Best Elk Velvet Antler Supplements for Dogs (Reviews & Top Picks)
Okay, here's my blog post about using elk velvet antler for my dog:
So, I've got this Golden Retriever, Max. He's getting up there in years, you know? He's always been super active, loved playing fetch, long walks, the whole nine yards. But lately, I noticed he was slowing down. He was stiff in the mornings, and he wasn't chasing his ball with the same, uh, gusto.
I started looking into stuff to help him out. I'm not a huge fan of just pumping him full of meds if I can avoid it. I heard about elk velvet antler from a friend at the dog park – she swears by it for her older lab. Apparently, it helps with joint pain and stuff.
My Elk Velvet Antler Experiment
First, I did some digging online. I wanted to make sure it was safe, you know? There's a lot of, well, crap out there. Looked at a few different brands, read some reviews, and finally settled on one that seemed legit. It was a powder, which I figured would be easiest to give to Max.
Then, I talked to my vet. Always a good idea before starting anything new, right? She said it was generally safe, but to start with a small dose and watch for any, like, weird reactions. No problem there.
- Week 1: I sprinkled a tiny bit of the powder on his food. Max is a bit of a picky eater, but he didn't even seem to notice it. No tummy troubles, no weird behavior. Good start!
- Week 2: I bumped up the dose a little, still mixing it with his food. Still no problems. He seemed a little more energetic, but it was hard to tell if it was the antler or just a good day.
- Week 3 & 4: Okay, this is where I started to see a real difference. Max was definitely moving easier. He was getting up from his bed without that slow, stiff stretch he'd been doing. He was even initiating play more, bringing me his ball like he used to!
It's been a couple of months now, and I'm pretty convinced. Max is definitely doing better. He's not a puppy again, obviously, but he's got more pep in his step, and he seems more comfortable. I'm going to keep using the elk velvet antler, and I'd definitely recommend it to other folks with older dogs who are starting to slow down. Just remember to do your research and talk to your vet first, okay?
It is so happy to see my boy, Max, happy and not suffering with his joint!
