Zuma is GSD, will be 12 in 4 weeks time. He has been on Metacam for about 18 mths to help stiffness in back end.
About 12 mths back he had 'hotspot' type patches on his legs - only ever one at a time and when it cleared, a few weeks and then another!. A number of visits to vets £££ with steroids being given - which meant stopping the Metacam which he NEEDS.
I have now put him on Piriton for about last 4 months with no more 'hotspots'

Question - Husband bought some supplements to try while waiting for appt with Rheumatologist at hospital and is now on prescription meds which work.
The Metacam for Zuma is now not as effective as it was. I have ..

Turmeric 600mg with black pepper 5mg - per capsule - Holland & Barrett
Omega 3 fish oil EPA 180mg, DHA 120mg, Omega 3 Fatty Acids 300mg per capsule - H & B
Glucosamine Sulphate 750mg per tablet - Boots

Which if any could I give Zuma in addition to the Metacam and Piriton and what dose?
Reluctant to ask vets as they tend to rubbish alternatives like homeopathy chiro etc.

Goldmali I think it was had great success with Glucosamine and Chondroitin on a dog with severe hd so I tried it on my collie girl with really good results, though it does take a while to help initially. I was told to give her 1500mg Glucosamine and 400 chondroitin once a day, this was a 16kg border collie. I found it much cheaper to buy from somewhere online like zipvit than H&B

(Chondroitin is the expensive ingredient but apparently much better than glucosamine on it's own)

Edited to say Gem was also on long term metacam, my vet said it wouldn't affect her medication to give her G&C, I don't think he expected it to help though.

and edited again to ask if you're giving him ranitidine too? It really can help guard against stomach problems associated with long term nsaids, just one (own brand) a day, half hour before his food with the metacam.

For rear end stiffness I had great results with YuMove by Lintbells., the stiffness just seemed to disappear.   Vet has started prescribing as well.  You do have to use it for 4 weeks or so before you start to see results.

In Paige's twilight time she ended up in a health situation where she needed steroids for one condition, and metacam for another.  The vet and I decided that she would just remain on both, with all things considered.

That said; you may find that golden paste (the cooked version of the turmeric + black pepper) does a better job than the metacam - I certainly did for her, for years, and it continued to work better for her spondylosis.  The metacam was added for cruciate damage.  Preparing the paste is usually more effective than combining capsules.

I also find green lipped mussel good for joint pain and stiffness, as well as chiro.  Do you know that your vet will dismiss that idea, or is that a general concern?  I've never had a vet refuse to give permission, and only one was even reluctant.

If you really want to go to town with joint supps though, get Riaflex joint plus for dogs.  Pricey, but worth it.  Decent strengths of all the good stuff.

The thing about supplements, is they are only as good as they are made to be and one 'glucosamine and chondroitin' supplement isn't the same as another.

I would highly recommend the Riaflex supplements.  Start with the Canine Plus which is a good basis, then add in their green-lipped mussel and their Devils Claw. 

Then also add in golden paste (turmeric). 

My old 13yo dog needed zero prescription meds and ran about into old age :) 

For dogs that don't have probs and are taking something preventatively, I use the YuMove and golden paste.  The Riaflex supplements are pricey but you get what you pay for - if you click on the Comparison tab on their website, you can compare what is in their supplements compared to competitors.

Thanks for the comments,
I realise that there are better products but part of my thought was to use up the ones I have (rather than bin them) and see what if any difference they make and then look for the better ones if there is any improvement, it's just I don't know how many of which to give and what is OK with the meds he is already on so advice on dosage would be good please.

Do you know that your vet will dismiss that idea, The two that I try to see tolerate the use of chiro but not homeopathy and usually mutter I can prescribe any supplements for you so generally not keen on any form of 'do it yourself'.

Hi, have yo seen turmeric Facebook group, there is lots of advice for humans and dogs,
I will be making some golden paste for my self and my lab, to try

Yumove is brilliant and has green lipped mussels which are amazing but it also has other natural ingredients and you can check all the testimonial s on Lintbells website.  I'm all fir natural remedies every time....I hope you find something that works for you.  If you ring them they can give you advice also.  I used their Yudigest when my old dog had antibiotics, coz it repopulates their tummy with good bacteria quickly.  Fab company in my book

Oh yes,
No need to tell me, have been with lintbells since the beginning almost, I used to live nearby, I used most os there products from pups to golden oldies, I lost them at 15 and 16,
Found they are very helpful to talk too

Interesting that you've been using Lintbells products for so long 15/16 years, were you part of the development before Lintbells started producing Yumega in 2006 & Yumove in 2009 ?

Oh no nothing like that, we moved 2005 had to get a new vet who was a holistic and conventional vet who first told me about Yumove, my dogs were 5+6 at the time and were both stiff, even at that relative young age, started on seraquin as she said even back then the turmeric was good for the joints(back then we thought she a bit as my grown up son called her hippy lol, little did we know lol,when we couldn’t se any improvement she took xrays and we were shocked at the state of one of my One hips, vet reckoned he was born and thus got used to any discomfort, anyway we put him on Yumove and his best friend who wasn’t as bad, and then those two dogs were on Yumove and later Yumove advance for the rest of their days and we lost them at 15 &16, with only accupuncture and occasional painkillers as needed,
The new pup we got 4 years ago and was at first just a poorly tummy probs with giardiasis at first, and so discovered the yugest after emailing lintbells , worked a treat but also wen she had flare ups, she is also has coat condition where large parts of her chest where bare and coat very dry, so we ended up withtrying yumega, tried cheaper salon oil products but ended up with yumega,
Now this youngest lab  as it turns out has arthritis and mild HD,so she is on the Yumove advance the vet suggested we also have mad over zealous devil dog know as a cocker plays too hard for her so we give yucalm to take the edge off his mad bitey ways lol

They are pricey there product but I have confidence in them