Extra supplements for an older Lab on glucosamine

Good news — you're already doing something right with the glucosamine. At 11, a Labrador is genuinely senior, and glucosamine is a solid foundation for joint support. The question of what else actually helps is a fair one, because the supplement market for older dogs is absolutely flooded with products making bold claims. A few things do have decent evidence behind them, and a few are mostly just expensive urine. Tell me a bit more about how your Lab is doing day to day — are you seeing stiffness when he gets up, any reluctance on stairs or after walks, and how's his weight sitting right now?

Monty's a great name. Right, so glucosamine plus chondroitin is a good combo — those two work better together than either does alone, so you've got that covered. The weight is genuinely the most impactful thing you could address, more than any supplement, but I won't lecture you on that — you already know. What I would add on top of what he's taking is a good omega-3 fish oil, specifically one with high EPA and DHA. There's solid evidence that omega-3 fatty acids reduce joint inflammation in dogs, and it works through a completely different pathway to glucosamine, so they complement each other rather than overlap. It can also help with coat condition and cognitive function, both of which matter at his age. Can I ask — is he on any prescription medication from the vet, or just the supplement so far?

That's a sensible approach from the vet for where Monty is right now. In that case, I'd recommend adding YuMOVE Advance 360 for Large Dogs — it's a UK product, widely available on Amazon, and it's actually what a lot of vets suggest when owners ask exactly this question. It contains omega-3 from green-lipped mussel (which has a strong evidence base for dogs specifically), plus hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. Importantly, it doesn't just duplicate what he's already taking — it stacks on top of it. The large dog formula is appropriate for Monty's size. One thing to be realistic about: supplements work slowly. Give it 6 to 8 weeks before you judge whether it's making a difference. The morning stiffness after exercise is often one of the first things owners notice improving.

It's a sensible thing to ask. For what you're describing — glucosamine/chondroitin plus a green-lipped mussel omega-3 product — there's no meaningful risk of toxicity or interaction. These are all food-derived compounds. The only thing to watch is if you were ever to add a separate fish oil on top of a product that already contains omega-3, you could end up doubling up unnecessarily, but that's a cost issue more than a safety one. YuMOVE Advance already contains the omega-3 component, so you wouldn't need to add anything else on that front. Keep him on his existing glucosamine/chondroitin, add the YuMOVE, and that's a well-rounded stack for an 11-year-old Lab. Nothing else I'd recommend piling on top of that.

Good stuff. Give it those 6 to 8 weeks and try to keep a rough mental note of how he is on mornings after active days — that's your best marker for whether it's working. Hope Monty has a comfortable winter.