Which is Better, Glucosamine and Chondroitin or Painkillers?

Painkillers and NSAIDs

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

One of the worst illnesses a dog can ever experience is canine arthritis. This chronic condition is also called osteoarthritis, the same bone and joint degenerative condition some human beings experience. Characterized by extreme pain and joint stiffness, this ailment will surely suck the life out of your dog – it could render him immobile because ofpain and he certainly won't be able to live life to the fullest. This may be caused by a number of factors, although the most common of which is canine hip dysplasia,or the laxity of the hip joint and socket. However, there are a lot of ways in order to treat it, including medication and in extreme cases, surgery.

Currently, painkillers and non-steroidal inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDs, are being administered to bring in pain relief. Other pet owners however, resort to using glucosamine and chondroitin supplements which can also relieve pain, albeit they are capable of repairing the joints as well. Let's compare these treatment methods and find out which is better – you never know, your dog might have arthritis.

Painkillers and NSAIDs

There are currently a lot of dog-specific painkillers outthere, and most of which also have anti-inflammatoryproperties that can prevent the joints from swelling.These however, are drugs, defined as “medicine oranother substance that has a physiological effect wheneither ingested or introduced to the body”. This meansthat it interferes with the body's functions. Here are two examples of widely used NSAIDs used to treat canine arthritis:

• Firocoxib – also called previcox, this painkiller is not available over-the-counter as it has to be prescribed by a veterinarian. Mainly used for pain and inflammation for dogs, it has been approved for use by the United States' Food and Drug Administration.

• Carprofen – like Fircoxib, this painkiller has also been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It provides day-to-day treatment for bone and joint diseases, especially arthritis and hip dysplasia.

The downside of these drugs is they do not provide any long-term beneficial health effects and in fact, it is quite the contrary. Like all other NSAIDs, it has severe and oftentimes deadly side effects. Although most dogs respond well to treatment, complications like loss of appetite, vomiting, seizures, kidney damage and even liver malfunction could arise.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

These two are food supplements, which are defined as “a substance that completes or enhances something when ingested”. Unlike drugs, they do not interfere with bodily functions – they simply provide the body with nutrients. Basically exactly are these two substances?

• Glucosamine – this substance is produced naturally by the body, specifically in the joints. What this does is it supports the growth, structural stability, and functions of the joints and the cartilage in it. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage is both thin and weak, thus allowing the ball and sockets to rub against each other, causing extreme pain. Glucosamine exactly prevents thisfrom happening.

• Chondroitin – this material is also produced in the body. Its main function isto complement glucosamine by drawing water and nutrients into the joints and the cartilage.

These supplements, unlike the NSAIDs, provide long-term health effects. Not only are they able to quell the pain and inflammation, they also support the overall health and wellness of the joints. As an added plus, they do not have any harmful side effects at all!