Achy joints? Try this!

Your dog has stiffness when he first rises in the morning. Or your dog is predisposed to some sort of joint problem, especially in the hips. Or your dog injured a joint, and you want to prevent further deterioration and inflammation.

Your vet may prescribe some sort of NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory). This is like aspirin or ibuprofen for humans. While doggy NSAIDS like Rimadyl and Deramaxx are wonder drugs, they are also harmful--and sometimes even fatal--when used over an extended period of time.

There is a safer and more affordable alternative. It's called "Joint Rescue."

This is one I've been using with my dogs for about six years, with tremendous results. It was recommended to me by one of my Yakima dog-training clients way back when. She swore by it, so I tried it with my own aging dogs and had wonderful results. I started carrying it in my store and sold so much I couldn't keep it in stock. It's that good, and that effective.

A bottle of 90 "Joint Rescue" tablets costs about $30. That's about 1/3 the cost of Rimadyl. "Joint Rescue" is made from all natural ingredients. The anti-inflammatories are herbal: yucca plant, botswelin and curcumin. They get rid of the inflammation that causes joint pain and stiffness, and they do it without harming your dog. The relief is fairly quick. If you keep a steady supply in your dog's system, you may help him forego inflammation altogether. He'll have less trouble getting up, he'll be able to negotiate steps, and he'll have more energy for walks.

The other ingredients in "Joint Rescue" are glucosamine and chondroitin, which rebuild joint cartilage over a period of time. So your dog gets the IMMEDIATE pain relief from the herbal anti-inflammatories, plus the long-range benefits of the joint supplements.

The tablets have a cheesy/garlicky taste, so dogs love them.

There are other similar products in the market, but most of them lack the herbal anti-inflammatories that quickly knock out the discomfort. Glucosamine is great, but as a fan of Excedrin to get me up and going in the morning, I certainly appreciate the immediacy of good anti-inflammatories. So will your dog.

You can order "Joint Rescue" from various dog health sites, or simply go to the manufacturer: Ark Naturals. You might even find some other holistic, all-nature products you like at the same site.

I swear by this stuff. It's cheaper, safer, and almost as effective as the powerful Rx drugs. Give it a try if your dog has any stiffness or joint pain.