I remember reading months and months ago on CD about some medication that several of you use to help with arthritis in your elderly dogs, but not Metcam.

I have a near 12 yr GR she fit healthy slim and active (for her age) but has a bit of arthritis in her right shoulder she loves her walks and tries to keep up with my younger dogs but can be a bit stiff in the morning or after a long walk.

Anybody got any suggestions?

In the past I've used glucosamine & chondroitin tablets, and devils claw root (this I used as a natural alternative to metacam), all to good effect.

mine is on trocoxil,you give it just once a month,its fairly new and quite good.she also has joint aid.however she is 14 and a half,so im just trying to keep her comfortable,its horrible to see her hobbling along.

Hamish (GR) was on Previcox for a while, until we started hydrotherapy. Now he doesn't need painkillers at all and only has his hydro sessions once every 3 weeks.

My Scarlet is on Prevacox and I see vast improvments. She has also had a course of Cartrophen injections, I am a big fan of these. This is her third course over about 5 years and again I have seen her using that old left knee after where she usually protects it.

I give my 12.5 year old Asda own Omega 3 fish oil capsules :)

I raw feed and a few of the things I put into the veggie mix promote healthy joints, turmeric and apple cider vinegar.  Also, for glucosamine/chondroitin, if you're feeding human grade (which I do for one of my girls) they need vit c to be able to absorb it properly I've been told, which obviously if you're giving blended veggies this should contain enough.  Otherwise make sure you buy tablets that are specifically for dogs.

As some others do, I also give mine a tin or two (125g) of sardines in tomato oil every week. 

Devil's claw and green lipped mussell extract are both good, and bioflo collars are worth a try. 

>As some others do, I also give mine a tin or two (125g) of sardines in tomato oil every week. 

It is recommended to avoid feeding tomatoes (and other members of the nightshade family - potatoes, aubergine, peppers etc) to arthritic dogs as they can exacerbate symptoms. Of course, sardines in olive/sunflower oil would be fine for the OP's dog.

My large crossbreed has arthritis in both knee joints.  He is doing exceptionally well on his raw diet, supplemented with Vetri-Flex (which is basically green lipped mussel/glucosamine combined), salmon oil, Ester C and vitamin E. 

She does already have glucosamine/chondroitin, omega 3 fish oil and garlic pearl for fleas (human tabs) and has for at least 3 years, plus as a treat all of my dogs have sardine in sunflower oil once a week mixed with their complete, although I do drain the oil off, they also get a raw one lobbed at them sometimes :-D

She also has veggie mash in with her complete and she will eat raw carrot apple and banana.

She had a major sore shoulder about 2 years ago and the vet gave her Metcam, her reaction to it was bad and the vet said said some dogs don't tolerate it.

I will try the green lipped mussell and devils claw, she comes running at meal times when she hears the pill pots rattle, I'm sure she won't notice another pill or two.

I think I must spend more on vit pills for the dogs than I do for myself :)

Try adding in Ester C as well.  Vitamin C is a natural anti-inflammatory which can only help arthritic joints.  I buy it in the Ester C form as it is a high dose and easier on the digestive system than standard vitamin C.  Certainly can't hurt to try it.

I have heard of good results from joint aid also adding salmon oil to her food but I think that is probably a more long term help. I would go for joint aid

True, although with the amount of solanine in a tin of 125g of sardines once or twice a week, I doubt if it would cause much of a problem, and there are, as you've pointed out, other tinned options, including spring water, where the useful fish oils can be obtained. 

As with any food it's a case of everything in moderation, and it also has it's benefits, the red pigment lycopene is an anti-oxidant which is thought to neutralise the effects of free radicals, twice as effectively as betacarotene; studies have also shown that it can substantially cut the risk of developing some cancers in humans. The advice to avoid solanine in plants of the nightshade family, is to avoid the green parts of potatoes, green tomato pulp or skin, and use red capsicum instead of green.  So in this instance, being green isn't all that good!!

My bitch Indie has arthritis in one of her knee joints and her elbows, but I still give a tin or two per week of fish in tomato juice, for me, the benefits from the oil and lycopene make it worth while. 

Hi Pinky, do try bio selenium plus zinc, just 1 a day. get them from holland and barrett or any health food shop, they are about £9 for 90days. it takes about 3wk to start and see a change, but belive me , they do work and i have passed this advice on to lots of owners of all different breeds large and small, and have used them on several of my dogs. good luck, Tracy.

Joint Aid is marvellous stuff. Use it on my old girl who was getting a bit ricketty and starting to plod a bit on walks. Now she pulls like a train and it seems to have knocked years off her.
Its just a dry stuff you add to the food and it takes a few weeks to see results but I think its brilliant.

check out a site called ecoflow, they do dog collars and it practically turned my slow aching rottie into a born again puppy overnight.  i was sceptical before i bought it, but swear by them now.

Hello Tracy yes I'll try the selenium and check out the joint aid and ecoflow mentioned by rocknrose and charlysez.
My girl will be rattlin' soon :-D

I'd love to give her a bit of help cos she looks so sad plodding behind the collie that she grew up with and nifty young Shelties.

She's very good for her age but the difference between her and my BC of the same age is really noticeable. :(

Try asking your vet about Cartrofen injections.