My toy breed will be 10 in the spring, and shows signs of the occasional aches and pains, and closing down a bit. I’ve got steps for my bed, that she sleeps on, but I was just wondering if there’s a else I should be adding to help ?
She currently on YuMove for joints, PlaqueOff for teeth, Scullcap and Valerian for anxiety, and a teaspoon of yogurt for her digestive system.
Thanks.

*slowing down a bit

If its confirmed arthritis then she may benefit from hydrotherapy, laser, massage and also pain relief on top of supplements.  Depends on how bad she is. For confirmation of arthritis it would mean xrays, I've managed to have them done before now with no ga or sedation, she just laid down and we got the images

Also if it is arthritis see what the vet says about the new injectable if they can get it . There have been amazing results and it has certainly done wonders for our 17 year old cat

If she is showing signs of aches and pains she would probably benefit from a NSAID like Metacam/Meloxicam or similar along with the yumove. Mine are 10, 12 and 13, all are on yumove but the eldest girl also needs metacam too. I've had several dogs on long term metacam usage, no xrays first just a try it and see. If they're stiff and sore and it improves with metacam then that's proof enough that it is needed.

Depending on her coat and the temperature in your house, she might like a fleecy coat at night or when you’re out for walks.

I use a little waterproof coat for River if it’s cold or rainy when we go out, he’s only 2 but papillons have a single coat and I don’t want his muscles getting chilled after exercise.

You could also consider golden paste, I don’t know if there’s actual scientific evidence it works but I know lots of people use it and if it doesn’t work it won’t hurt, it’s basically only turmeric and black pepper and coconut oil.

I can also second the recommendation for hydrotherapy. Not the same, but it’s been amazing for River’s recovery from patella luxation surgery. Our hydrotherapist has taught me so much about how to recognise if he’s getting tired or not using his legs as he should, helped with appropriate physio exercises, and is an invaluable way of documenting how he’s improving between sessions. If we’ve been a bit lax with his exercises she can tell.

Although as a NSAID, Metacam has a bad record, Frankie was on it for quite some time before we lost him.  I kept the amount he had to a minimum whilst still helping him but in the end, when he went off his back legs, my vet said up it to the full amount and during his final night, he was continually vomiting dark vomit which I suspect was blood.  Horrible.

I'd still use Metacam, if needed however.

Frankie, early on with his lameness, had two courses of acupuncture - the previous vets we used was hot on using alternative medicine with regular.  I think it helped and certainly didn't do any obvious harm.  In fact he went to sleep during the process.

Thanks all.
No diagnosis of arthritis, and she can’t have Metacomet, I was just generally meaning getting older - slowing down and a bit slower to get moving in the morning.
She’s got cateracts too, but can still see a cat on the fence !
I was just wondering if there was anything I should give for general old age.
Thanks again.

I do often put a coat on when out as she does shiver sometimes, especially if I’m chatting to someone.
But one at night might be an idea, I’ve noticed her cuddling up to me more lately.

> Metacam has a bad record

River was absolutely fine with Metacam until he suddenly wasn’t, he had a terrible bout of colitis where he needed to go out every 20 minutes or so during the day and about every hour at night. He had bright red blood literally squirting out of his anus every time, and nothing else because he refused food. He must have felt terrible, poor boy.

Some dogs have no issues at all but some really can’t tolerate it.

I always have some in stock for my rabbits though, it’s amazing for those times when they have abdominal pain and/or stop eating because they need a dental. It’s important to keep them eating until they get to the vets, so it’s the first thing I do if they start looking “off”.

I really liked Aktivait for my older dogs. I felt it kept their brains sharp

My first port of call would be a full vet check with blood works - not quite 10 is still pretty young for a small dog and I'd be surprised to see age related problems so early. I lost a 16 ½ year old a few months ago, my oldest now is just over 15 and I also have a 12 year old and an almost 11 year old in my toydogs -none of them have had any problems with moving and indeed still jump high. The one thing they've had in common, as well as with previous ones, is failing sight and hearing. Unless it's a breed known to develop problems like arthritis early I'd want to find out why this is happening to play safe.

I would not consider one of mine as older until 12+ and they are a medium 20kg breed.

Small breeds generally age more slowly than that.

I'd not consider her old yet.

I'd have a thorough vet check done too.  Slowing down, slower to get going both suggest there may be some discomfort present and 10 isn't old for a toy dog.  Or many large ones!

Plenty of other options than metacam if it is that, including some other natural anti inflammatories that IME can work better than many prescription ones.  My guys are on a mix of both.

I put all my older dogs (8yo+, but a large breed) on the following:

Riaflex Joint Plus (this is way better than YuMove in terms of the active ingredients - if you look at the Riaflex website there is a tablet with a comparison tab in it which compares it to YuMove)
Turmeric x1 capsule/day
Fish oil - Wild Salmon by Grizzly (they are all on this throughout life anyway, but extra important as they get older)

If I then notice anything at all, including slowing down, I would add:

Riaflex Devils Claw
Riaflex Green Lipped Mussel

With this protocol I have never had an elderly dog needing any NSAIDS at all and they have all been jumping in and out the boot of the car until the day they died (age 13/14).

Thanks , I’ve ordered the fish oil, will take a look at the rest.
That’s what I was looking for, preventative measures for getting older.

I hate to be devils advocate again, but for starters, under 10 for a toy breed isn't when I'd expect to see simple 'ageing' of any significance.   And provided the dog is having a good balanced diet, I'd be careful re giving too many supplements, for no diagnosed reason.   Unfortunately nobody can prevent the passing of time (ageing) but I'd be medicating/supplementing according to diagnosed need.   Scullcap and Valerian should really only be needed for specific events, if the dog needs help with anxiety.  For example.  Likewise natural yogurt would only be needed for uncomplicated digestive upsets.

