I have friends with dogs that have arthritis, dysplasia or cancer and in one case the friend is unemployed and can't afford conventional treatment. While searching the net, I found a site: www.earthclinic.com that provides a forum for discussing alternative therapies. I thought I might share what I found in case anyone is interested. Several of the suggestions for arthritis and dysplasia
are similar so I will just include them together:

Vitamin C ester - 100 - 500 mg 1 to 3 times per day. The ester form isn't acidic so shouldn't disturb their stomaches. Vit. C alone has greatly improved the conditions of many dogs (often the younger ones).

Coconut oil - not sure amount 1t to 1T/day. It contains mid-sized chain fatty acids which are absent from the diets of people or animals that eat diets predominantly containing polyunsaturated oils. (My dog would almost kill to get coconut oil.)

The following are added to once per day:

1 T Black Strap Molasses (BSM),
1 T Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) [can add a little soda to reduce acidity]
1/8 t turmeric (from kitchen spices), - I bought capsules with concentrated curcumin, the active component (Life Extension brand) bought from another source for my own aches and pains. The
BSM and ACV have a variety of nutrients not currently available in our diets. It is thought that natural ACV with the "Mother" still in it is is best.
Turmeric (curcumin) is a well established anti-inflammatory being used by people as well as animals.