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Good food for my ageing boy please?

Mel17

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My dog, Ben, is almost 11 years old & recently I’ve noticed he is getting stiff joints. I obviously want to keep him around as long as possible but want him to be pain free. So, what is a good senior food to put him on, there’s so many to choose from I’m a bit lost! Also, would supplements help his aching joints? Thanks!
 
What food is he on?

I would start (if you haven't already) by getting a vet check, to find out if he has arthritis or other joint conditions and whether he's likely to benefit from any medication.
 
What food is he on?

I would start (if you haven't already) by getting a vet check, to find out if he has arthritis or other joint conditions and whether he's likely to benefit from any medication.
 
He has Arden Grange dry food at present. Wondering if some gloucosamine supplement may help too
 
There are also supplements such as Yumove which gets good reviews

Yumove Joint Supplement for Dogs

And I met a lady the other day who is using a collar with magnets on her dog. She said it had been amazing - he had changed within a week to moving freely and keen to walk and play. I don't know what brand she used but I am sure a Google search will bring up something.
 
My old boy Oscar suffered a back injury and the vet didn't hold out much hope but he regained the use of his legs and he was happy we used hydrotherapy (there wasnt one local so we got a secondhand jacuzzi bath for him ) and I started giving him glucosamine, within 2 weeks of starting the supplements I noticed he was no longer whining when getting up from his bed or from sitting to standing. I cant say 100% that it was down to the supplements but something changed and it was for the better..
 
Arden Grange is a good food so if he's doing well I'd stick with that, and add supplements separately. I'm not sure 'senior' dog foods have any real benefits.
 
.

what's his body condition?
Any extra weight will definitely worsen joint pain, so if he's not lean, i'd reduce his calorie intake slightly, & also add a little endurance - slightly longer walks, maybe add 1/4 more distance to his usual, or go UP more gentle inclines, if U can find any.

His ribs should be easily palpable; if he's smooth-coated, the last rib or maybe 2 should be just visible when he's standing. [His spinal prominences should NOT be seen, unless he's a sighthound; then just a few show in the loin, where rear joins waist.]
With the dog standing, & U standing behind him, his neck should visibly taper to his skull; his waist should be easily seen; his shoulders should be the widest point on his body. // From the side, looking level at the dog as he stands, his shoulder layback should be visible & not blurred with fat; his abdomen should have a distinct tuck, rising from his last rib until the line is cut-off by his rear leg on the near side.


When U walk him, as U suspect joint pain, I'd try to stay off paved surfaces & on grass or even earth or gravel, rather than concrete or asphalt. When coming downhill, to ease the joint impact, U can ZIG-ZAG across the path's or road's width from side to side, vs descend straight ahead - any angle from 60' to 90' will help.

As noted by others, hydrotherapy is wonderful for joints; so is swimming or wading, if there's a heated pool that can be used, U can walk along the coping with 2 leashes, one clipped to his buckle AKA tag-collar, & one clipped to the WITHERS of a sturdy, well-fitted nylon harness; if he overtires & his head sinks, U can lift him from the water by using both hands, one on each leash, & first lifting him sideways onto the pool coping in front of U, then sliding him on his side toward U as U back-up, with his legs & feet extended toward the pool.
If he does overtire, don't let him get up right away; by rolling him onto his back using his legs as handles, lay 2 towels under his side, & lay his legs down. Then lay one towel over him; the towels under him catch water as it drains from his coat; the towel over him protects him from chilling. // Squeeze the towel lying over him lightly, to get the water out of his coat, & into the towel - then replace all 3 soggy towels for dry ones, & repeat. // By the time the 2nd set of 3 towels is soggy, he should be able to stand, altho he might need a little help to get up, & he may wobble a little; often the rear is worse.
Don't let overtiring worry U - just make the next session shorter, & build him up. :)

New Zealand-sourced Green-lipped Mussel is an excellent supplement for joint issues; it is sometimes packaged with Glucosamine chondroitin in the same capsule. Both are safe, & even if his aging joints are fine, they will do no harm. :)

- terry

.
 
