Joint/Hip Care

**mikkehla** · 03-15-2009, 07:34 PM

It has it me like a ton of bricks, but I realize today that my girl is no longer a puppy!

After a long day playing at the park with a new friend, Honeygirl had a hard time getting into the car and an even harder time making up the stairs. She is approximately 8 years old and a beagle/lab mix.

Does anyone have any suggestions for vitamins or joint suppliments or other alternatives that they have found to be helpful? I think now is the time to start giving her something so she doesn't get in too much pain to quickly.

Thanks!

**rutylr** · 03-15-2009, 09:59 PM

I found (with my old girl) that a water bed worked wonders for her hips and joints.
I don't know if they make small ones for dogs.My Zelda was on all kinds of supplments until I got her the bed.I got it for her 10th birthday and she was with me until she was 12.

**Freedom** · 03-16-2009, 09:32 AM

Once they reach 7 years, you can absolutely start them on a joint supplement, including glucosamine, chondroitin, and joint fluid. It takes about 8 weeks to build up enough to see improvement, but you WILL see improvement.

I've just started Marlin on it, his knees are quite bad, beyond surgery.

He is also getting Adequan shots, to give him a quick jump start. You get that through your vet.

Gentle pets and hugs to Honey!

**pomtzu** · 03-16-2009, 10:56 AM

Yes - Sandie (Freedom) is absolutely correct! Both my small dogs have bad knees and have been on glucosamine/chrondroitin for several years now. It takes 2 or 3 months to see any affect, but when it does kick in, you should notice a big difference. It's not expensive and you can buy it over the counter just about anywhere. I get it at WALMART (right Sandie??

) since that seems to be the least expensive place to purchase it.

**Freedom** · 03-17-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by pomtzu

Yes - Sandie (Freedom) is absolutely correct! Both my small dogs have bad knees and have been on glucosamine/chrondroitin for several years now. It takes 2 or 3 months to see any affect, but when it does kick in, you should notice a big difference. It's not expensive and you can buy it over the counter just about anywhere. I get it at WALMART (right Sandie??

) since that seems to be the least expensive place to purchase it.

Yup, she taught me everything I know about this stuff, lol!

**pomtzu** · 03-17-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Freedom

Yup, she taught me everything I know about this stuff, lol!

A big LOL!

**kokopup** · 03-16-2009, 11:06 AM

Koko had double CCL surgery at 1 that was caused by hip dysphasia.
I keep her active and give her Glucosamine,Chondroition, & MSM
in a single pill supplement. When the weather is changing like a low
pressure coming in that brings rain I give her 5 baby aspirin. After the
aspirin I make sure she eats something so it doesn't hurt her stomach.
Koko's hips are so bad she pops sometimes when she walks. The only time she is bothered by it is when the weather changes to rain. If she
runs to much it effects her so I limit the amount of running she does
but I also see to it that she stays active. We walk 3/4 times a day.

**MonicanHonda** · 03-16-2009, 09:13 PM

Like everyone said, keep her active and give glucosamine and chondroitin. I did this with Honda before I realized it was her cancer not joint pain. :-/