Senior Aussie Muscle Loss & Joint Support

Muscle loss flagged by the vet is worth taking seriously, especially in a working breed like an Aussie at nine. They're still mentally sharp and active at that age, but the body starts struggling to maintain lean muscle mass. Are you looking to address both the muscle side and joint stiffness together, or is one more pressing right now?

That hindquarter weakness is really common in older Aussies and border collies — the hips and lower back take a lot of strain over a working lifetime. The fact that she's still eating well is a good foundation to build on. Is she on any joint supplement already, or starting from scratch?

Good — that gives you room to do this properly. For a dog her size with both muscle and joint concerns, I'd point you toward YuMOVE PLUS for Large Dogs. It's a well-established joint supplement with a solid dose of glucosamine and chondroitin, but the PLUS formula also includes green-lipped mussel, which has natural anti-inflammatory properties that go beyond basic glucosamine alone. At 22kg you'd be dosing in the right range for the large dog formula. I'd also suggest pairing it with a high-protein senior food if you're not already on one — supplements support the joints, but muscle maintenance really does depend on dietary protein. YuMOVE PLUS is available on Amazon UK and widely stocked, so you won't be chasing it down.

Most owners notice a meaningful difference in mobility and willingness to move around six to eight weeks. The first two weeks are a loading phase so the effect builds gradually — don't judge it too early. For the muscle side, that'll take a bit longer and depends more on her diet and whether she's getting gentle daily exercise to signal to her body to maintain muscle. Light, consistent activity matters as much as the supplement here. Keep the vet in the loop at her next check so they can assess the hindquarter strength again with fresh eyes.

That's the right approach — covering both angles will make a real difference. If you notice she's still struggling after eight weeks on YuMOVE PLUS, it's worth going back to the vet to discuss whether a prescription anti-inflammatory might sit alongside it. But for many dogs at her stage, this combination is enough to get them moving comfortably again. Good luck with her.