Vegan Dog Food with Glucosamine and MSM: A Comprehensive Guide

Dog Food with Glucosamine and MSM – Multiple Health Benefits

What exactly are Glucosamine and MSM and why would you want them added to your dog’s food?

Explore the science-backed benefits of Glucosamine and Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) for canine health in this comprehensive guide. We delve into what these compounds are, their sources, types, and bioavailability, while highlighting their role in enhancing various aspects of dog health. Moreover, we discuss the environmental sustainability of these nutrient compounds, demonstrating why incorporating Glucosamine and MSM in vegan dog food trumps using them as separate supplements.

What are Glucosamine and MSM?

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring compound in the body that plays a vital role in building cartilage, a flexible connective tissue found in joints, intervertebral discs, and other parts of the body (1). Additionally, glucosamine is used to treat various bone and joint disorders, including arthritis and osteoarthritis (2).

Methylsulfonylmethane, more commonly known as MSM, is a sulphur-containing compound found naturally in plants, animals, and humans (3). It is used as a dietary supplement to alleviate a variety of symptoms and conditions, including joint pain, inflammation, and boosting immunity (4).

What Are The Sources of Glucosamine and MSM?

Glucosamine is naturally found in the fluid around the joints, in animal bones, bone marrow, shellfish, and fungi. However, for vegan dog food, the sources must be plant-based. One such source is a vegan-friendly glucosamine derived from non-GMO corn, which is not only vegan but also more environmentally friendly than glucosamine derived from chitin or citric-biomass. (5)

On the other hand, MSM can be derived from various natural sources, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and even cow’s milk (6). In vegan dog food, the MSM is derived from plants.

Different Types of Glucosamine and MSM

Glucosamine comes in several forms, including glucosamine sulphate, glucosamine hydrochloride, and N-acetyl glucosamine (7). MSM, however, typically exists in one form as a dietary supplement.

Which Glucosamine and MSM for Dogs – Most Effective

The most commonly used form of glucosamine in supplements is glucosamine sulphate, which is believed to be more effectively absorbed in the body than other forms (8). As for MSM, its bioavailability is generally high and consistent, and there are no known forms that are more effective than others.

Areas of Dog Health That Glucosamine and MSM Impact

Glucosamine and MSM can benefit various areas of a dog’s health. Glucosamine can help to reduce inflammation, support healthy joints, treat bone and joint disorders, and even support eye health.

MSM, meanwhile, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing joint pain and stiffness, speeding recovery after exercise, alleviating arthritis symptoms, relieving allergy symptoms, boosting immunity, improving skin and coat health, and possibly even exhibiting cancer-fighting properties. It’s also been shown to reduce oxidative stress, support cartilage preservation, and improve range of motion and physical function.

1. Reduction of Inflammation: Both glucosamine and MSM have anti-inflammatory properties. Glucosamine can reduce inflammation (3, 4, 5, 18), while MSM may reduce the release of molecules associated with inflammation, such as TNF-ɑ and IL-6, and boost levels of the powerful antioxidant glutathione (4, 5, 6, 7, 86, 87, 90, 91).
2. Support of Healthy Joints: Glucosamine is involved in developing tissues crucial for proper joint function. Research indicates that supplemental glucosamine may protect your dog’s joints from damage (1, 6, 7). MSM also plays a significant role in joint health. Studies have shown it is effective in reducing joint pain, stiffness, and swelling (1, 2, 3, 86, 87, 90, 91, 132).
3. Treatment of Bone and Joint Disorders: Research shows potential for supplemental use of glucosamine to improve bone strength and minimize pain associated with joint disorders (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). MSM helps alleviate arthritis symptoms by reducing pain and stiffness, and it may also help improve physical function (12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 135, 136).
4. Support of Eye Health: Glucosamine may promote eye health via reduced inflammation and antioxidant effects in the retina (19).
5. Post-Exercise Recovery: MSM may help reduce pain, muscle damage, and oxidative stress after intense exercise, helping dogs recover more quickly (9, 10, 11, 152, 160, 161).
6. Relief of Allergy Symptoms: MSM may help reduce allergy-related symptoms such as rhinitis — including coughing, shortness of breath, congestion, sneezing, and fatigue — by reducing inflammation (15, 16, 17, 22).
7. Immunity Boost: MSM may help boost your dog’s immune system by reducing inflammation and increasing glutathione levels (18, 19, 20, 112, 113, 114).
8. Skin, Nail, and Coat Health: MSM may improve skin, nail, and coat health by strengthening keratin and reducing inflammation (21, 22).
9. Cancer-Fighting Properties: Research has shown that MSM exhibits promising cancer-fighting properties in test-tube and animal studies, but more research is needed (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31).
10. Oxidative Stress Reduction: MSM has been shown to suppress free radical activity in the body (97, 142, 143, 144 ,163, 164, 165).
11. Cartilage Preservation: MSM has been shown to slow cartilage degradation long considered to be a primary cause of osteoarthritis (86, 90, 91, 132).
12. Improved Range of Motion and Physical Function: Significant improvements in physical function and range of motion were observed in studies where MSM was included in the diet (18, 19, 135, 136).