.

what's his body condition?
Any extra weight will definitely worsen joint pain, so if he's not lean, i'd reduce his calorie intake slightly, & also add a little endurance - slightly longer walks, maybe add 1/4 more distance to his usual, or go UP more gentle inclines, if U can find any.

His ribs should be easily palpable; if he's smooth-coated, the last rib or maybe 2 should be just visible when he's standing. [His spinal prominences should NOT be seen, unless he's a sighthound; then just a few show in the loin, where rear joins waist.]
With the dog standing, & U standing behind him, his neck should visibly taper to his skull; his waist should be easily seen; his shoulders should be the widest point on his body. // From the side, looking level at the dog as he stands, his shoulder layback should be visible & not blurred with fat; his abdomen should have a distinct tuck, rising from his last rib until the line is cut-off by his rear leg on the near side.


When U walk him, as U suspect joint pain, I'd try to stay off paved surfaces & on grass or even earth or gravel, rather than concrete or asphalt. When coming downhill, to ease the joint impact, U can ZIG-ZAG across the path's or road's width from side to side, vs descend straight ahead - any angle from 60' to 90' will help.

As noted by others, hydrotherapy is wonderful for joints; so is swimming or wading, if there's a heated pool that can be used, U can walk along the coping with 2 leashes, one clipped to his buckle AKA tag-collar, & one clipped to the WITHERS of a sturdy, well-fitted nylon harness; if he overtires & his head sinks, U can lift him from the water by using both hands, one on each leash, & first lifting him sideways onto the pool coping in front of U, then sliding him on his side toward U as U back-up, with his legs & feet extended toward the pool.
If he does overtire, don't let him get up right away; by rolling him onto his back using his legs as handles, lay 2 towels under his side, & lay his legs down. Then lay one towel over him; the towels under him catch water as it drains from his coat; the towel over him protects him from chilling. // Squeeze the towel lying over him lightly, to get the water out of his coat, & into the towel - then replace all 3 soggy towels for dry ones, & repeat. // By the time the 2nd set of 3 towels is soggy, he should be able to stand, altho he might need a little help to get up, & he may wobble a little; often the rear is worse.
Don't let overtiring worry U - just make the next session shorter, & build him up. :)

New Zealand-sourced Green-lipped Mussel is an excellent supplement for joint issues; it is sometimes packaged with Glucosamine chondroitin in the same capsule. Both are safe, & even if his aging joints are fine, they will do no harm. :)

- terry

.
 
.

what's his body condition?
Any extra weight will definitely worsen joint pain, so if he's not lean, i'd reduce his calorie intake slightly, & also add a little endurance - slightly longer walks, maybe add 1/4 more distance to his usual, or go UP more gentle inclines, if U can find any.

His ribs should be easily palpable; if he's smooth-coated, the last rib or maybe 2 should be just visible when he's standing. [His spinal prominences should NOT be seen, unless he's a sighthound; then just a few show in the loin, where rear joins waist.]
With the dog standing, & U standing behind him, his neck should visibly taper to his skull; his waist should be easily seen; his shoulders should be the widest point on his body. // From the side, looking level at the dog as he stands, his shoulder layback should be visible & not blurred with fat; his abdomen should have a distinct tuck, rising from his last rib until the line is cut-off by his rear leg on the near side.


When U walk him, as U suspect joint pain, I'd try to stay off paved surfaces & on grass or even earth or gravel, rather than concrete or asphalt. When coming downhill, to ease the joint impact, U can ZIG-ZAG across the path's or road's width from side to side, vs descend straight ahead - any angle from 60' to 90' will help.

