Dosage of Glucosamine for Dogs

How much glucosamine should my 15 year old Pomeranian/Maltese dog be given? He currently receives approximately 100 mg. per day in the form of 1/2 tablet of a multiple vitamin for pets, "VitaPetSenior". (tim schoop - California)

Glucosamine falls into a category of products called "nutraceuticals" which are not in fact drugs but are used to induce a specific effect. As such, they are not regulated by the FDA and studies are more widely open to interpretation. Oral glucosamine is commonly used for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Since glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans are a major component of joint cartilage, supplemental glucosamine may help to rebuild cartilage and treat arthritis.

There are literally hundreds of glucosamine and chondroitin preparations available, with varying quantities and qualities of active ingredients. For this reason, it is hard to be very specific about the required dosage, and many vets recommend that you provide glucosamine in the form of a natural supplement, such as bone marrow powder. As a general rule you should provide approximately 250mg per 10 lbs. of dog twice per day - considerably more than you are currently giving. Please note however that you can not simply increase the dogs of "VitaPetSenior" since this will give your dog potentially unsafe levels of vitamins.