All major joints in your dog’s body have the same general structure: two bones in close proximity surrounded by a thick liquid lubricant, called synovial fluid, and several ligaments keeping everything together and aligned. The two bones in a joint move, press, and lightly rub against each other hundreds of times a day every time your dog moves. These bones are protected against direct mechanical friction by a thin protective layer called cartilage. Together with the surrounded synovial fluid, the cartilage keeps the joints healthy and moving without significant friction or wear and tear.

As dogs age, the cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues in the joint become thinner and more fragile. At the same time, the amount of synovial fluid lubricating the joint often decreases. As cartilage thins, it’s capacity to protect the bones against mechanical damage decreases. Once the protective cartilage thins or fractures, the bones in the joint start to wear against each other every time the joint flexes, resulting in inflammation and pain.

The wear and tear of aging do not need to decrease your best friend’s quality of life. Read on for tips and suggestions to help your senior dog stay healthy, comfortable, and mobile into their golden years.

You know your dog best. If you think they are experiencing discomfort or pain, or any other age-related problem, talk to your veterinary team. They’re your best source of advice and your partner in your dog’s health.

Here is the first one: Always pay close attention to your dog. If you believe your dog may be having age-related problems, including problems with her joints, visit your veterinary professional at your earliest convenience.

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 senior 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 your car or on your sofa.

• Limping or dragging a paw or leg.

• Unusually slow and wobbling walk.

These symptoms are signs that your dog is in pain. Talk to your veterinary team about how you can help alleviate your senior dog’s pain and restore their mobility.

If you think your dog may be in pain, work with your veterinary team to rule out any underlying disease or medical concerns.

There are many things you can do at home to ensure your senior dog is comfortable:

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

• Ensure they have enough beds. Your dog may like to sleep in multiple different spots. Providing several soft, comfortable beds gives your dog options.

• A foldable ramp can help your dog get in and out of your car safely and easily.

• Many senior dogs have neck stiffness or pain. Having raised bowls will allow your dog to eat and drink comfortably.

• Using a harness can make it easier to help your dog get up from lying down.

• Adding a supplement rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and glucosamine and beneficial nutrients like zinc and vitamin E, like our Hike Again formula, can provide the critical nutrients and compounds needed to maintain healthy joints, cartilage, and synovial fluid.

Hike Again was created after a thorough review of a wide range of scientific literature, peer-reviewed clinical trials, and veterinary information. The ingredients in Hike Again provide the nutrients 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. (All these health claims have been reviewed and approved by Health Canada).

Our formulation also has several specific features that helped us to create what we believe is the most technically-advanced and environmentally-conscious formulation for joint-related mobility problems currently in North American. These features include:

• Hike Again is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, blended in a precise ration (5:1 O6:O3) considered optimal by animal nutrition experts.

• The Omega 3 fatty acids are kept stable with a natural blend of Vitamin E and other antioxidants.

• Hike Again also contains Glucosamine, MSM, and Hydrolyzed Collagen, all of which have been shown to help maintain and repair cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues in joints.

• Hike Again is rich in Hyaluronic acid. This unique ingredient helps retain water around the joint to support normal lubrication and shock absorption.

• Hike Again has naturally occurring beneficial minerals and trace nutrients from seed meal.

• We are serious about minimizing our environmental impact. We have chosen not to source our hydrolyzed collagen from shark fin to help protect these environmentally sensitive creatures. To further protect the environment and your dog, our Omega 3 fish-based oil is harvested from the Alaskan Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Fisheries. These fisheries are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS). The fish oils are sourced from wild-caught Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), it is mercury- and heavy-metal free and certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (COC# MSC-C-52212).

As dogs age, their immune system weakens, and they become more susceptible to harmful pathogens and infections. Clinical research has shown that senior dogs have:

• A reduced ability to promptly activate and modulate how well the immune system reacts to pathogens (immune response)

• A reduced ability to combat oxidative stress (a decreased ability to detoxify and repair cell damage)

Aging dogs lose their ability to produce antioxidants (the first line of defense against oxidative stress). Senior dogs also have difficulty absorbing and metabolizing nutrients. Proper diet and supplementation are crucial to support normal immune function in your senior dog.

The thin membrane covering your dog’s intestines is their first line of defense in their immune system (same as yours!). This thin layer is also responsible for absorbing most of the nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and other biologically active compounds present in your dog’s food. The gut’s ability to absorb nutrients and defend against pathogens decreases with age. Adding Beta-Glucan and Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS) can support gut health and proper immune function.

