Caring for Your Senior Dog

When that furry face you love starts to show the white whiskers of a senior dog, you have to pay attention to changes in their behavior. Are they getting up a little slower? Hesitating before they jump in the car? There are new treatment options for dog osteoarthritis, plus therapy options and aids that can help them continue being their frisky self.

(Cover Photo: Tammy Lynne has regular therapy sessions regarding why her mom splits treats in half and pretends it’s a whole treat.)

Tammy Goes to the Vet – A Senior Dog

She’s always had the lazy sit, with one leg out to the side, even as a puppy. But this was different. This was my Tammy Lynne getting old, seemingly overnight.

First, Tammy stopped being able to jump onto the bed. Then she stopped jumping into the car. She dragged her back nails on the pavement when she walked. When she slipped on my tile floors and struggled to get up, I finally took her to the vet.

Diagnosis: Osteoarthritis (OA). “Dogs don’t always show us they’re in pain,” said the doctor, not knowing it was like a knife to my heart.

I’d heard all about adding supplements like glucosamine to an older dog’s food. Did I do it? No. And now I felt guilty as heck.

I walked out with a prescription bottle of carprofen (brand name Rimadyl, an anti-inflammatory and pain reducer) and treatment pamphlets for various drugs.

Medical Treatments for Osteoarthritis in Dogs

My vet gave me information on three possible treatment paths:

• Galliprant – anti-inflammatory specifically for OA inflammation and pain, without the typical gastrointestinal issues of carprofen
• Adequan – series of injections that restores joint lubrication, relieves inflammation and protects cartilage
• Librela – monthly injection that provides pain control through blocking nerves

I talked it over with some vets and techs in the rescue community who had used Adequan on their senior dogs with great results. I scheduled the first 4-week injection series (2X weekly) and ordered the first month of Galliprant in July 2026. I can already tell the Adequan is working! Stay tuned for updates.

• Adequan: ~$550 per 4-week injection series for a 70lb dog; additional shot series to be scheduled when effects diminish
• Galliprant: ~$100 per month

For more information on veterinary treatment for OA, talk to your veterinarian to find the right options for your dog.

Over the Counter Supplements for Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Glucosomine, Condroitin, Hyaluronic acid and Omega-3 fatty acids are the go-to supplements for dogs (and people) for stiff joints and cartilage protection. But the newest game in town is called UC-II Collegen. Typically made from chicken cartilage, it’s been shown to improve mobility and lower inflammation in dogs with joint issues or arthritis.

More importantly, my vet recommended Jope, a supplement with UC-II and Omega-3. That went into the Amazon cart on a subscription delivery basis once a month.

Before hearing about Jope, I had also purchased these two options. Tammy’s allergic to brewer’s yeast, a filler used in many supplements, so I have to research carefully. Both Winpro Hip & Joint and Progility Hip & Joint are yeast-free.

Therapy Treatments for a Senior Dogs with Osteoarthritis

Red light therapy increases blood flow and collagen formation plus reduces pain and inflammation. Look for a device that has settings from red (620-700nm) and near-infrared (700-1100) wavelengths. Settings of 620-660 are for surface level skin issues. Near-infrared at 850 nanometers is what’s needed to get through the fur and reach muscle and bone. You can purchase these as hand-held treatment wands, full body mats or as wearables — lots of options on Amazon — but make sure that it has a 850 nanometer setting.

Full-body electromagnetic therapy using a Petspemf Pad was another recommendation from my vet, delivering therapy every time she slept. But honestly I couldn’t bring myself to spend the $500 on a sleeping mat that my dog would likely ignore (see below with her new dog bed). I put that in the “maybe later” column.

Massage is a way to relieve your dog’s aching muscles plus spend some quality time together. You don’t have to be an expert. If you’ve ever had a massage, what felt good to you? Tammy just closes her eyes as I massage from the hip joint down to her knee and ankle, flexing the joints back and forth as I go. If you prefer a professional, I recommend Brad Winkler with Houston Dog Mechanic. Genuine good guy plus Certified Canine Massage Therapist and member of International Association for Animal Massage and Bodywork.

Water therapy is another recommended treatment for keeping joints flexible and retaining muscle mass. And top in the field is K9 Hydrotherapy at K9 Health Center, 1025 Yale Street in the Houston Heights. Talk to them to see if this can help your dog.

TIP: Keep walking your dog. Maintain regular exercise with them, even if you have to shorten your route.

Mobility Aids for Senior Dogs – Helping them Walk on Tile or Wood Floors

I have 100% tile, a slippery surface that her Tammy’s hind end can’t handle if she moves quickly. Here are options to help your senior dog walk on slippery tile and wood floors:

Rugs – Yup, get throw rugs and runners and put them everywhere. Check out the sale bins at Home Depot, Home Goods, At Home and search low cost rugs on Amazon. Make sure to use double-sided tape to keep them from sliding, or you’re just creating another slip hazard for your pet.

Shoes or Socks with Traction – Yeah, these are great if your dog will keep them on. Or if the socks don’t twist around so the grippy part is on the top side of the paw. Tammy says no thanks. (Actually she says “get these off me or I’ll kill you in your sleep.”)

Dr. Buzby’s Toe Grips – As your dog’s paw hits the ground, the pads compress and the nails touch the ground. Adding toe grips helps reduce sliding. The mack-daddy original is Dr Buzby’s Toe Grips. I asked friends on Facebook and got a 50/50 result on whether they worked or not. I ordered them but then looked at Tammy’s paws and sighed. Since she’s already dragging her back paws on walks, the nails are down to nubbins, with no way to attach them. Returns were easy, as are exchanges if you buy the wrong size.

Dog Friendly Co. Dog Paw Pad Protectors. I call these her Magic Running Shoes and I LOVE THEM. She gets great traction in the house and gets frisky when I stick on a new pair. With Tammy’s active lifestyle (doggie door all day plus sidewalk outings in AM/PM), they only last 2 days. I apply them just to her back feet, which makes the package last longer. There are lower cost copy-cat versions online as well, but I can confirm Dog Friendly Co has fantastic customer service and is worth the little bit extra.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Ignore Your Senior Dog’s Issues

Don’t ignore your dog’s senior issues. They will only get worse. And like my vet said, dogs often don’t show pain the way humans do. Get your dog to the vet and get some relief for osteoarthritis.

AMAZON AFFILIATE: If you purchase items on this page, you may be using an affiliate link. Any compensation received is used to keep my dog in kibble, Jope and Magic Running Shoes.