All the major joints in your dog’s body comprise two bones and a thick liquid lubricant called synovial fluid. Every time your dog moves, the two bones move, press, and rub lightly against one another. This process occurs hundreds of times a day. These bones are protected against direct mechanical friction by a thin protective layer of cartilage. The cartilage and the synovial fluid work together to keep the joints healthy and moving without significant friction or wear and tear.

However, the wear and tear of ageing do not need to decrease your dog’s quality of life. Keep reading for suggestions on keeping your mature or senior dog healthy, comfortable, and mobile into their golden years.

You know your dog best – if you think they are under distress, talk to your veterinary team.

Once the cartilage protecting the bones in your dog’s joints thins or fractures, the joint swells, and movement becomes more difficult and often painful. Several signs could suggest your mature dog has joint-related mobility problems:

▸ Refusing or avoiding climbing up or down the stairs.

▸ Struggling to stand up after sleeping or resting.

▸ Avoiding jumping in and out of your car or your sofa.

▸ Limping or dragging a paw or leg.

▸ Unusually slow and wobbling walk.

These symptoms are signs that your dog is suffering physical discomfort. Talk to your veterinary team about how you can help alleviate your mature or senior dog’s discomfort and restore their mobility.

If you think your dog may be suffering physical discomfort, work with your veterinary team to rule out any underlying diseases or medical concerns.
There are things you can do at home to ensure your older dog is comfortable:

▸ Ensure their bed is large enough. Your dog may have slept curled up when they were younger, but as they age, they might find stretching out more comfortable. Make sure they have a large enough bed that they can be comfortable in any position.

▸ Ensure they have beds in multiple locations. Providing several soft, comfortable beds gives your dog options, especially if their primary bed is up a flight of stairs.

▸ Get a portable, foldable ramp for the car. A ramp can help your dog get in and out of your car safely and easily.

▸ Elevate their food and water. Your ageing dog might have neck stiffness or pain. Having raised bowls will allow your dog to eat and drink more comfortably.

▸ Help them up. Use a harness to help your dog get up from lying down.

▸ Include Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, glucosamine, zinc and vitamin E, into their diet. Our Hike Again formula is formulated with the critical nutrients and compounds required in maintaining healthy joints, cartilage, and synovial fluid.

We created our Hike Again formula after a thorough review of a wide range of scientific literature, peer-reviewed clinical trials, and veterinary information. The ingredients in Hike Again provide some of the nutrients and naturally occurring compounds critical to maintain and repair cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues in joints. Hike Again also helps maintain normal levels of synovial fluid, which are essential for proper lubrication and shock absorption in joints. Don't take our word for it: these health claims have been reviewed and approved by Health Canada.

Hike Again's proprietary formula includes a rich and stable blend of Omega 3 fatty acids with standardized amounts of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, as well as hyaluronic acid. These specific compounds provide well-documented nutritional support to maintain a normal range of mobility, joint and ligament health, as well as normal lubrication of major joints in the body of your mature dog.

Our Hike Again formula also contains:

▸Sodium hyaluronate (Hyaluronic acid), sodium hyaluronate, a salt form of hyaluronic acid (HA), is a clear, viscous liquid naturally produced by your dog’s body. Its primary function is to retain water around the joint to promote regular lubrication and shock absorption. Older dogs tend to have lower concentrations of HA in their joints, which may contribute to a loss of flexibility and decreased range of motion.

▸ Glucosamine sulphate, an essential building blocks for healthy tendons, ligaments, cartilage and synovial fluid.

▸MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), a natural source of organically active sulphur, which plays a fundamental role in cellular and metabolic functions. MSM, together with glucosamine sulphate, helps to support the normal functioning of joint tissue and cartilage in older dogs.

▸Hydrolyzed Collagen Type II, a naturally produced protein that is present in a third of all the proteins in your dog’s body. As dogs age, their bodies produce less collagen, requiring supplementation for optimal health. The hydrolyzed collagen in our Hike Again formula is always sourced from chicken cartilage, rather than shark fins, as commonly found in other products.

▸ Vitamin E, an essential component of a healthy diet for senior dogs, plays a particularly important role helping to maximize the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids. Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant, this is, it may help to reduce the cellular damage caused by free radicals that could interfere with the normal health and function of joint tissue.

▸Pumpkin Seed Meal a nutrient- and energy-dense ingredient containing up to 49% fat and 30% protein. Pumpkin seeds are also a natural powerhouse of Omega 6 fatty acids, dietary fiber, antioxidants, Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Phosphorus and Vitamin B3 (Niacin).