If you share your home with a dog who has gone grey around the muzzle, you have probably noticed the small changes: a little more napping, a pause at the bottom of the stairs, a moment of confusion in a familiar room. UK pet brand Clydach Farm has launched a supplement aimed at exactly that stage of life. Mindful Years is a daily powder designed to give cognitive support to senior dogs.
What's in it
The headline ingredient is Magtein, a patented form of magnesium (magnesium L-threonate) developed to raise magnesium levels in the brain. It is already well established in human brain-health supplements, and Clydach Farm uses it under licence from US ingredient company ThreoTech. The brand claims to be the first pet nutrition brand in Europe to license it.
Alongside Magtein, the formula includes Synaptelyn, a proprietary blend from Clinigol Veterinary Science, plus phosphatidylserine, algae-derived DHA, L-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid.
How it works day to day
This is the part that matters if you have ever tried to get a pill into an older dog. Mindful Years is a powder you sprinkle over your dog's existing wet or dry food once a day, with the amount based on body weight. No chews to hide, no syringes.
A 250g tin has an RRP of £59.99. It lasts around four weeks for a medium dog and up to twelve weeks for a toy breed, so the real cost depends heavily on size. Every tin comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, which is a fair window to see whether it makes a difference for your dog.
Why the founder made it
For Clydach Farm founder Callum Griffiths, the product is personal. "Brain health has become a bigger part of how we care for older dogs, and for me it's personal; I've seen cognitive decline up close in my own family, and it changed how I think about ageing," he said. "The formulation took a long time to get right, but it also had to be simple: Mindful Years goes onto the food the dog already eats, so it just becomes part of the routine."
Before you buy
Supplements are not a diagnosis, and changes in an older dog's behaviour can have lots of causes, including pain, hearing or sight loss, and other medical issues. If your dog seems confused, restless at night or less like themselves, start with your vet. They can rule out other problems and tell you whether a cognitive supplement is worth trying alongside any treatment, and whether it fits with medications your dog already takes.
If your vet gives the go-ahead, the sprinkle-on format and the guarantee make Mindful Years an easy thing to try for a couple of months. It is also a thoughtful gift for a friend whose old dog is the love of their life.
Where to buy
Mindful Years is available from Clydach Farm. The launch was reported by Pet Business World.
