The Pet Arthritis Chronicle
By J.R. Rogers
Greetings,
Welcome to the Twenty Second issue of The Pet Arthritis Chronicle. Please pass this along to your friends!
Table of Contents:
1. Content from The Pet Arthritis Resource Center
2. 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.
For information on arthritis in pets visit our site at http://www.arthritis-cats-dogs.comFor information on glucosamine and the leading products read The Consumers Guide to Glucosamine Products. Or you can learn more about glucosamine formula Syn-flex, our recommended glucosamine product.
Learn more about Syn-flex here!