As noted by others, hydrotherapy is wonderful for joints; so is swimming or wading, if there's a heated pool that can be used, U can walk along the coping with 2 leashes, one clipped to his buckle AKA tag-collar, & one clipped to the WITHERS of a sturdy, well-fitted nylon harness; if he overtires & his head sinks, U can lift him from the water by using both hands, one on each leash, & first lifting him sideways onto the pool coping in front of U, then sliding him on his side toward U as U back-up, with his legs & feet extended toward the pool.
If he does overtire, don't let him get up right away; by rolling him onto his back using his legs as handles, lay 2 towels under his side, & lay his legs down. Then lay one towel over him; the towels under him catch water as it drains from his coat; the towel over him protects him from chilling. // Squeeze the towel lying over him lightly, to get the water out of his coat, & into the towel - then replace all 3 soggy towels for dry ones, & repeat. // By the time the 2nd set of 3 towels is soggy, he should be able to stand, altho he might need a little help to get up, & he may wobble a little; often the rear is worse.
Don't let overtiring worry U - just make the next session shorter, & build him up. :)

New Zealand-sourced Green-lipped Mussel is an excellent supplement for joint issues; it is sometimes packaged with Glucosamine chondroitin in the same capsule. Both are safe, & even if his aging joints are fine, they will do no harm. :)

- terry

.
Thanks Terry for the info! Yes, he does have a few surplus pounds to lose, he’s 27kg & ideally should be 23 so I will address his food consumption straight away. He a proper scavenger & will happily raid the fridge when we are out unless I lock it up!
He has always been a very active boy so seeing him slow down is tough.
Love the idea of a hydro pool, will investigate possibilities around here.
Thank you all for your input, very much appreciate!
 
.

these 2 look decent -

Amazon.com: Green Lipped Mussel - From New Zealand, Freeze ...
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Lipped-Mussel-Glucosamine.../dp/B00CO7LDEO
Rating: 4.6 - ‎4 reviews
Pure Freeze Dried Green Lipped Mussel Powder in capsule form. ... BodSmith Green-Lipped Mussel is pure, freeze-dried Green-Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) from…. ... The bioactive substances Glycosaminoglycans, Heparin Sulfate, and Chondroitin found in Green Lipped Mussel Powder are ..
.


Amazon.com: GoodHealth Joint Restore Mussel & Glucosamine 120 ...
https://www.amazon.com/GoodHealth-Glucosamine-Capsules.../dp/B01M8PGDSW
Buy GoodHealth Joint Restore Mussel & Glucosamine - 120 Capsules
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Supports Joint Mobility Health (Pack of 6) on Amazon.com
✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders.


and here's a study on a 3rd product:

Aroma NZ's green-lipped mussel extract beats glucosamine in joint ...
www.newhope.com/.../aroma-nz-s-green-lipped-mussel-extract-beats-glucosamine-joi...
Sep 4, 2012 -
GlycOmega PLUS green-lipped mussel extract from Aroma NZ is more effective thanglucosamine at relieving joint pain and stiffness, according to the results of a newly published independent clinical study carried out at the University of Queensland in Australia. In the randomised study, published in the ...

HTH,
- terry
 
.

these 2 look decent -

Amazon.com: Green Lipped Mussel - From New Zealand, Freeze ...
https://www.amazon.com/Green-Lipped-Mussel-Glucosamine.../dp/B00CO7LDEO
Rating: 4.6 - ‎4 reviews
Pure Freeze Dried Green Lipped Mussel Powder in capsule form. ... BodSmith Green-Lipped Mussel is pure, freeze-dried Green-Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) from…. ... The bioactive substances Glycosaminoglycans, Heparin Sulfate, and Chondroitin found in Green Lipped Mussel Powder are ..
.