Your dog undergoes many physiological changes as they age. Organ and tissue function is impaired, resulting in a reduced ability to prevent and repair cellular damage. This puts your dog at a higher risk for oxidative stress, impairing their ability to detoxify and repair cells.

Antioxidants are the best defense against oxidative stress. As dogs age, their production of antioxidants significantly decreases. Adding high-quality, high-potency antioxidants to your senior dog’s diet is key to promoting and maintaining a healthy immune response. Shield Again includes a robust blend of antioxidants sourced from superfoods like blueberries, pomegranate, and resveratrol.

Shield Again was created after a thorough review of a wide range of scientific literature, peer-reviewed clinical trials, and veterinary information. The ingredients in Shield Again support the normal function and health of your dog’s immune and gastrointestinal systems. (These health claims have been reviewed and approved by Health Canada).

• Shield Again is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, particularly Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which has been shown to support immunity in senior dogs.

• Shield Again is also rich in Alpha-lipoic Acid (ALA), a powerful antioxidant that works outside and inside the cell. ALA is also able to help regenerate other antioxidants.

• An additional robust blend of antioxidants has been added to Shield Again to help your dog combat oxidative stress.

Added Beta-Glucan and Mannan Oligosaccharides (MOS) stimulate the immune response and support digestive health.

• Generous levels of L-Carnitine provide energy for gut cells, helping maintain digestive health.

• Hike Again has naturally occurring beneficial minerals and trace nutrients from seed meal.

• We are serious about minimizing our environmental impact. Our Omega 3 fish-based oil is harvested from the Alaskan Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Fisheries to protect the environment and your dog. These fisheries are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS). The fish oils are sourced from wild-caught Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), it is mercury- and heavy-metal free and certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (COC# MSC-C-52212).

⅓ of dogs over the age of 8 will develop age-related cognitive changes. These changes can be the result of many underlying factors, including:

• Accumulation of harmful proteins in the brain that are normally “flushed away” from brain tissue when dogs are younger.

• Oxidative stress of the brain tissue and blood vessels.

• Reduced functioning of mitochondria in the brain. (Mitochondria are cellular components in charge of producing the energy your dog needs to grow, maintain, and repair chemical processes in their body).

If you think your senior dog is having physical or mental difficulty, please consult with your veterinary team.

As your dog ages, you may notice some changes that could be symptoms of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD):

• Your dog may seem disoriented or confused even in a familiar setting.

• Your dog may be grumpy, defensive, or less patient (these could also be signs of underlying pain).

• Sleep patterns are disrupted, and your dog may seem restless at night.

• Pacing, wandering, or vocalization, particularly at night.

• Your previously housetrained dog may start having accidents in the house.

If your senior dog shows signs of cognitive problems, please consult your veterinary team. They are your best resource for information and advice and are your partners in your dog’s healthcare.

There are three main things you can do to support your senior dog:

1) Provide a diet and or supplement rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and amino acids like L-carnitine.

2) Provide as much social and mental enrichment as possible.

• Add or maintain regular exercise.

• Ensure regular social interactions with other dogs and people.

• Look for toys and food puzzles that require focus and coordination

3) Consider additional supplements that provide:

• Phosphatidylserine.

• High levels of Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

• Balanced Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids in a 5:1 ratio.

• A blend of antioxidants and flavonoids.

Sharp Again provides ingredients that support and maintain normal function and health of the brain and cognitive status of your dog. (These health claims have been reviewed and approved by Health Canada).

• Sharp Again is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, including precise Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels. Both EPA and DHA are proven to support normal brain and cognitive health and function in senior dogs.

• Sharp Again formula is also rich in antioxidants and flavonoids, both of which are proven to protect against oxidative stress.

• Added L-Carnitine is fundamental in facilitating Omega 3 fatty acids to sustain energy production at the cellular level.

• Communication between brain cells decreases as your dog ages. Sharp Again provides a significant amount of phosphatidylserine, a natural occurring fatty compound, a key part of intercellular communication.

• We are serious about minimizing our environmental impact. Our Omega 3 fish-based oil is harvested from the Alaskan Bering Sea and Aleutian Island Fisheries to protect the environment and your dog. These fisheries are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS). The fish oils are sourced from wild-caught Alaska Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), it is mercury- and heavy-metal free and certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (COC# MSC-C-52212).