Hyaluronic Acid for Dog Arthritis: Why I Give My Dog Hyaluronic Acid
It took me longer to learn how to pronounce it than making the decision to try a hyaluronic acid supplement for my dog.
Arthritis is inflammation of the joint(s). Inflammation and degeneration combine to cause friction. Friction leads to pain and further inflammation. So what would happen if you could reduce friction? And how would you do it?
Joint anatomy
If you take a look at the joint anatomy, you will find that a joint consists of
- the bones it connects
- ligaments
- and cartilage
The joint is enclosed in a capsule that contains synovial fluid. Simplified, the cartilage in the joint serves as a shock absorber and synovial fluid as a lubricant. Together, [hyaline] cartilage and synovial fluid facilitate smooth movement and reduce friction.
Synovial fluid
Synovial fluid is an egg white-like viscous substance—a joint lubricant. Further, because cartilage doesn’t have its own blood supply, it receives nutrients for its growth and maintenance from synovial fluid. It also appears that synovial fluid even has antioxidant activity.
For our purposes, we’re going to talk about two components of synovial fluid – water and hyaluronic acid.
Water
Water is essential for your dog’s entire body to function. Insufficient hydration can increase joint pain. 70-80% of the cartilage itself consists of water. Synovial fluid contains water.
Further, dehydration can trigger inflammation.
Hyaluronic acid (HA)
HA is a naturally occurring substance that readily binds with water to form a jelly-like material contributing to the function of synovial fluid. One gram of hyaluronic acid can hold up to six liters of water!
Hyaluronic acid is continuously made and replaced in the body—it doesn’t stay viable for a very long time. In addition, with age, your dog’s body production of HA slows down.
Can a supplement make up for it? That had been my main question.
Hyaluronic acid for dog arthritis
When the veterinarian treated my dog’s knees with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, he included hyaluronic acid in the injection. He believed it would increase the benefit.
The bottom line is that the treatment worked, and the knees are in great shape now. Naturally, we have no way of knowing whether either the platelets or the HA would have worked just as well alone. However, our veterinarian believed they complement each other. But isn’t it one thing to inject it directly into the joint and another to give it orally?
It seems, though, that the digestive process doesn’t dismantle HA, and it can indeed make it to the places that need it.
Further reading: Evaluating PRP Treatment for Dogs
HA oral supplementation
I am a skeptic by nature. However, I am open to trying things that can benefit and won’t cause any harm. Hyaluronic acid is one of those things—either it works, or it doesn’t, no harm done.
While injections might be more effective, it is a much bigger ordeal to put my dog through. Taking a pill is like—well, taking a pill.
When my dog’s elbows were treated with PRP—without the HA this time—she improved significantly. As time went along, though, she started looking sore. She is very hard on her body. We might repeat the PRP treatment at some point, but in her case, it involves anesthesia. Therefore, I’d like to put it off or avoid it if possible.
Further reading: Front Leg Lameness in a Rottweiler
Many dog joint supplements include hyaluronic acid in their ingredients. I felt that I wanted to increase HA supplementation without increasing anything else. So I got my hands on human-grade hyaluronic acid caps and added that to my dog’s regime.
In my observation, her elbows are feeling better.
Have you used oral hyaluronic acid for your dog’s arthritis?
Related articles:
Canine Arthritis Strategies Roundup
Further reading:
The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid for Dogs
I always thought hyaluronic acid was designed for anti-aging for people’s skin. What a surprise to learn it can help with arthritis in dogs.
I honestly never knew about hyaluronic acid other than beauty products for humans. I’m happy that using hyaluronic acid for your dog worked well to relieve their pain.
Some of dog joint supplements contain hyaluronic acid along with other compounds. I wanted to test upping the dosage but adding it by itself. Anecdotally, it has helped greatly.
I think I need to get some hyaluronic acid for my dogs as well as myself! I just don’t know what dosage for my dogs since they are so small.
My dog is large, so I went by human dosage. This place, though, seems to have dosages by pounds https://www.relievet.com/blogs/tips/hyaluronic-acid-for-dogs-side-effects-dosage
Have never heard of it and am going to read more about it although I have no worries with Layla at the moment.
That’s a pretty good endorsement for using hyaluronic acid for treating arthritis in dogs. I’ll be curious to see the results over time. Thankfully, my dog isn’t too bad right now with arthritis. He stretches his back, which could be arthritis. I will definitely keep this in mind.
Yes, I use Hyaluronic acid as part of my senior dog’s supplement protocol. It’s hard to tell if it helps or not, mostly since I use it in conjunction with other supplements.
I have not yet used hyaluronic acid with my pets. I’m not sure it was available as a choice for my childhood dog. It sounds like a great choice though! I like that it is a naturally occuring substance and that it is available in pill form. A pill is so much easier than anesthesia for most pets. I would definitely try the pill first. As you said, if it doesn’t work, then it just doesn’t work.
You did make me laugh! Yes, it took me several attempts to negotiate the word!
From what you say, and your careful observation, this Hyaluronic acid seems to be beneficial and if it eases discomfort or pain then it is definitely worth considering. No-one wants their dog to have its mobilty restricted when you and your dog love to go for good walks or your dog enjoys a good run around.
Would it work for cats do you know? Or is this better for larger animals like (many) dogs?
Any animal that has synovial joints might benefit from hyaluronic acid supplementation. There seem to be specific products for cats, such as Hyalogic Hyaflex for Cats. That one is in liquid form.