it approximately 1,000 milligrams of glucosamine supplement per day, and dry foods don’t contain anywhere near that in one serving.
Effective Sources of Glucosamine for Personal Protection Dogs
Now that you know the glucosamine sources to avoid, let’s look at the good sources that will help your dog. The best option is whole foods with high glucosamine content. Here are several of the best options, and when you feed these to your protection dog, make sure that you feed raw, as this results in the most nutritional benefits.
Trachea
Although beef trachea tends to be the most readily available, you may also find goat, lamb, or ostrich trachea. One thing they all have in common is high glucosamine content because they consist of cartilage. An injectable glucosamine supplement, Adequan, has a trachea as its active ingredient but simply feeding your dog a trachea is a more effective and less expensive option.
Ox and Pig Tails
These are yummy snacks that consist of cartilage with a bit of meat surrounding it. The meat will get your dog’s attention, and the cartilage will help its joints.
Poultry Feet
Chicken feet are the most common choice, but there are also duck, goose, guinea fowl, and turkey feet out there. Each can serve as a quick snack or an addition to your dog’s dinner.
Beef Knuckles
These bones provide a substantial amount of cartilage, and they’re good for your protecting dog’s teeth. Your dog could chew on a large bone for hours. Just make sure that you monitor it to avoid choking.
Bone Broths
A bone broth is a great way to add glucosamine to your dog’s meals. Making a bone broth is simple, although it can take about a day for the broth to be ready. Start by filling either a slow cooker or a pot with your bones of choice, apple cider vinegar, and water. Most of the liquid should be water, but about 4 tablespoons of vinegar or some lemon juice will help draw the nutrients from the bones.
Let the mixture cook for at least 24 hours, and then strain out the bones. Give the mixture some time to cool, and then you can add a few spoonfuls to your dog’s dry food whenever you want. Since bone broth is so good for your dog, it’s a good idea to make plenty of it. Store whatever you can use in the next few days in your fridge, and store the rest in your freezer.
Other Joint Support Options to Consider
The whole foods listed above are some of the best options for getting your protection dog more glucosamine, but there are a few other foods and spices you can try to help with your dog’s joints.
Organic turmeric has curcumin, which has been shown to help people with knee osteoarthritis. You can add a few teaspoons of turmeric to your protection dog’s food, but check with your vet first, as it could cause negative effects when interacting with certain medications.
Ginger is also known for reducing arthritis pain. Add it to your dog’s food by mincing the root and putting between ¼ to ¾ teaspoon in, depending on the size of your dog. This can thin the blood, and if your dog has a heart condition or diabetes, ask your vet before feeding it gingerly.
Blueberries have antioxidants that fight inflammation. Your protection dog can have these as a snack or part of its meals.
There are plenty of excellent personal protection dogs for sale. When you get one, make sure you keep its joints in good shape by adding some glucosamine to its diet, if necessary.
