Ponyo’s Story: From Stiff Joints to Backyard Zoomies

A Natural Arthritis Treatment for Dogs

If your senior dog is starting to slow down - struggling to get up, limping after walks, or less interested in play time - you’re not alone.

On average, dogs begin showing signs of arthritis or joint stiffness around age 7. These subtle changes may seem like “just getting older,” but they can impact your dog’s mobility, energy, and overall wellbeing.

That’s where Ponyo found himself. At 9 years old, this energetic Border Collie was starting to show signs of discomfort. This was the feedback we received from Ponyo’s Mum when they first discovered Updog:

"Ponyo is turning 9 in a month and he’s started to struggle when getting up off the floor as his hips seem to hurt. They also crack sometimes when getting up. We tried oral joint gel but he HATES it and refuses to eat it."

So, Ponyo started his trial on Hip & Joint Hero, a clean, natural joint supplement for dogs designed to reduce stiffness and support joint health without any synthetic ingredients or messy gels.

Why Hip & Joint Hero Is Different

Hip & Joint Hero is a daily, easy-to-feed powder formulated to support healthy joints, reduce inflammation, and improve comfort - especially in senior dogs and large breeds prone to arthritis.

Here’s what’s inside our tubs and how it works:

Green Lipped Mussel Powder – Rich in omega-3s (EPA & DHA) to help reduce joint inflammation and protect cartilage.

Boswellia Extract – A plant-based anti-inflammatory that helps ease joint pain and stiffness.

MSM – Supports joint flexibility and helps relieve post-exercise soreness.

Glucosamine & Chondroitin – Widely used to protect cartilage and improve joint lubrication.

Turmeric & Ground Black Pepper – Known for their natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

No synthetic flavours. No artificial fillers. Just clean, powerful ingredients that are easy to add to your dog’s food.

The 5-Week Transformation

After just five weeks of using Hip & Joint Hero, Ponyo showed obvious signs of improvement in his comfort, energy, and day-to-day movement.

Here’s what changed:

• Less limping, especially after walks and playtime.
• Easier movement – getting off the floor no longer looks painful.
• Increased energy.
• Longer play sessions.
• He's started zooming again!

"We love UPDOG!!!!! Absolutely love love love this product, we first started using it for our 9 year old dog who has been struggling a bit when getting up due to stiff joints. We’ve genuinely noticed improvement in him when he gets up, although he still struggles a bit he is much better than he first was!! We’re very excited to continue using the Updog powder as it has soooo many benefits e.g increased energy, less limping / struggling to get up especially when getting on the bed or couch and he’s started zooming around the backyard again. Thank you updog for your wonderful product, highly highly recommend to anyone with an older pup who’s struggling a little bit in their old age ❤️ - Madi & Ponyo

Why Early Joint Support Matters

While Hip & Joint Hero helped Ponyo after stiffness had already started, the best time to introduce a hip and joint supplement for dogs is before symptoms appear.

Using a preventative joint supplement can:

• Delay the onset of arthritis
• Reduce wear and tear on joints
• Support long-term mobility and comfort
• Help maintain quality of life as your dog ages

Most vets recommend starting joint support around age 6–7, especially for active or large breed dogs. Think of it as adding cushioning now to protect their steps later.

Joint discomfort doesn’t have to mean the end of playtime. Whether your dog is already showing signs of stiffness or you simply want to protect their joints for the future, Hip & Joint Hero offers a natural, science-backed solution you can trust.

It worked for Ponyo - and it could help your pup too!

Shop Hip & Joint Hero

And tell your dog we said hi!