Senior dog's stiff legs. Can I give joint supplements without vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree that this is possibly arthritis especially if this has been an issue before. Usually this can improved with joint supplements like Cosequin and the food Science Diet j/d. Pain control medications such as NSAIDs and gabapentin can be used on an as needed basis to help with pain. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment of this. If they agree that this is likely, they can go ahead and prescribe this to help her. Good luck and have a great day!

Arthritis is definitely a possibility. You could start him on a joint supplement, like Dasuquin and see if that helps. Your vet could also take an x-ray to evaluate for arthritis and then start him on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, like Deramaxx, Previcox, Rimadyl, etc. NSAIDs help relieve the discomfort associated with arthritis.

There are a few more things that you can add into his daily regiment that may help. Continue giving him the current medications. You can try adding in a supplement called Duralactin that often compliments the glucosamine. You could also try giving him an additional joint supplement called Adequan. This is an injectable product that many dogs respond very favorably to. There are also diets that can be beneficial, I recommend Royal Canin Mobility support. Lastly, supplementing Bogey with an additional omega fatty acid supplement for dogs can also help in addition to the current supplements. I do recommend for Bogey to have a visit with his veterinarian. The doctor will check on the progression of any arthritis or other painful areas. It may be time to start Bogey on an actual pain medication such as Rimadyl or Gabapentin. You would likely use these meds and still continue his supplements. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Anti-inflammatories need to be prescribed by your vet. But I highly recommend starting an Omega 3 fish oil which is a natural anti-inflammatory. I like Nordic Naturals or VRS Omega Benefits. Also I prefer veterinary glucomamines like Dasuquin or Glycoflex. I wish you the best! https://www.vrshealth.com/canine-products/omegadog/ https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=34368 https://m.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=33709

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If Poncho is lame in one of his legs, he could have an injury ranging from a problem with his toes to something in his shoulder (front leg) or his hips (hind leg). If this is a chronic issue, it is possible Poncho has some arthritis in his joints, which may benefit from a joint supplement. However, if Poncho has a soft tissue injury or something like a fracture or dislocation of any of his bones or joints, a supplement will not help. I recommend restricting Poncho's activity for 3-5 days and see if this helps his lameness. If he is no longer limping on the leg after this rest, this may have just been a soft tissue injury that needed time to heal. If his lameness does not improve or worsens over this time, I recommend having Poncho seen by a veterinarian. He/she can perform a full physical exam and orthopedic exam to localize his pain and determine the best course of treatment. As a reminder, NEVER give dogs pain medication that is intended for humans, as these can be fatally toxic to dogs. I hope this is helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would absolutely talk to your vet about this. There are lots of medication options that are stronger than supplements and could possibly help Sampson be a lot more comfortable. You can even discuss non-medication options like physical therapy and laser treatment. Your vet can go over the best options for you and Sampson. Kisses to him!

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.