Senior Chow Chow Supplements for Joints & Weight

Chow Chows are one of those breeds where that magnificent thick coat can genuinely mask a lot — weight creeping up is one of the hardest things to catch early. At eight, your dog is solidly in senior territory for the breed. Before I point you toward anything, can you tell me what you're actually noticing? Is it that a vet weighed them and flagged it, or are you feeling it when you try to find their ribs?

That morning stiffness in the back legs is really common in Chows at this age — their conformation puts extra load through the hips and stifles even when they're at a healthy weight, so the extra 2kg will be amplifying that. The metabolism piece matters too: Chows tend to run slightly hypothyroid-adjacent as they age, meaning their calorie needs drop but appetite doesn't. A supplement isn't going to fix the diet side, but it can meaningfully support both joints and metabolic function together. Is she on anything at the moment — fish oil, glucosamine, anything like that?

Perfect, that makes this straightforward. For exactly this combination — joint stiffness and metabolic support in one product — I'd go with YuMOVE PLUS for Dogs. It's a well-established UK supplement that combines a clinically studied green-lipped mussel extract for joints with added antioxidants and B vitamins that support cellular metabolism. The glucosamine and hyaluronic acid address the morning stiffness directly, while the broader micronutrient profile helps with energy processing — which is exactly what a Chow whose metabolism is slowing down needs. It comes as a tablet you can give with food, and the dose is based on body weight so you can dial it in precisely. For an 8-year-old at her current weight you'd use the large dog dosing. Most owners see a noticeable difference in morning movement within four to six weeks.

No — YuMOVE PLUS is very low calorie, essentially negligible in the context of her daily intake. The tablets are small and not loaded with fillers. The one thing I'd say alongside it: because Chows are so efficient with calories, even a 10% reduction in her daily food while you're supplementing will help shift that 2kg over two to three months without her feeling hungry. The supplement supports the joints through the process, which matters because dogs who are uncomfortable moving tend to move less, which compounds the weight issue. You're essentially tackling both ends at once.

Yes — look for YuMOVE PLUS, not the standard YuMOVE. The PLUS version has the higher-strength joint complex plus the added vitamins and antioxidants, which is the combination doing the metabolic work. It's readily available on Amazon UK. Get the large breed tablet size and follow the weight-based dosing on the pack using her current weight, not her target weight — you want the joints properly supported during the period she's losing the extra kilos.