What supplements are best for my healthy senior dog's aging?

Supplements are usually unnecessary as long as you are feeding a formulated dog food. There are various supplements that have shown mixed results about preventing certain diseases and helping with treatment with certain diseases, but the scientific evidence is not enough (despite a great deal of research with some supplements) for me to recommend an owner to give supplements to a healthy dog. The CoQ10 is a more recently studied supplement that does show promise for certain conditions, but again, the evidence is lacking enough that I wouldn't recommend it be given regularly to prevent certain conditions. The CoQ10 supplements and other ones are usually rather safe though, so I can't say it will hurt to give them. I would recommend consulting with your vet before you do in case Gerald has any conditions that would contraindicate their use and so you can get a precise dose for Gerald. I hope that helps and all is well with Gerald.

Hello, Prince may indeed benefit from joint supplements at minimum. However, any supplements that you will be offering to Prince would be most adequate if recommended by your veterinarian since they will know Prince's medical history and requirements the best. Once he has undergone an evaluation, then your veterinarian may recommend supplements either from their office or some that you may obtain over the counter at a supplement store. Please schedule a wellness exam with your primary care veterinarian and discuss if Prince would benefit from supplements. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If you are giving Motis a dog food formulated for senior dogs, she will be getting all the vitamins and minerals she needs to be healthy. You can give her a glucosamine supplemental which will help with her joint health, but otherwise no other supplements are needed. Too many vitamins and minerals can be detrimental to her health, so you want to avoid overdosing her on those. I recommend feeding a high quality senior dog food food such as Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Purina ProPlan, or Iams. Best of luck.

Hello. The best thing to do is start Bella on a good glucosamine supplement. Products made by Nutramax like Cosequin are excellent. A good quality fish oil supplement may be started, too, as this can help some aging changes & may also help with her itching. Do consider one of the Nordic Natural fish oil supplements as they are highly regarded by veterinarians. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I suspect Hank may have some arthritis. It is very common for dogs of all breeds, shapes, sizes to get arthritis as they age. The only true way to definitely diagnose arthritis would be with x-rays. I suggest you take Hank to your vet for an examination - there may be obvious clues to the vet that arthritis (or something else) is present. In the meantime you can try using a joint supplement that is made for dogs (not humans). I would use one that has the following ingredients: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). The MSM is very important as it is a natural anti-inflammatory. I would suggest one of the following products; ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=118402 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=115737 ) ( https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198943_Home.pml?productId=116465 ) It usually takes 6-8 weeks before you notice any difference once you start giving it to him so it use for a minimum of 2 months. If after that he does not seem to be doing much better you should really take him in to your vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If at all possible I recommend a vet visit for Skeeter to do a little senior blood work. Many times this can tell us if there is something wrong that medications or diet change can help. And the vet can also prescribe medication for his arthritis. There is nothing over the counter that is safe for a little dog. Please avoid aspirin even if sold for dogs as many dogs develop severe gastric ulcers from aspirin. Glucosamine supplements such as Dasquin can help but if he is painful her may need something stronger. Sometimes older dogs can benefit from melatonin at night if they are disoriented but discuss the dosing with his veterinarian. I hope Skeeter is comfortable and happy for many more years.

We can always help our four-legged friends age as gracefully as possible by staying on top of their wellness care. This includes regular visits to the veterinarian for physical exams and blood tests, as well as staying active and healthy at home. Keep your dog at a healthy body weight. Overweight dogs have additional strain placed on their joints, which can exacerbate existing arthritis, and are at a higher risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. Feed your dog a high quality diet and avoid offering too many treats or table foods since these can quickly pack on the pounds. A general guideline is that treats should represent less than 10% of your dog’s total food volume. Routine veterinary care is also critical for picking up on small problems before they become larger concerns. Although age is not a disease, our aging dogs are more prone to developing a variety of health conditions. Once your dog reaches “senior” status, it is recommended to increase the frequency of visits to the veterinarian from once a year to every 6 months. For an average-sized dog, this happens at 7 years of age, but for giant breeds like Great Danes and Newfoundlands, this occurs early, at 5 – 6 years of age. During this time, your veterinarian will be able to perform a full physical exam and routine blood tests to assess overall health of the heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, mouth, and joints.