My old fella

[Glutton4...]

Try 'Googling' for a product called 'No-Bute' it's a fantastic herbal based liquid remedy for Dogs and Horses. It's not cheap but you can get a big vat of it at a better rate than a one litre pot, and I can testify that it works extremely well. Interestingly the chap who owns the company now lives in France. If you are interested I will ask him if there are stockists in France.

[snohare]

Ha Ha Ha....Norty Step Lady .

No no, not THAT kind of joint !!

But I'll go to the Norty Step if you can find me some biccies !

[bobleponge]

Many thanks all for the pointers.
I hate seeing him limping about. Its almost definitely to do with the cold weather, but its like us hooomans, once you get it, you only manage it, you cant get rid of it.

[binley100]

Tell me about it.

[Florence Fennel]

We've had a succession of GS dogs Bob over about 25 years, usually 2 at a time. The last 2 dogs lived to be 15 and 17 respectively, and although they limped about a bit in their last years and became partly blind and deaf, they soldiered on. Wonderful breed of dog and fabulous, faithful friends. I hope you find something to put the spring back in his step.

[Jeanied]

Hi Bob - I've been taking glucosamine and cod liver oil myself for a while now. Trouble is, it is hard to know if it is making a difference as there is no really scientific way of telling. I also used to give cod liver oil to my old springer - but she used to catch them! It certainly made a huge difference to her coat - which reminds me that we also put some olive / vegetable oil in her food - it made her coat incredibly glossy and I think this is one of the things to go for in dogs - look for an improvement in coat condition for any treatment.

[its hilly]

Try human serrapeptase (cheapest) or serra-vet, serra-pet. Its an anti-inflammatory enzyme. And doesnt have the horrible side effects of other antis. I went on it to try to help my skin inflammation and arthritis (result of Lymes disease) it controls the skin and cleared the arthritis. Tried it on my 22 yo fell pony who has arthritis, again now cleared. My mate then tried it on her elderly creaky shepherd, and it de-creaked him to the point he now races their boder collie again. But didnt do much for a pals shetland pony.
Devils claw is very effective on some but doesnt work on others, and does have long term side effects, many equine companies now do dog versions as well as horse.
Glucosomine and chondritin (and I think you need to supplement with one of the vitamins to help absorbtion as its pretty inadsorbable) works on most, but is more expensive and can take several months to show any results.
If you want to try something that you cant find in France PM me, I have an equestrian shop and can get the doggie devils claw easily and and cheaply (although postage could be high?) Can also find the serrapeptase, which is my personal favourite, but no promise it would work on your boy as all natural remedies vary with body chemistry.

[snuffer]

Hi bobleponge, sorry to read your 'old fella' is feeling a bit under the weather. Ask your vet about a product called Cosequine DS. My youngest Basset (Phoebe) takes it every day together with Rimadyl (a non steroidal anti inflamatory) to combat joint pain caused by various skeletal problems. It truly does work wonders.

Looks like Bertie will soon be on the same prescription as he is starting to show signs of arthritis.

[taff]

My shepherd absolutely loved cod liver oil, so you may not have any problems on that score.
I used to massage her back and backlegs too, which seemed to help a bit.
God she was an evil bitch, still miss her now and it's been 10 years.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Like BilboWaggins, I was thinking Acupuncture. I've heard it is really effective for animals. It could be worth investigating Bobster.

[HayleyB]

We give one of our three Glucosamine/chondroitin, it's a supplement used for all animals and humans for easing joints. Ossie takes the big pill like a treat although she's not keen on it she knows she'll get a dentastix afterwards. Luckily she's the only one that has a problem.

[miffy]

Our daisy is getting stiff and has trouble when she gets up/out of her basket so we have started putting a blanket on her when she goes to bed at night, it seems to have helped as she is less stiff as there are no drafts on her.
Sorry about your dog, i look at Daisy too and think how she used to gad about as a puppy and is far more chilled now and spends much more time asleep although last night watching the rugby she was really excited and barking at the tele,prob because Wales were so bad!!!
Take care and hope he responds to some of the excellant suggestions you have been given.