Old dog getting sore

[Orkneyboy]

My old border collie Sam is starting to get a bit sore after exerting himself when working.

He should really be retiring soon but unfortunately my 2 year old dog Bruce died last month so I have no option but to keep working Sam for a while yet.
I should say that he is still very keen to work too!

I am wondering what supplements / oils etc. others on here have given older dogs to keep them in a good physical state towards the end of their working years?

Would prefer to avoid vets / drugs just now as he is not that bad, and they'll just try and get me paying silly money every month for some wonder drug.

Thanks.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Cod liver oil will help.

 

[milkloss]

I don’t think metacam is too bad cost wise once you get them on a background dose. Powerful stuff and works very well.

 

[jamesy]

Thought this was going to be about your dad

 

[Shavings man]

Agree with milkloss regarding metacam used to give it one of our rottweilers she had joint problems last few years it worked wonders from being hard to get about to her running around, ask vet about it.

 

[Top Tip.]

I don’t think metacam is too bad cost wise once you get them on a background dose. Powerful stuff and works very well.

Careful of the metacam,it can kill them as well. I nearly lost a bitch last year who took a bad reaction to the meta cam.

 

[yellowbelly]

Just to save any confusion, Metacam for dogs is an oral medication - not the injection that we use for livestock.

 

[Lili]

'Youmove' tablets - cheapest on Amazon. Kept my old collie going for another 2 years.

 

[milkloss]

Careful of the metacam,it can kill them as well. I nearly lost a bitch last year who took a bad reaction to the meta cam.

Yes, good point, some dogs don’t get on with it, so careful with it.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Turmeric is said to be a natural anti inflammatory which helps arthritis.

I have used it on occasion for my old boy but he's on Loxicom now (similar to metacam but cheaper). As above don't use the injection but the oral liquid designed for dogs.

 

[Longlowdog]

I have a 13 y.o cocker who burst both anterior cruciate ligaments. Metacam ( and a custom brace) got her over the first one and made her comfortable and again whilst the second was allowed to heal naturally. She has now lost the weight she put on whilst ill and is happy and vital and off the Metacam. Vets vary dramatically in what they charge for this drug. My vet was charging less for a large bottle than my families urban vet was charging for a small bottle. A quick squirt into the mouth from the supplied syringe each morning takes seconds and in my case was a game changer.

 

[Shavings man]

I have a 13 y.o cocker who burst both anterior cruciate ligaments. Metacam ( and a custom brace) got her over the first one and made her comfortable and again whilst the second was allowed to heal naturally. She has now lost the weight she put on whilst ill and is happy and vital and off the Metacam. Vets vary dramatically in what they charge for this drug. My vet was charging less for a large bottle than my families urban vet was charging for a small bottle. A quick squirt into the mouth from the supplied syringe each morning takes seconds and in my case was a game changer.

It was all so ligament trouble with our rottweiler , it's good stuff.

 

[br jones]

My collie is 13,i give her a 75g aspirin once every 3 days,make the world of difference to her

 

[Bob the beef]

+1 for oral loxicom/ meta cam. Not difficult to administer nor expensive.

Speak nicely to your farm vet might have a stock of short dated stuff that can go out the back door handy money

 

[rancher]

I had to put down 'misty' this week, she was sixteen, a loyal servant,
She just seemed to lose the use of her legs and she used to be very particular about keeping her bed clean.
just wore out I suppose

 

[Bopeep1981]

Another vote for Metacam/Loxicom, used it for our old Lab after a ligament injury. Also switched his food to one without gluten, and containing glucosamine and chondroitin. I don't know if it really made much difference, but he stayed sound after coming off the Loxicom, until we lost him last autumn to a tumour. We also lifted his bed off the floor, to get him out of draughts.

 

[VMD100]

Loxicom (metacam) can help but the dog/cat version is different with different dosing to your large animal stuff - be best getting your vet to examine to make sure its just wear and tear not a specific problem. Yumove tablets are non-prescription (iirc) our old terriers on them and they do a fair difference to him than without

 

[matty]

Animals can tend to put up with a lot before they show signs of discomfort.
I would get him checked over by a vet it could be something or nothing ,plus if hes the only dog you've got at present you want to look after him to keep him going.
I'm sure hes worh it .

 

[J428TGS]

I’ve had our 11yr old bic on yumove tablets for a month now not making any odds I’d say, she will work but is very sore after, retirement for her I think

 

[MRT]

Pre non-steroidal drugs there were steroids, very good anti inflammatory - a lot of side effects, very cheap. Pain is no fun, try the vet, the dose/cost may be lower than you think, cheap rent for a good working dog?