My Whippet has turned 13 (last October) now and even with a heart murmur now, she currently has no supplements.  In fact other than greying muzzle, I hardly regard her as an oldie.

I'd hope your girl still has a number of happy years life yet.

She has various anxieties- separation, car, loud noises - and it helps.
The yogurt is used to get the Plaque Off down her, or she wouldn’t take it.
I saw a slight improvement on the YuMove so will continue with it.

> I saw a slight improvement on the YuMove so will continue with it.

Which again suggests there is discomfort somewhere.

Devil's claw is a natural anti inflammatory, it's one of the things mine are on but I would still go to the vet first.

The Riaflex Joint Plus is the same main ingredients as YuMove - only a higher concentration of them. If you noticed an improvement on the YuMove you will likely notice even more of one on Riaflex....

> Riaflex Joint Plus (this is way better than YuMove in terms of the active ingredients

That's a matter of opinion, Yumove also has green lipped muscle, Hyaluronic acid, Manganese etc in it. If I just wanted higher does of Glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM alone I'd buy a supermarket own brand human supplement.

No it's not a matter of opinion. It's here in the comparison table - click the Comparison tab: https://www.riaflex.co.uk/products/canine-joint-plus/

If you want green-lipped mussel, they make a separate product - Riaflex Green Lipped Mussel - which again is superior quality and purity (because it is entirely green-lipped mussel - not all these other things in the same product, leading to a tiny amount of green-lipped mussel).

The other ingredients - hyaluronic acid, manganese - are at such low levels as to be probably ineffective, if you use the only research we have which is human research into the quantity needed for efficacy. Unfortunately it's very common for these companies to include tiny amounts of active ingredients so they can then claim they contain them - when the amount contained is miniscule and unlikely to be clinically effective.

There's nothing to show that a supermarket human brand is 3rd party tested for impurities, like heavy metals, and since so many are contaminated in that way, I definitely wouldn't take that option.

Riaflex are very helpful if u need to know anything

> If you want green-lipped mussel, they make a separate product - Riaflex Green Lipped Mussel - which again is superior quality and purity (because it is entirely green-lipped mussel - not all these other things in the same product, leading to a tiny amount of green-lipped mussel). <br />

Many complete food contains this as a matter of course.  Is supplementing with this really needed?

Again, the quantity which complete foods contain of it, is unlikely to be effective. They just put a tiny amount in, and can then claim it 'contains' it. When it is listed in foods, it is one of the very last ingredients in the ingredient list so there could be microscopic amounts of it added and yet it can still be listed for marketing purposes.

Just as many complete foods claim they contain DHA, but the DHA breaks down long before it reaches a dog and isn't absorbable. No matter, the food can still claim and advertise that it contains it.

Is supplementing with it really needed? What kind of question is that... There is research to show that green-lipped mussel is effective in reducing signs of arthritis in humans and reducing joint pain (google will tell you this much) and we know that the native peoples in NZ who eat a lot of green lipped mussels have almost no symptoms of arthritis even when elderly. I can also personally say that I've given it to several elderly dogs beginning to show the first signs of discomfort and have seen then rapidly return to normal and never needed NSAIDs even in old age. So - is it needed? I guess you could leave a dog to suffer.

There is HA in the Riaflex Joint Plus, but Kate who owns the company even said it’s not in high enough quantity in any supplement to be super effective. Putting enough HA in would make the costs exorbitant, but she said she included it in quantities she could because the customer wanted it. It contains much higher levels of HA and manganese than yumove. They work really hard to keep the product as pure and high quality as possible, that’s why it’s a powder too, as she didn’t want to include binders or something like that. There was also a reason the GLM wasn’t included in the mix but I cannot remember what it was It really is an excellent product and they’re extremely helpful if you ever want to get in touch with them.

I can also personally say that I've given it to several elderly dogs beginning to show the first signs of discomfort and have seen then rapidly return to normal and never needed NSAIDs even in old age. So - is it needed? I guess you could leave a dog to suffer.

I have only ONCE, ever, used any kind of supplement and that was when I used glucosamine with chondroitin for my golden retriever who had HD (score of 96). No other dog of mine has ever had any and have never needed any either -NOR NSAIDs. My dogs tend to be long lived; the oldest (who was large) lived close to 18 years without needing anything extra. I've had many 15 year olds and also 16 and 17. I currently have a fair few veterans: 3 Malinois aged 7, 2 Malinois aged 8, 2 Malinois aged 9, 2 Malinois aged 11, and then one Papillon each of 15, 12, 11, 7. None of them are suffering!

> So - is it needed? I guess you could leave a dog to suffer.

So - what kind of accusation is that ???  I have NEVER allowed a hound of mine to 'suffer'.    And mine too have in general lived beyond the norm for the breed, other than those who I sadly lost to various cancers.

I think I'm going back into hibernation ..... it's rough out there.

Have you thought of Cartrophen injections, one of our sadly departed boys had arthritis from an early age & found it really did help.
His Ortho specialist also advised early on to give chondroitin & glucosamine, but like so many things what works for one might not for another. Good Luck.

I said:

> I've given it to several elderly dogs beginning to show the first signs of discomfort

So they were not your (goldmali) superbly ancient-yet-symptom-free dogs. They were dogs already showing signs of possible arthritis. Which Riaflex reversed.