Pedigree Joint Care

About Pedigree Joint Care Plus:
Pedigree Joint Care is a dog treat specially developed for older dogs, and dogs with joint problems. Pedigree describe the treat as containing natural active ingredients and methionine. The company claim that when fed daily, the treats can help ease joint stiffness in a matter of weeks.

Why Did I Buy It?:
My dad has an elderly Alsation, Benji (aged 12), who struggles with stiffness in both his back legs, which ofcourse isn't nice to see him go through, especially when he's hobbling around but still wagging his tail - heartbreaking to see, so ofcourse when i saw this product, thought it'd be ideal to buy as a treat/present for benji as i only see him a few times a month.

Flavours Available:
Chicken, Original and Beef.

Sizes Available:
Small - Suitable for dogs that weigh less than 10kg
Medium - Suitable for dogs that weigh between 10kg and 25kg
Large - Suitable for dogs over 25kg, such as Benji.

How Many Are In A Pack?
They are available in either in a box of 21 or in seperate packs of 7.

What Do They Look Like?
*Packing:

PACK OF 7: A thin cardboard box with an adorable picture of a spaniel on the front. Above the dog is the pedigree logo and to the right of the dog is the name of the product (Joint Care+) with basic info about what the product does. At the bottom it states that the treats are maximum strength and that they help ease joint discomfort, with a yellow banner below this with the size of dog the particular pack of chews are suitable for, eg large chew suitable for dogs over 25kg. The colour theme of the pack is yellow and green which is eye catching and it's also obvious that it's a pedigree product. Once the pack is open you'll be greeted with 7 different plastic compartments, each including a foil wrapped treat to keep it fresh. Printed on each foil wrapper is a day of the week; eg, monday on one treat and tuesday on the one next to it. It sounds silly, but it reminds the owner that these treats aren't to be fed randomly, and need to be spread out - one each day, for best results.

BOX OF 21: This time the picture's of a chocolate labrador on the right hand side. On the left is the same details as above, including the pedigree logo. Inside the box is 3 foil wrapped packages, each containing 7 treats.

*The Treats:
They remind me slightly of dentastix but are a more triangular shape. They're a dark brown in colour with a greeny streak through the middle.

What Do They Contain?:
- Omega 3.This helps with flexability and suppleness.
- Glucosamine. Good for rebuilding joint tissue.
- Mussel Powder. This provides a source of chondroitin, which helps with joint stiffness.
- Methionine. Aids the natural regeneration process.
- Added Vitamins minerals and antioxidants.

Guideline Prices and Availabilty: (Prices for packs of 7 chews)
Regular strength small: £2.59
Regular strength medium: £2.79
Regular strength large: £2.99
Plus strength small: £3.59
Plus strength medium: £3.79
Plus strength large: £3.99

Available in pet shops, supermarkets and online shops.

My Experiences:
Well, firstly benji seemed to love the taste and it lasted him a while, but didn't seem to hurt his teeth or take much effort to eat. I bought him one pack every week and gave them to my dad to spread out throughout the week. To be honest at a penny less than £4 a pop, it was slightly expensive, and i at first didn't see much improvement. After around a month though, he seemed to be walking much more loosely and didn't look as rigid. After 2 months, he nearly gave me a heart attack by jumping on the sofa without his back end been lifted on by myself or my dad, and he wasn't out of breath either! Obviously i don't know if he seemed better because of the treats, but i can honestly say it seems like it, because he was going from bad to worse before they were introduced into his diet. My dad still feeds him one once a day and he's not got bored of them just yet, and he's improving slowly. They aren't a miracle. He isn't suddenly 10 years younger and running like the clappers, but he seems happier and is alot more mobile.

I'd reccomend to give them a try, but don't start and then stop. Persistence is key, but if you've not seen improvement in the dog after 8 or 9 weeks it's probably best to assume that they're not enough to help your dogs joint problem. All dogs are individual and although they seem to of improved benji's stiffness slightly, there is no guarentee your dog will get the same results. They're not cheap and i'd reccomend to keep this in mind before purchasing over a period of time; it soon adds up!