Natural antiinflammatory supplement?

[irotas]

Unfortunately our yellow lab Manni is starting to stiffen up and limp around more often as he gets older. The vet suggested putting him on antiinflammatory drugs, but before we do that we'd like to try some natural alternatives first.

Right now he's on Zukes Hipaction treats and fish oil. I'm curious what experiences other folks have ad with natural treatments for stiffness/limping in older large breed dogs, both what has worked and what hasn't.

Also, is there a good reference somewhere with what foods/herbs etc are safe/unsafe for dogs? There's plenty of great antiinflammatory supplements for humans but I'm never sure what's OK to give a dog.

Thanks,
Adam

A good glucosamine/chondroitin supplement would help her I'm sure. Also, Ester-C is said to work amazing on dogs with arthritis and hip problems. I started using it months ago and noticed a huge difference in my senior dog that has hip dysplasia and arthritis. She gets 500mg's twice a day.

[MicksMom]

I gave our old Lab ArthriSoothe and MSM. I found the horse formula of the ArthriSoothe to more economical- a 30 day supply for a horse lasted our 75 pound Lab a year. The MSM I just bought in the health food store.

NaturVet

For Annie, we go back and forth between Cosequin and Dr Fosters And Smith's Joint Care.

[irotas]

Good call on the MSM - I found a nice website that supports that idea:
"Glucosamine for Dog Arthritis"

[corgipower]

I've been very happy with Glycoflex.

[Athebeau]

My Rottweiler was diagnosed with severe HD when she was only about 1 1/2 years. She is now 9 years old and she is doing better now that she was then and her mobility is excellent. I used only holistic and natural care for her and raw feeding with as much raw cartridge as possible for the natural glucosamines. I use Nutri Aid GCM which contains Glucosamine, Chondroitine, MSM, Vitamin C and Manganese. It contains all that I look for in a glucosamine supplement. I also give ginger root (dried powder not fresh) and turmeric which excellent results. I have used Yucca root from solid gold in the past but you have to be careful when giving that to not give for extended time frames and only 4 days on 3 days off. It's hard on the digestive tract.

For homeopathy if she has over done it I give her ruta which is excellent. I also keep Rhus tox on hand as well.

[adojrts]

I also use a joint supplement for my dog along with Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with is a natural anti inflammatory.

I would also advise that you be very very careful about putting any dog on a joint supplement meant for horses. I too have horses and when I asked my Vet who is also very much into holistic methods, she said no way. The concentrates for horses along with other ingredients are too strong or some which are fine for horses will cook your dogs kidneys/liver etc.

[Athebeau]

I would also advise that you be very very careful about putting any dog on a joint supplement meant for horses. I too have horses and when I asked my Vet who is also very much into holistic methods, she said no way.

The horse supplement I have my dogs on is for dogs as well as Horses. It's all about measuring it properly, and it states on the bottle how much to give per lb so there is no way you can over dose. I have had my dogs on this particular horse glucosamine supplement for 8 years they are doing excellent, I get bood work done yearly for my dogs over 8 and it always comes back text book excellent. My Vet is very impressed with the health of my dogs He is a homeopathic vet.

I did forget about the fish oil supplement. I mainly feed my dogs fish (from the least toxic environments) with high amounts of omega 3's rather than fish oil supplements. You have to be very careful of packaged fish oils you choose, I normally look for molecularly distilled fish oils as the toxins are taken out. I also look for fish oil in capsules and stored in a manner that air cannot get to the fish oil as fish oil is so unsatruated they oxidize quickly. Also, be sure to give natural Vitamin E as fish oil depletes the vitamin E stores in the body. Look for natural vitamin E containing d-alpha tocopherol plus the other members of the vitamin E family which are beta, gamma and delta tocopherolds. Many only contain d-alpha tocopherol which is only one component and not the healthiest choice.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by adojrts

I also use a joint supplement for my dog along with Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with is a natural anti inflammatory.

I wanted to bring this up again- I am not sure who said it last time, Dekka or you- but I bought Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for T-Bone and I wanted to do this for giving that advice.

Since her surgery she was okay with the glucosamine... but since we have been giving her the Salmon oil she is SO, SO much better! She can romp around with Bo and do her zoomies (I still watch how much she runs) and instead of coming back limping, she barely seems stiff. That advice has made T-Bone's summer!