Freckles is old for a Lab as they usually live 10-12 years max but has terrible arthritis. The vet prescribed the infamous meticam. Freckles did have a little blood in her stool at one point so we took her off it and returned to vet. She claims that Freckles is just very old and told us to put her back on the meticam and added Tagamet (which is a people RX for ulcers in the stomache) . I have a freind studying alternative medicine and just advised me that spirulina is used with wonderful results on dogs, and many other pets. Anyone have any other alternative way of dealing with my poor Freckles aches and pains???? :