I have put together this little shopping guide of products that I have used for my greyhounds over the years. My second dog, Shannon, had particularly bad arthritis, so we tried many, many products, before we found ones that worked and were affordable. We tried Rimadyl on him, and it was a total disaster. He went from being unable to walk because of pain, to being unable to walk because he was so dizzy from the drug! I am happy to say that, with the help of these products, we were able to keep Shanny drug-free for all but the last year of his life, at which point his doctor added a low dose of Tramadol and an aspirin to his regimen.
Arthrisoothe Gold (click photos to check prices)
I never would’ve thought that something like this unassuming tablet, which looks like pressed lawn-clippings, would work…but it does! The only reason we even tried it was that a friend of my husband has high praise for how well it worked on his Doberman’s joints. We were actually worried that we might have to put Shanny to sleep, he was that miserable. With the help of this product – and a good support harness – we were able to give Shannon a few more comfortable years.
Cosequin
Probably the most popular pet joint supplement on the market. I used it early on with my dogs. It works, but it does get expensive.
Swanson Glucosamine/MSM/Chondroitin
I love Swanson supplements. I use them for my husband and myself, as well as for our current greyhound, Lily. They are a very reputable company with high standards for the best ingredients. I used many joint supplements over the years, and I find I do great on this particular one. Lily is doing well on it, too. It’s convenient for her, because I can open up the capsule, sprinkle half the contents on her lunch, and save the rest for dinnertime.
Support Harness for Wobbly Legs
I can’t honestly recommend the one I used for Shanny – For one thing, it wore out quickly and had to be shored up with duct tape. I was also never quite satisfied with the way it fit. This one had all of the features I want in a support harness, especially for a greyhound – The belly pad is wide enough to distribute his weight, without putting too much pressure in any one area. Don’t be put off by all the straps. The more points of adjustment, the more secure and comfortable the harness. Another essential is that it has two handles, and a long strap. This makes it much easier on your back, and two handles are wonderful, if you have someone helping you with the dog.
Pet-safe Heating Pad
I love this gentle bed-warmer so much, I bought three of them. I’ve had them for twenty years, and they’re still in good shape, and providing safe, gentle heat.
Egg-crate Foam Pad
I buy one of these large pads every four years. I cut it into four pieces, and the dog gets a fresh one every birthday.
Ye Olde Ice Bag
They call ice the “poor man’s aspirin.” If you haven’t tried ice on your greyhound’s arthritis, you will be pleasantly surprised at how soothing it is for him. I was hesitant to try it, because old greyhounds get cold so easily. When I put the ice bag on Shannon’s hip, and he let out one of his big, gusty sighs, I knew I was on to something!
Bladder Supplements
I add bladder supplements to this list, because incontinence often comes with old age aches and pains. If it hurts to get up, your grey may not be as good about getting up on time. He may be sleeping more deeply, and leak a bit. Just as his leg muscles become weaker, so do those which support his bladder. Fortunately, there are wonderful natural supplements for this. Definitely do not put your dog on prescription drugs for incontinence, until you have tried these. As with all natural supplements, they may take a few weeks to fully kick in; but many owners see improvement right away.
Such was the case this past summer with my grey, Lily. She just turned eight, and was starting to spot urine on her bed, when she was asleep. The spots started getting bigger. One day, we were out too long and missed her walk, and she actually wet her crate. I knew it was time to do something. I put her on these. The spots got smaller within days, and were gone by the end of the month. Now, three months later, she’s doing great.
I wish I’d known about these for Shannon. By the time I found them, we had nicknamed him “Puddles.” With the help of the supplement, we were able to get him back to where he was just spotting, and maintain that for the rest of his life. That’s not as messy as it sounds – Arthritic dogs tend to stay in their beds and not muve around much, so it was easy to slide a disposible pad under him, and keep him clean with baby wipes and washcloths.
Vetriscience Bladder Strength
This is the product that Lily is using now.
NaturVet Senior Advanced Incontinence Dog Supplement
Once Lily is older, she may need something more potent. This one is a good choice:
