It is an unfortunate fact that almost all canines will contract arthritis to some degree as they get older. There is no cure or way to stop the progression completely once the disease begins. This is true in both people and canines. The osteoarthritis joint disease that humans suffer from is exactly the same form as that which afflicts dogs. If you suspect your pet may be suffering from joint arthritis, take him or her to the vet for a complete diagnosis.

If the veterinarian does determine that your pet is suffering from joint arthritis, he may suggest several treatment alternatives. Unfortunately, many veterinarians suggest prescription medications to treat joint arthritis. Although these medicines act very quickly to relieve the pain in which the dog is suffering from, they do nothing to address the overall issue which the arthritis is causing.

The joint disease affects dogs and people by causing the cartilage within the joints to deteriorate and become very thin. When this happens, the bones touch and their sensitive nerve endings cause pain. The prescription medicines simply act to block this pain and do nothing in the way of helping the body rebuild or regenerate the tissue that has been damaged. That is one drawback to these drugs but a more important reason for being wary of giving them to your dogs is the fact that they often have severe side effects. In fact, there are many documented cases where the side effects have even led to the death of the animal. Although this is relatively rare, it's common enough that you should be concerned for your pet if these prescribed medications are suggested.

Different breeds in different dogs will of course experience varying degrees of the side effects. It could be that your specific pet reacts very favorably to these drugs and has no detrimental effects. If that's the case, then by all means continue using drugs. But in the early stages of giving the dog his daily dosage, always be aware and alert for any possible reactions the dog maybe having. Ask your vet before beginning the drugs what to watch out for with respect to the known and common side effects that particular medicine may bring on.

When your dog is first diagnosed with the joint disease by the veterinarian it's best to ask the vet the in if they supplementation product such as glucosamine with MSM for dogs would be advisable. It's quite possible the Dr. will be agreeable to first trying the safe and inexpensive supplements before attempting to use the possibly dangerous prescribed alternatives. Be aware however, that using glucosamine to treat canine arthritis is not a quick fix solution. These supplements do not hide or cover up the pain and require several weeks to several months before any benefits can be seen. They require time for the body to use the building blocks they supply to rebuild and regenerate the tissues which have been damaged by the osteoarthritis disease.