Amazon.com: GoodHealth Joint Restore Mussel & Glucosamine 120 ...
https://www.amazon.com/GoodHealth-Glucosamine-Capsules.../dp/B01M8PGDSW
Buy GoodHealth Joint Restore Mussel & Glucosamine - 120 Capsules
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel Supports Joint Mobility Health (Pack of 6) on Amazon.com
✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders.


and here's a study on a 3rd product:

Aroma NZ's green-lipped mussel extract beats glucosamine in joint ...
www.newhope.com/.../aroma-nz-s-green-lipped-mussel-extract-beats-glucosamine-joi...
Sep 4, 2012 -
GlycOmega PLUS green-lipped mussel extract from Aroma NZ is more effective thanglucosamine at relieving joint pain and stiffness, according to the results of a newly published independent clinical study carried out at the University of Queensland in Australia. In the randomised study, published in the ...


HTH,
- terry
Great! I’ll look into those now, thanks again Terry!
 
My dog, Ben, is almost 11 years old & recently I’ve noticed he is getting stiff joints. I obviously want to keep him around as long as possible but want him to be pain free. So, what is a good senior food to put him on, there’s so many to choose from I’m a bit lost! Also, would supplements help his aching joints? Thanks!
Senior food doesn't really hold added benefit. If you are looking at targeting joint health this is something you need to target separately. A good balanced and varied diet is great for seniors and if you are noticing stiff joints then you could add in a supplement. Riaflex have a really good range and also IME offer great customer service and advice.
www.riaflex.co.uk
 
Sorry to jump on your thread... @terry do you think wading/paddling an older dog, who's a bit stiff, in the sea would be beneficial? Asking as my Mum is visiting with her elderly sheltie who can be a bit stiff sometimes and we live next to the sea...
 
...@terry --
do you think wading/paddling an older dog... in the sea would be beneficial?
...my Mum is visiting with her elderly Sheltie [who can be] a bit stiff sometimes, and we live next to the sea.
.

how chilly is the water?
I'd be more likely to let the dog WALK in ocean water, vs swim this early in the year. Cold or even cool water on a small elderly dog will quickly chill their muscles & joints, but just wading with their paws & lower legs only in the water, hock-deep or less, won't be so chilling.

OTOH, a Sheltie is small enuf that U can half-fill the bath-tub at home with warm water & let them swim in their private heated-pool - clip the 6-ft leash to the dog's tag collar & slip the leash under their waist on one side & up again on the other, so that U can hold both sides of the leash above their waist like a sling beneath them.
Now using that sling, U can gently lift their paws a few inches off the bottom, & encourage them to swim with a tidbit held just ahead of them, by a helper - after every few strokes by the dog, give a pea-sized or half-pea sized tidbit of protein [chkn or turkey breast, drained pouch tuna, lean beef, etc].
Of if the dog likes toys, hold a toy that will float just ahead of their nose, & again, encourage them to swim.

DOGS ARE NEGaTIVELY BUOYANT - if they get overtired, they CANNOT float. So don't ask for duration; start small & build from there - swimming is intensely demanding for dogs, as they must keep moving to stay above the water.
5-minutes might be plenty for the 1st attempt. :)
Be sure to wrap the dog well, squeezing water from the coat into the towels, & then if U have a shipping crate [the airline-approved type], put the dog in the crate with a fresh dry towel *under* them, & another over them. Leave them to "drip dry" for 20 to 30-mins, then use a blow-dryer on the lowest possible heat with the fan on low, so it's not so terrifyingly loud.
don't get it too close to the dog, 15 to 18-inches away is fine, & avoid directing the air at their ears, eyes, nose, or mouth - the force & the noise will frighten them. A S/S comb or a rubber-backed pin brush with nylon-dipped or blunted pins, to LIFT the coat & let the fan get under it & dry it in sections, will speed the process. ;)

U can build up to 10 to 20-minutes of warm-water swimming over time - it's great exercise, & yes, it's good for aging joints, being low-impact, supportive, & slow-motion [compared to running on dry land].

- terry

.
 
Thanks for the info :) Its the North Sea so very cold. Yes I wouldn't expect her to swim in it, paddling where I'm from means just splashing with your feet. Not doggy paddling as in making her swim. Will have a look at the bath thing. I think I'd have to fill it full to have enough water to support her, she's quite big for a sheltie.
 

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