Border Collie still limping after supplements

Two supplements tried and still seeing a limp after exercise — that's genuinely frustrating, and it tells me something useful straight away: whatever you've been using probably wasn't dosed right for a working breed like a Border Collie, or was missing a key ingredient for post-activity inflammation. Most arthritis products for dogs are either underdosed or poorly matched to the dog's specific situation — size, age, and severity all change what works. What were the two supplements you tried, and what are you seeing with the limp — is it one leg, does it ease off after rest, and how long after exercise does it show up?

That pattern — limp during or just after exercise, eases with rest, then returns — is classic low-grade joint inflammation being aggravated by activity rather than just wear at rest. The standard YuMove is a decent starting point but it's the entry-level formula, and for a 7-year-old active breed showing consistent post-exercise symptoms, it's usually not enough. The generic glucosamine chew almost certainly wasn't dosed high enough either. Before I point you to what I'd actually try next — was the standard YuMove, or did you try the YuMove Advanced for Dogs? And has a vet confirmed arthritis, or are you working from what you're observing?

That's really helpful — X-ray confirmed, vet-directed, and you've already ruled out the entry-level option. Here's what I'd recommend: YuMove Advanced for Dogs. It's a meaningful step up from standard YuMove — higher concentration of green-lipped mussel, which is where the anti-inflammatory action actually comes from, plus added HA (hyaluronic acid) for joint lubrication, which matters a lot for dogs with confirmed cartilage roughening. For a 20kg dog with post-exercise limping and early arthritis on X-ray, the Advanced formula is genuinely the right fit — it's also the version vets tend to recommend when the standard one hasn't moved the needle. You'd give two tablets daily for the first month as a loading dose, then drop to one. Most owners with a dog at this stage see a real difference within 4–6 weeks. It's available on Amazon UK and works out around £30–35 for a month's supply at loading dose.

The supplement will do more if you support it with a couple of practical things. First, keep his walks shorter but more frequent rather than one long walk — sustained exercise is what triggers the inflammation, so 20-minute outings three times a day will stress the joint less than a single 45-minute walk. Second, if he's carrying even half a kilo of extra weight, losing it takes real load off that back leg — it's the single highest-impact change you can make for joint health. Third, consider adding a good omega-3 fish oil — something like Dorwest's Pure Fish Oil or even a human-grade wild salmon oil — because the omega-3s work synergistically with the green-lipped mussel in YuMove Advanced to reduce inflammation. That combination, with adjusted exercise, gives the supplement the best possible chance of working. If you've done all of this for 8 weeks and the limp is still consistent, go back to the vet and ask specifically about Librela — it's a monthly injection that targets arthritis pain directly and has been a genuine game-changer for dogs who don't respond to supplements.

Good plan — give it a full month at the loading dose before you judge it, and keep a rough mental note of when the limp appears and how quickly it eases, because that progression (or lack of it) is useful information for your vet if you need to escalate. Border Collies are stoic and they'll push through discomfort, so the limp you're seeing is probably understating what he's feeling. You're doing the right thing by taking it seriously at 7 — catching this in the early stage makes a real difference long-term.