How can I help my old dog move better and live a longer life?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. 17.5 years old is great! My late dachshund just passed away in June and was 20 years old. It's always nice to have a friend that sticks around this long! It sounds as though Zak may be dealing with some arthritic pain causing him difficulty to position himself to defecate. I would recommend starting joint supplements and pain medications to see if this helps. I would also add fiber to his diet such as canned pumpkin or green beans to help normalize his stool movements. I would have a veterinarian examine Zak and discuss pain medication and joint supplement options with you . I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns that I may help you with.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Her signs are likely the result of her advanced age. However, they are pain medications that make her feel better. She likely has some degree of arthritis effecting her mobility. If some pain medication could increase her quality of life, I think that would be wonderful. In the meantime, be sure not to give any over-the-counter pain medication as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Sounds like your dog is having quite a few mobility issues. I'm not sure your how old your dog is, but with these symptoms I would suspect an older dog. There are things you can do to help (to a point) like adding a ramp or pet stairs to make going up and down easier, a good memory foam bed to soothe achy bones, glucosamine will help lubricate her joints so she moves a little easier, your vet may be able to offer some pain meds for the bad days but these are all temporary solutions. If she is an older pet this is where considering quality of life becomes important. She may be an older pet where these conditions get worse until she can't get outside to the bathroom and get to the food bowl. Simply getting to the necessities becomes a chore, that is not a life. It would be best to let her have her dignity and let her go if that is the case. Enjoy the time you have left together.

Hello, while I am glad you have been using a good joint supplement, it sounds like your girl needs some more serious pain medication for her osteoarthritis. There are many to choose from, and they can literally give an aging pet a new lease on life. I have literally seen crippled dogs that owners wanted to euthanize become happy, active pets. The first thing to do is see your veterinarian for a thorough exam, blood work & possible x-rays & hopefully start your pet on a medication to ease her pain. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Olivia. As they age it can be so difficult as their internal organs are functioning perfectly but their bodies are developing arthirits which can be crippling. I would start her on some joint supplements if you haven't already. I like dasuquin and flexadin. You can actually do both as long as your seaparate each one by 12 hours so you would give dasuquin in the AM and flexadin in the PM. If she has trouble slipping on slick floors I would consider buying some Dr. Buzby's toegrips to help with traction. You can also start her on an omega-3 fatty acid to help with her joints. I would also talk to your vet about an anti-inflammatory to help with pain and inflammation if needed. You don't have to give her this daily but just on the days that she is having a tough time. Although, if every day is tough, then don't hesitate to give it. Finally, I would consider getting her some acupuncture as this can really help relieve pain if you can find one in your area. The goal with geriatrics is to give the a good QUALITY of life over quantity so focus on her pain relief and her mobility to see if you can help her feel better. I hope this helps !

The most likely cause for your dog's pain would be arthritis based on her age and the description of the problem you provided. Arthritis is an extremely common condition in dogs. I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam. There are definitely good medications that can be used to make her feel better. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8896028 )

First I would recommend to have Cloud examined by her veterinarian. Cloud is old enough that she may start to exhibit the beginning signs of hip dysplasia or other growth abnormality. Large and giant breed dogs are prone to the issues and the issues are best addressed while the pet is very young to avoid permanent changes to the body. The veterinarian will need radiographs to look at the joints and determine what to do next. At home you can give her supplements. Start giving an omega 3 fatty acid (Nutramax makes a nice product) can help with natural inflammation control. Make sure to get one meant for pets. Go ahead and start her on a joint supplement. Dasuquin is a good product for the joints. It will help to keep the inflammation in the joints lower and this will decrease pain. If you are interested in a diet change, Royal Canin makes a diet called Mobility Support which has green lipped muscle as an ingredient and pets tend to do very well in it. You cannot use this though until Cloud is adult sized as it is not formulated to support growth of puppies. I hope this is helpful. Please feel free to post any additional questions.