Joint supplements for older dogs

[Furcoatnoknickers]

I'm looking to harness the collective wisdom of you guys please.

We have a 13 yrs , 60kg American Bulldog , Marmaduke, who is not surprisingly, starting to feel his advancing years.

We are living in a caravan and he's starting to struggle with his hinds getting in .
We've tried using a doggy ramp but he can't seem to get to grips with it.
What supplements actually work these days for lubricating the old joints of a woofer ?

Thanks for taking the time to read my ramblings !

 

[skinnydipper]

What is the diagnosis and what has the vet prescribed?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd lift front end in then back, same in reverse and not allow him to do it himself. I start assisting older dogs up and down/in and out of vehicles before they start showing visible signs.
I have used GWF Joint Aid, Riaflex and Magnetix products in the past but popular wisdom says they do better when started on any supplement in mid life rather than retrospectively. Most people seem to have a good word for YuMove and there's also the option of Librela injections.

 

[meleeka]

I rate Yumove.

 

[Furcoatnoknickers]

What is the diagnosis and what has the vet prescribed?

He's booked in on Tuesday, we were hoping someone would suggest something we could get him this weekend

 

[Clodagh]

If he’s got to the point he is struggling with his hind end nothing you buy over the counter will make any significant difference. If you want to spend your money Riaflex seems pretty good. Or if you want it tomorrow just go to Pets at home.

 

[skinnydipper]

He's booked in on Tuesday, we were hoping someone would suggest something we could get him this weekend

At this stage it might be better to save the money you would spend on supplements and see what medication the vet recommends. The vet might also recommend a multi modal approach with adjunct therapies like laser, physio, hydrotherapy, acupuncture.

 

[HopOnTrot]

He he’s struggling with steps then I think you’re beyond the point of supplements helping.

We had Librella injections monthly that helped mine.

 

[Furcoatnoknickers]

Thanks all , we will ask the vet about Librella on Tuesday.
Whatever he needs, he will get .
I do see your point that we should have started him on supplements when he was younger, but he's always been very agile for his age and size , bouncing around like a gazelle at times.
It's only now that he's starting to show his age, it's really hitting home that we've got an old dog on our hands.

 

[wren123]

My labrador had librela and yumove advance 360, that yumove is only available from the vet. In the early years when she first had arthritis that yumove was amazing better than metacam. It was only in her early teens she needed the librela too.