Can you beat wear and tear?

I recently met someone with a 15-year-old dog that was just amazing, so agile. My dog is just 10 years old yet looks very much older.
I chatted with the owner and I just wish I'd had a tape recorder as she reeled off a list of things that she used to keep the spring in her dog's step.
I felt terrible, I haven't changed my dog's regime at all – I'd just assumed getting a bit creaky was natural in old age. That all dogs get natural wear and tear on their joints.
Can someone take me firmly in hand!
What should I try first?
Chris Adams, Dorset

I wonder what breed the other lady’s dog was, and what breed your own dog is? Do remember that smaller breeds tend to age slower than larger, and may be less prone to joint problems, for example. Have you owned your dog from a puppy, so that you know all of his or her history? If not, then he or she may have had a poor start to life.
After all, some people are very sprightly at an advanced age. How many times does one hear interviews with centenarians where some have said they have smoked and drunk all their lives, whilst others have never touched a drop of alcohol nor drawn on a single cigarette?
I have always had an interest in older dogs and trying to keep them with us for as long as possible, with as good a quality of life as possible. There have been many innovations over the years, such as geriatric or senior dog food (for example, lower more easily digested by the older gut, higher quality protein at a level suited to ageing kidneys and liver). There are prescription drugs to combat senility, one of which often has the useful side-effect of helping control urinary incontinence (fantastic when my old border collie miraculously dried up), and specific prescription drugs for urinary incontinence.
Creaky joints are a pet interest, because I think many owners fail to recognise the pain element of stiffness. ‘Oh, he is a bit stiff after resting but that soon wears off… no, he is not in pain.’ Having experienced pain from a stiff back and neck, I think that there is all too often a painful part to a stiff joint. If I can persuade the owner of a stiff dog to try him or her on a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory for a week or so, they will often come back reporting that it is like knocking years off their dog’s age!
Dietary supplements are worth investigating. I suspect the person you met will have named various things to add to your dog’s food, such as chondroitin, glucosamine, omega-3 fatty acids. There are also foods available designed to support the joints, both prescription and on general sale. Pippin has worn a magnet on her collar for the past five years, and I have had some miraculous results in previously stiff dogs.
Is your dog’s body condition ideal, or is he or she carrying surplus weight? It is vital to ensure ageing joints are not having to support excess bodyweight. The terrain where you exercise your dog is also important, as are the length and frequency of walks. Those joints need to be kept moving, but also allowing for rest as well. Hydrotherapy or controlled swimming exercise is great because it is non-weight-bearing activity.
So, don’t feel guilty that you have not changed your dog’s regime as he or she has aged because it may be that what you are doing is entirely suited to your own dog. Your veterinary practice may run a geriatric clinic where you can receive more specific advice geared to your own dog after a full assessment.
Alison Logan, vet

Joint problems are one of the biggest issues that our pets encounter and are particularly common as they age. There are many reasons for joint problems, commonly a reduction in the synovial fluid within joints, and these can result in problems and pain. Common causes are natural wear, injury, and infection.
Syno-Vital® Pet is an easy-to-use liquid feed supplement, which can be used to keep joints healthy, maintain bones and keep a pets coat shiny-smooth. Unlike glucosamine supplements, Syno-Vital contains only hyaluronan which has been described as ‘nature’s healing agent’. It has an important role in bone health, reducing friction by lubricating joints, absorbing shocks, and supplying oxygen and nutrients.
For more information contact Molar Ltd on 01934 710022 www.molarltd.co.uk/synovital_pet/index.htm