Supplements for arthritis in older dog

[Lovemusic33]

My girl is 11 with is getting in for her breed, she has become quite lazy over the last 6 months, the winter doesn’t help as she hates the cold and hates rain, she’s put on a bit of weight which she does every winter but she’s now struggling to jump up on the sofa and yesterday struggled to clear the back door step. Vet told me on our last visit that she’s in good shape but has a bit of arthritis (since then she has got worse). I know I need to try and get her moving more and maybe cut her food down a little despite her eating less than the recomended amount already. Should I take her to the vet or are there any supplements I can give her to maybe help her arthritis a little?

Take her to the vet; anti-inflammatories are probably the most significant thing she could be given to ease her pain and try to maintain her muscle mass. Food supplements are also a good idea. Your vet will advise.

We use YuMove for our boy. Seems to work well, I notice he's more lumpy and slower if he hasn't had it for some reason.

The Vets is always a good move, but we were recommend YuMove and have found it really helped our older dog, and friends have had similar success. It's available on amazon.

We use YuMove and give our girl sardines twice a week. We've also really restricted her walks and she no longer gets tennis balls to chase

That should say he's more limpy....

Thank you, I have ordered yumove, will give it a try, she will love sardines too.

She saw the vet a few months ago as she had major surgery (not related to her bones), I don’t really want to take her back unless I have too as she gets very stressed, she seems fine in herself just stiff.

Stiff = in pain. I can never understand why people don't take this more seriously. Sometimes clients say that the dog can't be in distress as it isn't actually crying.

Another vote for Yumove here. It does seem to help though our 12 year old has arthritis and spondylitis so needs painkillersetc as well to keep him happy. He has regular hydrotherapy and occasional acupuncture too, which also help.

Vill the vet told me she just has a bit of arthritis and isn’t in pain. I get stiff but doesn’t necessarily mean I’m in pain. If the yumove doesn’t help I will take her to the vets, at the moment I can’t afford it after paying £2000 for her surgery a couple months ago.

Given that the vet has already mentioned arthritis, that stiffness is her telling you she's in pain.

To put it bluntly, are you really ok leaving her in pain just to avoid the short stress for her of a vet's visit? Because really, if you think about it - that's what putting it off means.

Im putting it like that because I'm assuming you've thought, older + arthritis = some stiffness rather than ach, let her be sore... but realistically the stiffness isn't a natural part of aging, it is pain.

Eh? Of course stiffening can be a part of ageing.

The vet told me it’s normal for her age? Arthritis is comon for her breed and I’m told she only has a bit in her back legs. I will take her to the vets when I can, obviously I don’t want her to be in pain but she doesn’t seem to be, it’s only when she tries to jump up onto the sofa or up the big step outside. She walks fine and plays with her toys.

Even though he must of been in pain, our dog never showed any pain until his knee cap dislocated for the first time. Even then after further dislocations while waiting for surgery he just limped/panted while it was dislocated, until we manually popped it back in. It must have been excruciating, even on the pain meds, but he barely showed it.

Arthritis rarely comes without pain, but your dog will hide it. The YuMove Advanced will help, as will getting any extra weight off and keeping her extra lean so there is less pressure on her joints. But you still need to get her to the vet now for some proper treatment and ongoing meds, anti-inflammatory and pain relief.

Thank you weall, I will take her next week and see if she needs any pain meds or further treatment, losing a bit of weight will help.

I have a bit of arthritis in my spine. It was bloody agony until I had treatment. Do see a vet.
The feeding guides are just that. Guides. So your dog may need a fair bit more or less.
Heat can help. We had a heated whelping pad for our old cat.
Have you tried golden paste?

Glad you're planning to bring her. Good stuff. Ask about Cartrophen/ Pentosan among other options.

My dog, greyhound, is almost 9 and I have had him since he was 4 1/2 - he was raced hard in his time (from tracing his history) and was showing signs of stiffness etc over the last few months. It’s evident from the way he walks that he has had at least one significant injury in the past and I noticed he was not so keen to run etc. After discussions with my vet and some blood tests he is now on anti inflammatory medicine and he is back to his old self seems so much happier and is tolerating the meds well. I did try supplements but they upset his tummy!

Anti inflammatory for my dog are about £10 a month. Supplements might help but I can’t see vitamins alone drastically improving arthritis.

Supplements absolutely can and do help with arthritis and other joint issues. If you put her on Yumove, get Yumove Advanced via your vet. You double up on the dosage for the first month then start the recommended daily amount. It may take a few months for you to really see a difference, but you will - it's brilliant stuff.

And people can take it too (albeit the human version!).