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of movement. Our pets, too, need healthy joints to jump and frolic in a game of catch, or even to loyally
run at our side. Also, with old age comes a slow deterioration of the cartilage that lubricates our joints,
and activities that we once took for granted now become difficult and painful with arthritis. However, this
seemingly inevitable decline can be slowed, or even stopped, by keeping the body supplied with the
proper nutrients for continued cartilage production and by suppressing the enzymes that naturally break
down cartilage.
Chondrocytes are the cells that produce and maintain our bodies’ cartilage. Articular cartilage, or the
cartilage found in joints, is comprised of collagen, proteoglycans, and water. Collagen is a resilient, chain-
like protein that provides elasticity. Proteoglycans are proteins with sugar residues which absorb water
and provide lubrication and resiliency. The ingredients in FelixDog are specially selected to provide the
building blocks for continued cartilage production and the maintenance of existing cartilage, improving the
quality of life for your aging pet.
FelixDog contains glucosamine and hydrolyzed collagen, the building blocks of cartilage, in a form that is
readily available for incorporation into deteriorating joints. In addition, FelixDog contains chondroitin,
which protects already-formed cartilage from destruction from naturally-occurring enzymes. FelixDog
also contains hyaluronic acid to maintain the synovial fluid that cushions and lubricates the joints.
FelixDog is the top choice for pet owners who won’t let arthritis and joint degradation affect the active
and fulfilled lives of their pets.
 | GLUCOSAMINE |
- Glucosamine is composed of glucose (a sugar) and glutamine (an amino acid). It is utilized by
chondrocytes to form glycosaminoglycans (GSG) and proteoglycans (PG). Both of these
constituents attract and bind water into cartilage, increasing resiliency. Research indicates that
glucosamine may actually help your body repair damaged or eroded cartilage. A number of studies
have been conducted on glucosamine sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride, with a
preponderance of positive results.
Glucosamine sulfate is considered the more effective of the two. One study from the University of
Liege in Liege, Belgium studied the effects of glucosamine sulfate on 212 patients with knee
osteoarthritis. Participants took either 1,500 mg glucosamine or a placebo once daily for three
years. The study compared joint-space width at enrollment, one year, and at the study’s
conclusion. The 106 patients on placebo had a progressive joint-space narrowing, while
participants taking glucosamine experienced no significant joint-space loss, indicating glucosamine
may beneficially modify cartilage structure. A study published in the journal Osteoarthritis and
Cartilage in 1998 investigated the in vitro effects of glucosamine sulfate on proteoglycan and
collagen production by chondrocytes taken from osteoarthritic articular cartilage. The results
showed “a statistically significant stimulation of PG production by chondrocytes from human
osteoarthritic cartilage cultured for up to 12 days in 3-dimensional cultures.” Another study from
Italy enrolled eighty inpatients with established OA. They received either 1,500 mg of glucosamine
sulfate or placebo daily for 30 days. The patients treated with glucosamine sulfate experienced a
reduction in symptoms almost twice as large and twice as fast as those receiving placebo.
Researchers also used electron microscopy of patient’s articular cartilage to support this
hypothesis. Patients who received glucosamine sulfate showed a picture more similar to healthy
cartilage. The researchers concluded that glucosamine sulfate tends to rebuild damaged articular
cartilage and restore articular function.
| CHONDROITIN |
- Chondroitin is classified as a glycosaminoglycan. It bonds with collagen to form the basis of
connective tissue. Chondroitin helps attract fluid into proteoglycans, thereby bringing nutrients into
cartilage and providing shock absorption. Most importantly, it serves as a chondroprotective agent
by protecting the cartilage against enzymatic reactions and free radical damage (including the nitric
oxide released by chondrocytes). Chondroitin works synergistically with glucosamine, and these
two nutrients form the basis of most joint health supplements on the market today. A 6-month
randomized, multi-center, double-blind, double-dummy study published in 1996 compared the
effectiveness of chondroitin versus a popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in
patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). One hundred and forty-six patients with knee OA were
recruited and separated into two groups; an NSAID group and a chondroitin sulfate (CS) group.
The NSAID group was given the NSAID and a placebo for the first month, then placebo alone for
months 2-3. The CS group was given the NSAID and CS for the first month, and then CS alone
for months 2-3. Both groups were then given 1200mg of CS for months 4-6. “Patients treated
with the NSAID showed prompt and plain reduction of clinical symptoms, which, however,
reappeared after the end of treatment; in the CS group, the therapeutic response appeared later in
time but lasted for up to 3 months after the end of treatment. CS seems to have slow but gradually
increasing clinical activity in OA; these benefits last for a long period after the end of treatment.”
| HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN |
- 40% of the dry weight of articular cartilage is made up of Type II collagen. Collagen is a long,
fibrous structural protein that gives cartilage its strength and toughness. This is essential to cushion
joints from shocks and stress, but also makes it difficult for the body to digest and process. Thus,
the cartilage in FelixDog is hydrolyzed or cleaved into small fragments for easy absorption and
incorporation by the body.
| HYALURONIC ACID |
- Synovial fluid cushions and lubricates the joints. During the progression of arthritis, the synovial
fluid breaks down into smaller units, thereby decreasing its lubricating and shock absorbing
abilities. Hyaluronic acid is the main component of synovial fluid, and FDA tests have shown that
hyaluronic acid injections are safe and effective. FelixDog contains hyaluronic acid to help your
pet’s body replenish its own synovial fluid, thereby protecting and lubricating the joints.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this site has been compiled from many studies and research papers for the purpose of offering
consumers information about the value of our supplements. None of the information herein should be construed as a claim for cure,
treatment or prevention of any disease. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health
problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. All matters regarding physical health should be referred to your own
veterinarian. The statements in this web site regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration.
