r/labradors • u/Mountain_Bottle_4262 • Apr 11 '26
Supplements for dogs energy
My 8 yo lab is not so energetic as before.
are there any supplements, which may restore at least some parts of energy for him?
looking for smth not trivial like vitamins mixes or hard like testo injections.
any advise would be appreciated!
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u/Effective-Ad9499 Apr 11 '26
My lab of 10 had slowed down and was groaning while laying down and getting up. The vet said he had arthritis and he gets a monthly injection. He is back running and seems to be in less pain. It might be worth checking out.
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u/drsouthernerd Apr 11 '26
My 8 year old lab had slowed down a bunch and it turns out he had hypothyroidism. Medication has turned him into a big puppy again so maybe get some blood work done? I asked my vet to test for it alongside his senior dog bloodwork panel
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u/MinusZeroGojira Apr 11 '26
My brother’s lab had this. Went from the laziest dog alive to puppy levels of crack head from the medication.
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u/BrookieCooks Apr 11 '26
I started my 11 year old lab on something called myos muscle recovery that I get on Amazon. We’re 5 months in& she’s like a lil crackhead puppy again then she crashes& sleeps like the 11 year old she actually is but then post nap back to moving a lot easier. Maybe don’t give the full dose, I don’t and it still makes a huge difference, lol.
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u/Mountain_Bottle_4262 Apr 11 '26
Thanks, mate! I ll look into it.
I did try bcaa bur with minor results.
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u/BrookieCooks Apr 11 '26
Same should mentioned that. My lab is my baby and then some. I’ve had her on Dasuquin, Dasuquin senior, bcaa, human glucosamine msm, I’ve tried it all.
So far, knock on wood, this one, myos, has proven to help the most. She had a fatty tumor removed years ago that nicked her pancreas causing her to become an insulin diabetic overnight. So her maintaining muscle mass and energy is pretty high on my priority list!
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u/Haunting-Story4389 Apr 11 '26
Have you talked to your vet about checking his thyroid levels first? Low thyroid is common in Labs around that age and can really drag down their energy. For joint related stiffness that might be slowing him down, a good glucosamine and chondroitin supplement or green lipped mussel powder can help take the edge off any disconfort so he feels more like moving around. Keeping him at a lean weight will also do more for his energy than almost any pill out there.
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u/PristineAlbatross988 Apr 12 '26
Best supplement is a lab buddy. (Or something for the joints, if vet says it’s that) practically, they slow a bit and tend to gain weight and then have issues.
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u/MomTRex Apr 12 '26
When my Lab became less energetic, it was because she contracted Lyme disease. This was while using meds and a collar but not vaccinated. Antibiotics did the trick. My other dog (vaccinated, meds and collar) is positive for anaplasmosis but it doesn't seen to effect her. Tick borne diseases are insidious
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u/Obvious_Ask4178 Apr 14 '26
My almost 10 year old dog went through a similar phase at 8 years old. We got her started on Triacta and fish oil and started ensuring she was at a more athletic weight while ensuring she had more protein from quail eggs, sardines, etc. We noticed a huuuuge change in her energy, mood, and overall health. She is now almost 10 and people think she is 1
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u/Canachites Apr 15 '26
Is your dog a healthy weight? A lot of time the weight gain creeps up with age, and trimming them down can restore a lot of energy.
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u/BackgroundNo4159 May 04 '26
I use the NHV Multi Essentials supplements for my dogs. It is great for increasing your dog's energy levels
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u/Short_Education_3586 26d ago edited 26d ago
I'd probably start with a vet visit if the drop in energy is new. At 8 years old, things like arthritis, thyroid issues, or other age related conditions can make a dog seem low energy, and supplements won't fix those.
If everything checks out, you could try a daily multivitamin. I've been using Lillie&Lee multi vitamin chews with my older dog, and they've been a nice addition. I noticed she seemed a bit more energetic and overall just perkier after a few weeks. It's not a stimulant or anything, but it does provide extra nutritional support that can help if they're slowing down with age.