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