Glucosamine Chondroitin

As we age, our bodies tend to slow down and produce less of the gooey liquid called synovial fluid, which lubricates our joints. Synovial fluid is like a clear and slippery water that’s full of lipids (essential fats) and proteins, which cushion the cartilage, allowing the joints to move effortlessly. As these essential fluids decrease, wear on the cartilage increases, causing joint pains, weakness and inflammation.

Joint pain is extremely common and can prohibit one from living a full and active life. Whether caused by age, arthritis or an injury, the loss of the lubricants in your joins can decrease the enjoyment of activities you used to love, and make even the simplest task a painful chore. There are those that succumb to joint pains and simply give up activities they once enjoyed, and there are those that suffer through it silently, accepting the pain as an inevitability of the aging process.

The good news is you don’t have to suffer with joint pains! There are things you can do right now to help not only eliminate pain, but to actually restore joint mobility and promote joint lubrication. Some believe that expensive viscosupplementation, a process of injecting fluid directly into the joint cavity, is the only way to get fast relief from joint pains, but the results usually are not long lasting, and the process can be expensive. There are a myriad supplements and vitamins on the market today that promise relief from joint pains, and many show potential.

The problem with typical pain-relief medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, is that they only mask joint pain, allowing you temporary relief, but the underlying cause of joint pains remains. Joint supplements, on the other hand, like glucosamine and chondroitin, work to rebuild lost cartilage that results from loss of joint lubrication. Doesn’t it make more sense to address the root of the problem, not just a symptom, such as only the pain? Chances are that while you are treating only the pain, you may be compounding the damage to your joints so that when the pain medication wears off, your body is even weaker.

While still undergoing some major testing, the effects of glucosamine and chondroitin look promising, with patients claiming to have less joint pain than those who took a placebo. These joint supplements also have very low risks or side effects, making them even more appealing. Some joint pain sufferers swear by Omega-3 fatty acids, found in either supplement form or naturally in fish and flaxseeds. Research may indicate that fatty acids may be the key to improving joint lubrication and mobility. Increasing the amino-acids in your body may also help to encourage your body to produce collagen, also essential in forming ligaments and joints.

If you experience joint pains, you know first-hand that the simple movements that others may take for granted may be obstacles for you. That doesn’t mean that you have to be doomed to an existence of chronic pain. Ask a nutritionist or pharmacist to direct you to the supplements that may free you from your joint pains for good.

Intelligent. Patient. Tolerant. Mild mannered. Loyal.

With traits like these, is it any wonder the Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed of dog in the world? Since 1991, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular registered breed in the United States, as well. They are gentle, affable and intelligent and considered by many to be the perfect family pet. They’re also known for their working ability and are the most popular breed of working and guide dog in the United States, as well!

With good medical care and proper feeding, you can expect your Lab to live upwards of 13 years. It is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems… but, like other full-breed dogs, they are susceptible to certain inherited disorders, particularly those of the hip, elbow and knee. While not as common in Labs as in other breeds, dysplasia is also a concern.

Labs are somewhat prone to dysplasia of the hip and elbow, especially in larger dogs. Indeed, hip dysplasia is the most common genetic problem affecting dogs of all breeds. Canine hip dysplasia is a general term for the malformation of the hip joint that eventually leads to arthritis. This malformation occurs when the two parts of the hip joint – the ball (femoral head at the top of the upper leg bone) and socket (the “dented” area of the pelvic structure) are misaligned or misshapen. Dogs suffering from dysplasia are not as active as they could be due to significant pain. Often, the only cure for dysplasia is costly surgery to replace the dysplastic hip joint.

Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A “luxating patella” is a common occurrence in the knee that results in the leg being “bow “shaped. This abnormality can cause abnormal wear and tear on the joint, resulting in the development of painful osteoarthritis for some Labs.

The only way to decrease the prevalence of these disorders is through conscientious breeding practices. However, even the most vigilant breeders cannot eliminate these genetic disorders altogether. There’s no way of knowing whether an animal will develop a joint disorder later in life.

Regular trips to the veterinarian can play an important role in early detection and early treatment of problems. Unfortunately, the most commonly prescribed treatment for animals suffering from genetic disorders such as hip dysplasia is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As in humans, these medications provide temporary relief by decreasing inflammation, but not without a host of potential side effects.

There is an alternative, however.

Supplementation with glucosamine and chondroitin – the natural building blocks of healthy cartilage – offers relief from pain with long-term healing and little risk of side effects. Like NSAIDs, glucosamine and chondroitin decrease inflammation but they also give damaged joints the raw materials needed to build new cartilage, resulting in true relief from pain.