Cotton wool coat

I have a three-year-old neutered Golden Retriever.
Even though he is fed a good diet, his coat is like cotton wool!
I wondered if anyone could suggest anything to make it more silky and shiny - but not too high in calories as that is an issue also!

Thanks

Wendy, via email 

Health kick

Will my elderly dog be more healthy and less susceptible to illness if I feed him a grain free food?

My cocker spaniel is 12 years old now and I want to keep him active and mobile. He is less energetic than he used to be and I’m scared of him developing health problems. I know there are lots of supplements on the market, but I don’t know where to begin in choosing one. I don’t know which ingredients I should be looking for or if this will even make a difference to his health.

Any advice you can give would be really helpful.

Karen, by email 

Too much of a good thing?

I saw advertised in the January edition of Dogs Today, 3mega supplement (page 8)

I thought of getting some for my two-year-old Golden Retriever.

Can a dog have too much omega 3 ?

Thanks,

Wendy, by email

Keeping tip top

I take probiotics to keep me going and I really feel the benefits.

Do dogs benefit from these types of supplements, and, if so, where can I find them? 

Lesley, by email

A case in joint

Hi,

I own an eight-year-old Toy Poodle who trains hard and competes at both agility and canine freestyle and has done since he was 18 months. He has never substained an obvious injury but this past year has been showing stiffness in his joints after training. This is usually in the evening and with a rest he seems fine by the morning.

I was wondering if anyone could reccomend a supplement for him as he is not currently on anything. Or do any of your readers have experience of other techniques helping, such as physio? I'd be grateful for any feedback.

Thank you.

Ruth Harris, Norfolk

Casing the joint

I’ve been doing local agility classes with my 7 year old Lab x for the last three years and he loves it. However I’ve noticed that he’s started showing signs of stiffening up, especially in this cold weather. It’s not severe enough for medication but I’m looking into supplements...

What would you advise to help keep him supple, we’d both love to be able to carry on with the classes?

Thank you,

Jill, by email

Every dog to her taste

Hi Dogs Today,

Can you help me please? I have noticed my senior dog’s coat is not quite what it used to be. She doesn't have any allergies that I know about, but can appear to have itchy skin from time to time also.

Unfortunately, being a fussy eater, if I add any supplements such as oil to her meals she turns her nose up at it, quite literally!

Is there any other way of getting some extra nutrients into her?

Thank you.

V. Matthews, by email

Veggie supplements

Does any body know anything about vegetarian glucosamine for dogs?

My dog can not have the ordinary stuff due to a shellfish intolerance. I want to give her some nutritional support for her hips and knees as she has had a problem in the past.

I would like to know if it is effective, and which is the best brand, and where I might be able to get it from. I really would appreciate any comments and experiences other readers have had with vegetarian glucosamine.
 
Thanks,

Lesley Noke, by email

Another supplementary question

Thanks everyone for your response to the question regarding supplements for older dogs. We've noticed a fair few people saying they've given their dogs supplements since they were pups, and thought this might make an interesting feature for the next issue.

So, if you wouldn't mind, can you share with readers which supplements you give your dogs, old and young? Which ones work well for your dog, and do you know why?

Do you have any questions we can put to the manufacturers?

Do you give your dog any natural remedies? What can you recommend?

Thank you!

The Dogs Today team

Old timer

Hello Dogs Today,

My Lab, Molly, is getting on a bit now and doesn’t enjoy such long walks anymore. A friend suggested adding supplements to her diet to ease her joints, but I’ve had a look online and there are so many that I don’t know where to start. Some make quite substantial claims that they can perform miracles too.

Can you tell me which supplements would help Molly along a bit, and how they work? If any readers could recommend any good ones I’d be grateful.

Thank you,

Sally Probert, by email

Supplementary support

I have three fabulous Jack Russell boys, one of whom (Graham) was featured in your "Good Boy Awards' in July 2008, after I had rescued him. A few weeks ago I noticed that Graham was doing the classic couple of coughs, and clearing his throat that all dogs do now and again, but more often than was normal. My vet gave him some antibiotics and anti inflammatory tables to rule out infection. This seemed to help initially, probably due to the anti inflams., but then he started this coughing again.

This time at the vets he had X-rays, and unfortunately Graham (now aged seven) has an enlarged heart, this is pressing on his trachea, and he has a small amount of fluid on his lungs. He is still very happy, perky, cheeky and energetic. He has been put on Vetmedin for his heart, for the rest of his life, and a couple of weeks worth of diuretics to get rid of the fluid, with a follow up consultation in a weeks time.

My question is can I give any other supplements to support Graham's condition? I have heard of a supplement called Taurine which is supposed to help with heart function. I don't want to overdo it though.

He has a daily sprinkle of 'Pooch & Mutt's' Bionic Biotics, a natural health supplement on his evening meal, and as I said apart from the coughing sessions a couple of times a day, he looks in peak condition.

Many thanks,

Sara Marlow, by email

Which joint supplement is best?

Hi

Can anyone tell me which are the best joint supplements for dogs? I use them because my eight-year-old JRT had a leg injury a few months ago (cruciate, but not complete tear) and although recovered, has days when he limps and looks sorry or himself. He's very active and hard to keep from 'doing too much'. I use Vetroflex (for cartilage regeneration) with success, and also Yumove (for pain relief, I hope!).

I have noticed that some of the well known supplements 'boast' that they contain NO Devils Claw and some say NO Glucosamine but they don't say why not. Are there any of these 'typical' ingredients which shouldn't be taken in conjunction with each other? Help, I'm confused, any ideas please?

Thank you
Sara Marlow, by email

A supplementary question...

We are doing an article in the next issue of the magazine on supplements and I'd like to ask you some questions - I hope you don't mind!
What supplements - if any - do you give your dog and why?
My old Mum had an enormous number of extras she gave our dogs and I'm just wondering if anyone else has some tips they swear by?
Tell us a bit more about your dog either on here in the comments section or email me with a photo - if you have one. But don't forget put 'Supplements' in the subject so I don't lose them - I do have a very full in box!
So if you have a row of bottles, I want to know what they are and why and what you feel they do for your dog! Or if there's just one addition to your dog's diet you couldn't be doing without I'd like to know all about it!
Best wishes
Beverley Cuddy
Editor, Dogs Today
My email address is beverley@dogstodaymagazine.co.uk

Growing old gracefully

I have a Border Collie bitch who is nearly 10 years old, and I have recently noticed that her tail has lost some of its bushiness, especially around the base. Is this normal as a dog ages?
She is fed a raw chicken wing every morning and a scoop of Burns every evening, sometimes with added meat and veg. Should I supplement her diet in any way to help her cope with the ageing process?
She is spayed and weighs 15kg so is quite a small collie. She has so far shown no signs of athritis and is happy and active.
Mrs V Garrad, by email