Author Topic: Supplements for older hunting dogs  (Read 1233 times)

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Offline pathfinder

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« on: October 23, 2005, 03:48:42 PM »
Well my "pups" are 8 and 9.  and still mighty effective hunters but they ain't what they used to be, sorta like their master but I'd like to keep em in the field as long as they remain enthusiasic and capable.

I was wondering about suppliments.  I've been using "missing link" powder added to their food for a few years now but was wondering if there might be something better.  I sure can't complain but I sure want to maximize their health and joy for as long as possible.  

I was also told there is no difference between the glucosomine in food additives and those that are available for humans.  True?

TIA

Offline Don Fischer

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2005, 12:46:22 PM »
Theres a lot of unknowns here. Why were you feeding supplements in the first place? Unless theres some physical reason to supplement, its not necessary. But if your using a poor dog food, it is. I've tried lots of foods and most were good. But for grocery store foods, I'd stick to purnia dog chow, purina hi-pro, purina one or kal kan pedigree. I fed Pedigree for years to field trial dogs and hunting dogs. I expected a trial dog to stay down 3 hours and a hunting dog, all day. I could run all of them for a couple days then physical fatigue took over.

The premiun foods are all good but The best food I ever fed was kennel ration biscuit. Its baked and not only holds up the dogs well, they love it. I've never seen a dog not eat it!

Its my belief that supplements, other then for physical necessity, do more to make the owner feel good and make money for the supplement manfacturer. Stick your hand in a bag of food and you'll feel a greasy feel on your hand. Thats oil sprayed on the food as a flavor inhancer, you won't find it in kenel ration biscuit. Oh yes, some dogs don't do well on soy meal either. In fact many dogs that eat soy base products develope horrible gas!
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Offline victorcharlie

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2005, 01:40:14 AM »
While not a feed suppliment, lots of the field trial guys "juice up" their dogs with Nutri-cal.  This comes in a tooth paste type tube.  In a beagle field trial, the dogs are usually cast several times before a winner is declared......So, if your dog draws out good, he has time to rest between casts........If he draws out poor, he might have to run consecutive cast with fresh dogs.......This is usually when the Nutri-cal comes out..........If your dogs start to slow a little, you might want to try giving them a little after lunch........Which brings up another point, have you tried taking a break while hunting and feeding the dogs about half their normal ration?  Dogs burn a lot of calories in a short time.......
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Offline Mikey

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2005, 03:02:01 AM »
For all of my older guys I usually go with something like a Glucosimine and Condroiten combo, or a Gly-co Flex (which contains some of the both) or some Shark Cartiledge (also copntains Glucosimine).   When my guys start to get near 11 y/o and seem to get stiff or sore from running about, most of those seem to help.  It also makes me feel better seeing them up and about without pain.

I've used Pedigree canned and dry for 25 yrs and my guys seem to hold up well to it.  

I treat my older dogs the same way I treat myself - when I get stiff I take some anti-stiffness stuff, take it easy for a day or two and see how we both feel (lolol).  

I know some folks who use Glucosimine for themselves and sometimes it is tough to get to within eye-watering distance of them (lolol) - must be the industrial garlic supplement they take with it to get it down.  Mikey.

Offline Ahab

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2005, 09:33:24 AM »
We sometimes have a German Shep as a house guest. I believe he's about 9 or 10 years old and has arthritis. His Vet recommended the gluco/condrin combo about 6 months ago and we see a definate improvement in his mobility.
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Offline victorcharlie

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2005, 11:19:40 AM »
That's interesting......do you remember what brand food it is?
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Offline Ahab

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2005, 08:09:48 AM »
Quote from: victorcharlie
That's interesting......do you remember what brand food it is?


It's actually a supplement which helps revitalize worn joints in people. Can be gotten at Walgreens, OSCO, etc. A little pricey but seems to work. :-)
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Offline ShadowMover

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Supplements for older hunting dogs
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2005, 08:37:23 AM »
I have a big 120 pound, 7 year old Alaskan Husky Malamute female. She is not a hunter or a field dog. She was getting real stiff in her hips and the vet started her on Rimadyl as an anti inflammatory and on the Glucosamine type pills. She is doing so well it's hard to believe she ever had a problem with arthritis. She races around the yard like a puppy now. We have weaned her down to 1/2 a Rimadyl a day and it is easier on her stomach. I wasn't a big believer in the supplements until I saw the results. I haven't noticed any 'gas' problems with her on the supplements.  We have cut back on her food and she lost a little weight too, to about 110.