Dog Food

[bigmamma]

Hello , can I pick your brains please ? I would like to ask if any of you know when I should be giving my female labrador joint health suppliments , and Senior Complete .
Thankyou :-) xx

[jules77]

senior dog food is usually recommended from the age of 7 upwards, dependant on the brand.

Cod liver oil, flax seed oil or evening primrose is good from any age and helps keeps the joints mobile. Something like Glucosamine, Chronroitin and MSM can be given for joint mobility as it stimulates the joints to produce beter quality synovial fluid which will act as a cushion for the joints.

[bigmamma]

Thankyou jules , she is 5 years and 5 months old . I could start to give her any of the joint care ones then :-)

[lankeela]

Be careful not to overdo any supplements unless there is a specific condition that you are treating, as your dog may become immune to them and if she then needed them at an older age they might not work as well. Provided she has a good quality adult maintenance diet then I would only give maybe cod liver oil, or vegetable oil (margerine would do) a couple of times a week.

[bigmamma]

Thankyou lankeela , that is good advice , I already give her the occasional tin of mackeral , sardines , or tuna in oils .
xx

[amonty1144]

Hi,
As for humans, the jury is out as to whether supplements actually work, here is a vet page which is very informative about general joint care...the interesting bit is that the supplements should be dog specific.

http://www.heathlandsvets.com/page_11556336158 31.html

[jules77]

Yes as Lankeela says I would only give cod liver oil or such like unless I was actually treating a condition, so if she does seem stiff when getting up after a long walk etc, then is the time to start with specialised joint supplements.