What is the best joint supplement for a 16-year-old dog with weakness in rear legs?

Try Zeel

It's recommended by Dr. Martin Goldstein DVM

(you can google "zeel arthritis dogs" for lots of sites.)

And here is info about pain management for dogs

Tells you about a variety of pain medications, their advantages and disadvantages, and how they work

http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/pain-manageme...

I've also heard of New Chapter Zyflamend recommended by holistic vets.

If you were interested, cold laser therapy is supposed to help arthritis

http://www.nyholisticvet.com/veterinary-low-level-...

(that link is with horses but it's used for dogs too)

Raw chicken feet are supposed to be quite high in glucosamine..as a treat.

P.S. I agree you are doing something right! Maggie must know how loved she is. Awesome.

Wow, you are doing it all right! : ) A dog like yours at 16 would be like a human in her mid 90's! Congratulations!

Raise Maggie's food and water bowls up so she doesn't have to go to the floor with her mouth to eat nor drink. Try an orthopedic bed. If it's heated, make sure she can get off the heat easily.

If she slips on hardwood or tile and that's a problem, then put down throw rug runners for her.

Look at www.seniorpetproducts.com for things like ramps and slings that go underneath the chest/belly to help lift an older dog. I believe they have those that velcro around the belly and you help lift like a suitcase when she needs it.

Some people like to massage their dog's legs. Your vet may or may not show you how -- and it probably wouldn't really matter, just massaging gently, she'd probably like that.

There are injections that some vets try -- you can ask your vet whether your dog is a candidate for them. The dogs go in every couple of weeks or each week for a certain number of injections. When they work, it's wonderful. Askk whether there's a special laser treatment that'd be helpful. I'm just not too sure about either of them, since I have no personal experience -- have just seen some who have.

If you had access to a heated pool, OH she'd love that, and it'd be so good for her. I don't know where you are.

You have done such a great job with your friend. Enjoy her as long as you can.

One thing that helped some of my dogs in their old age with arthritis, was a series of cartrophen injections.

They are given one week apart for 3 or 4 weeks, then 6 monthly/yearly tops up thereafter.

It gave them a new lease on life for their last years.

It is not a pain killer - it regenerates the cartilage between the joints.

Thereby easing pain and increasing mobility.

Your dog is very old though, but speak with your vet - it may be worth a try.

I had an old Dobe who could hardly get around - After even the first needle, he was like I had just taken several years off his lifespan!!

I also feed green lipped mussels - whole.

And shark cartilage – Large piece which the dogs love to chew.

I don’t bother with the powdered versions anymore.

MSM is another thing to try.

Best of luck with your girl!

http://www.kvh.com.au/Cartrophen%20Vet.html

I hate to say this but at 16 years old there is nothing that is going to help this dogs arthritis apart from pain killers from the vets.

Have you tried Metacam? its very good for arthritis pain in dogs but only available with a prescription from the vets.

Its too late in the dogs life to start on Glucosamine and not all dogs respond to this supplement anyway.

Good Luck.

Well, you already have the most important answer - take him to the vet. It could be any number of serious problems that you shouldn't waste time on. I really hope he is better soon! We have dachshunds, which are another small breed, and you really should not let him jump up and down off of the furniture. The couch is not that high, but in proportions, it would be the same as you routinely jumping off the garage and it won't take long for something serious to happen to the spine and nerves. One of my dogs jammed her shoulders after a light jump off the couch and it took a few weeks of steroids to get her back to being able to walk decently.

I find that my 15 year old Aussie gets the most relief from going to the vet for cortisone shots. They are really inexpensive and last for 4/6 weeks

the best treatment could be hydra therapy (even if she dosnt like water it is realy good ) it straightens muscles with out the strain of walking