Glucosamine For Senior Dogs
I’ve often talked about my dog Holly on this blog. She’s a cross between a Shih tzu and Chihuahua and was seventeen years old in December 2019.
Holly has been extremely lucky healthwise. Apart from some sight and hearing loss she has always remained incredibly fit and well.
Then in Apil/May of this year, I noticed some changes in the way she was walking and how she was hesitant to climb stairs or jump on to furniture. I checked her all over and she wasn’t in pain but I could see that her back leg muscles were much weaker. Holly sleeps upstairs at the side of my bed so I was carrying her to bed every night and back down again every morning. She normally sat on the sofa but was curling up beside me on the floor unable to get up on to the furniture. Instead of pottering for hours outside she was just making quick trips to the garden and she slept an awful lot.
At the time the country was in lockdown due to the Coronavirus. Vets were working on a strict emergency only basis and owners were unable to go inside with their pet. I couldn’t take an extremely elderly dog with slight muscle stiffness to an emergency vet. However, I hated seeing the decline in Holly so I started to research health supplements.
Glucosamine for senior dogs is a well known supplement to help with joint pain and arthritis. It is believed to help maintain strength and flexibility in the connective tissues which are essential for good mobility.
I purchased Flex A Joint For Pets which includes Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
It is suitable for both dogs and cats.
What I Liked About Flex A Joint For Pets
One of the things I liked about the product was that the supplement comes in a split and pour capsule. This means that it can be easily poured on to food with no need to measure the correct amount. Holly has no experience of taking tablets and I wasn’t keen on grinding tablets to powder or hiding them in treats. I have no idea what the supplements taste like but Holly didn’t seem to notice at all.
A small dog or cat takes one capsule per day, this rises to four tablets for giant-sized dogs.
I paid £10.97 for 180 capsules which is much less expensive than the well known brands.
Each capsule compromises of :-
Glucosamine sulphate 400mg.
Chondroitin sulphate 50mg.(90% Marine Source)
Methyl Sulphonyl Methane 50 mg.
Vit. C 12 mg.
Lastly, I paid attention to the reviews for this product and after reading well over 200 positive reviews I was eager to give Flex A Joint a try.
Amazon Affiliate Link For Flex A Joint For Pets
The Ingredients
Glucosamine Sulphate is a well-known supplement taken by both humans and animals to help with arthritis and sore joints.
This is an excellent article which has loads of information about why dogs benefit from Glucosamine.
Glucosamine for Dogs What are the best sources? from DogsNaturally.
Chondroitin Sulphate is another supplement that helps joints. It works best when given in conjunction with Glucosamine and is mainly marine sourced.
Methyl Sulphonyl Methane or MSM is known to help relieve pain and works as an antioxidant.
Vitamin C is helpful in slowing down degenerative disc disease, hip pain, and spinal problems.
Did Glucosamine For Senior Dogs Improve Mobility?
It has been six weeks since I started adding Flex A Joint to Holly’s food every day.
However, I saw a significant difference in just under a week and the improvements have continued. Holly is now able to walk up and down stairs easily and she doesn’t need to be lifted on to the sofa next to me. She appears brighter in herself, and she has also started playing with the other dogs which is so lovely to see.
Holly now spends more time in the garden and will go to the front door to greet visitors. She is sleeping less during the day and seems to have a spring in her step when she hears the treat cupboard being opened.
Family members who don’t live with us have commented on how much more engaged she is and she is asking for tummy rubs just like she used to. It really does appear that she has a new lease of life.
The supplement is added by simply pouring the powder from one capsule on to her food. This was much less stressful than trying to get a dog to swallow a tablet.
On the whole, I would recommend this product for anyone who is considering adding a supplement to their dog’s food. If your dog is approaching his or her senior years or you have noticed slight joint stiffness, this is well worth a try.
If your dog appears to be in pain or discomfort please consult your vet. In addition, if your pet is already on medication for existing conditions please take veterinary advice before adding supplements.
Flex A Joint is produced by a family-owned UK brand called Zipvit which supplies a huge range of vitamin supplements for humans and animals. I personally purchased the item from Amazon UK.
Additional Reading
This post has some handy tips to improve your dog’s health by making small adjustments to their everyday routines. Dogs of any age can benefit from these quick and easy tips.
This post contains an affiliate link.
Thank you for reading. Keep Safe xx
