Stiff spaniel, need more than just a joint supplement, help!

[Spot_the_Risk]

Our lovely spaniel, who came from the RSPCA in August is feeling his age. The RSPCA think he is about 7 or 8, but we've always thought he was older, and sadly he is seeming to prove us right. He's stiff a lot of the time, we feed our dogs excellent food, he isn't fat and he also has a joint supplement, but he went beating for about an hour yesterday, didn't work hard (and wasn't asked to), OH described it as similar to an hours walk, and he is so stiff and sore through his back legs and back. Anyone use anything that helps, but preferably doesn't have to be a daily thing - I think at the moment be would benefit from the human equivalent of ibprufen after you've had a hard day in the saddle!

 

[Ravenwood]

When my lab comes up stiff I give him a dose of No Bute Devil's Claw, evening and morning, that seems to do the trick.

 

[TayloredEq]

Our lab sleeps on a dog blanket called "back on track" It has a ceramic melded into it and reflect heat back into the body. So it draws blood to the area (which encourages healing) and also keeps the muscles warm so helping them to stop seizing up.

You can really tell when our lab hasn't slept on it as she is much stiffer. I have also used them a lot with the horses and have had a great deal of success. My vet also rates them and has used the human products on himself, I also gave a set of the long johns to my dad when he had lost all the circulation in his leg and had to have an operation (with a high risk of losing the leg) He felt they really helped with the recovery process.

http://www.backontrack-uk.co.uk/horse-testimonials.htm

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Massage before a walk and/or stretching during/after a walk, could be done daily, but only doing it sometimes can help. If you're worried about the time, stretching during/after a walk doesn't take many minutes. Massage usually takes a little more time, though.


I believe in acupuncture, it has worked on 4 of my pets. 4 to 10 sessions, once a week, once every two weeks, the effect has lasted for a year or a little more, but I've always been told the effect could last between 6 months and about a year.


from Sweden.

 

[Kenniford]

Have you tried cortaflex for dogs? a customer of mine has starting using it on her springer and says he is like a puppy again, he is about 12 years if not older!

 

[GinaGem]

I don't know if it's quite the same but my dog strained herself playing tug of war and was quite stiff for a while. I had her treated by a McTimoney Chirocpractor and after two treatments she was bouncing around like a puppy and has been fine since

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Hi, he's on a supplement for joints already, I tried Cortaflex on my horse and it didn't help, but thanks for the info, I didn't know they did a dog version. I have rung my McTimony lady this morning (great minds think alike!) and am waiting to hear back from her, she's helped my horse before but I don't know if she works on dogs yet. Thanks for the guidance veryone!