Joint Supplements for Newfoundlands

A five-year-old Newfoundland with no joint problems yet — that's actually the ideal time to be thinking about this. Giant breeds carry a lot of weight through their joints, and getting ahead of the wear is much smarter than waiting for stiffness to show up. Is he or she fairly active right now — good stamina on walks, no hesitation getting up or down?

That's exactly the right instinct. Newfoundlands are one of the breeds where joint wear really does catch up with them, especially through the hips and elbows. The fact that she swims regularly is brilliant — that's about the best low-impact exercise she could be doing. What I'd recommend adding is YuMOVE Joint Care PLUS. It's a joint supplement with glucosamine, chondroitin, and green-lipped mussel, which is one of the more evidence-backed natural anti-inflammatories available. The PLUS version has a higher concentration than the standard formula, which is what you want for a dog her size.

It does both, which is why I like it for preventive use. The glucosamine and chondroitin support the cartilage structure — essentially helping to maintain the cushioning in her joints before it starts to degrade. The green-lipped mussel works on the inflammatory side, helping to keep the joint environment calm. At five, her cartilage is still in good shape, so you're reinforcing and protecting rather than trying to repair. That's a much easier job for any supplement.

At 55kg she'll fall into the large dog dosing — YuMOVE PLUS comes in a tablet form and the daily amount scales with weight, so you'd be giving her a larger daily dose than a medium-sized dog. The tubs list it clearly on the back. Most owners find the tablets easy to give tucked into food or a treat. For a dog her size, a 300-tablet tub is the most cost-effective option and lasts a good while. I'd give it consistently for at least three months before expecting to notice anything — joint supplements are a long game, especially when you're working preventively.

For a healthy five-year-old with no current issues, YuMOVE PLUS on its own is enough. The one thing I'd add that isn't a supplement is to keep her weight very lean — even a couple of extra kilograms makes a meaningful difference to joint load in a dog this size. If she ever starts to slow down or you notice any morning stiffness as she gets older, that's the point to reassess. But right now, you've got a really solid foundation.