The Most Sustainable Sources of Glucosamine and MSM

The most sustainable source of glucosamine is that derived from fermented corn. It uses significantly less water and hydrochloric acid than chitin-based glucosamine.

For MSM, the most sustainable source is derived from plants. As a naturally occurring compound in many plants, harvesting it doesn’t lead to the same environmental depletion issues as some other sources.

Glucosamine and MSM in Vegan Dog Food vs Supplements

There are several benefits to including glucosamine and MSM directly in vegan dog food rather than in supplement form. For one, it ensures that your dog is getting these beneficial compounds as part of their regular diet, reducing the risk of forgetting a supplement or of your dog refusing to take it.

Moreover, including these compounds in food form may aid in absorption, as the nutrients are mixed with other food components, particularly Vitamin C, which research shows improves the absorption of MSM .

The following is a list of the benefits a vegan dog food with Glucosamine and MSM has over giving them these exceptional, health giving nutrients as supplements to their diet.

1. Ensured Consistent Intake: By including these ingredients directly in your dog’s food, you’re ensuring a consistent, effective, intake of these vital nutrients, eliminating the possibility of forgetting to administer a separate supplement.
2. Higher Absorption: When nutrients are consumed together with food, they can often be better absorbed by the body. Integrating these bioactive ingredients directly into dog food likely results in higher bioavailability.
3. Palatability: Dogs can sometimes be picky about taking supplements. By incorporating glucosamine and MSM into the food itself, it removes the challenge of coaxing your dog to take a separate pill or capsule.
4. Cost-Efficient: Buying a separate supplement for your dog can add up over time. When these ingredients are included in your dog’s food, it might reduce the total amount you’re spending on pet care.
5. Reduced Risk of Overdosing: Overdosing on supplements can be a concern, especially if your dog manages to get into the supplement container. By having these nutrients in the food, it lowers the risk of accidental overdose.
6. Balanced Nutrition: Dog food manufacturers carefully calculate the amount of each nutrient to include in their products to provide balanced nutrition. By having glucosamine and MSM in the food, you can be confident your dog is getting the right amount through their daily meals.
7. Environmental Impact: Producing a single product (dog food with included supplements) as opposed to two separate products (dog food and supplements) should also have less of an environmental impact, contributing to more sustainable consumption practices.

The inclusion of glucosamine and MSM in vegan dog food can provide numerous health benefits for your dog, from supporting joint health to boosting immunity. By choosing a vegan dog food that sources these supplementary nutrients sustainably, you can also help to protect the environment.

In addition to these two powerful compounds, Bonza Superfood and Ancient Grains formula is the only vegan dog food with Omega-3 + DHA, EPA, DPA and Probiotics, arguably the most important ingredients to include in your dog’s diet for their best health and longest life.

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