Dog Supplements: The Importance of Giving Supplements To Our Dogs

Just like humans, dogs need supplements for the very same reason we do. Dogs need a proper diet combined with vitamin and mineral supplementation in order to prevent sickness, disease, and promote longevity. Deficiency in the right vitamins and mineral usually show up in poor condition and/or behavioral problems.

Why Supplement Our Dog When…

They are fed a complete and balanced diet appropriate to their age, as most veterinary nutritionists would tell you likewise. This is true in most cases, however, for many adult and aging dogs especially those with clinical problems, some supplementation can be beneficial to ease those aliments.

Another factor, if your dog is very athletic or under a lot of physical stress (working dogs) it wouldn’t hurt to supplement your dog with chondroitin, glucosamine, vitamins C and E to strengthen cartilage (lubricate joint fluid) and lessen the injuries if any.

But most importantly, most commercial dog foods fall short of providing optimal nutrition due to several reasons:

• High temperature and long storage times required for processing deplete critical nutrients needed.
• Levels of free radicals appear to be rising in many animals which are used in conventional process.
• Unregulated “by-products,” low-quality protein sources, lower the bio-availability, or bottom-line nutritional usefulness, of the products.

Benefits of Giving Dog Supplements

Because dogs frequently lack key nutrients in their diet, the right supplement program can return their system to balance. Their natural defenses will work well only if they receive the proper diet, vitamins, and minerals required for ideal health. A balanced nutrition program is an important starting place before pursing additional therapeutic alternatives. A good daily multi-vitamin and mineral complex will ensure that your dog receives the additional supplementation the current diet may lack, as well as best prepare the immune system for dealing with common aliments.

We will look at several categories of supplements that can promote better health for your dogs:

• Vitamins: Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential to your pet’s growth and development and day-to-day life-support functions. Fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins.
• Minerals: Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium are required for your dog’s bone growth, nervous system, muscular system, and ability to assimilate nutrients. Macrominerals. Microminerals.
• Enzymes: Enzymes are required to break down food into components that can be used for energy. They are also needed to enhance absorption of essential nutrients. Enzymes are normally present in raw foods, but can be destroyed by heat and processing.
• Probiotics: Probiotics are live “good bacteria” that take up residence inside your dog, fending off harmful bacteria and aiding digestion.

Each of these nutrients groups works synergistically with the others.

Can We Get Human Supplements To Dogs?

While dog require supplementation for optimal health, it is important to remember that animal physiology is very different from humans. This means it may not be appropriate nutritionally to give your dog a human multi-vitamin, for example.

Although dogs often take supplements and remedies with the same base as those of their human counterparts e.g. glucosamine, the proper dosage and delivery method (pull-apart capsule, chewable wafer) should not be indiscriminately means to meet the needs of your dog is to find a species-specific supplement or remedy from a trusted manufacturer who uses only human-grade ingredients.

Just Supplementing Our Dogs Isn’t Enough

Supplements can contribute to your dog’s overall health, vitality, and longevity but they are supplementary to a healthy lifestyle that should include regular veterinary checkups, a premium diet, plenty of exercise, stress reduction and prevention measures, and emotional support. Supplements are most effective when integrated into a holistic program of optimum health for your dog.

Final Note On Supplementing Your Dog

Most dog owners, in general, only supplement their dogs when “crisis” (vitamin or mineral deficiency) arises. Though this is better than not supplementing at all, nevertheless, you may not see any immediate result even the manufacturers claim otherwise. One obvious reason being that symptoms of a vitamin or mineral deficiency take months or even years to develop. By the time they are apparent, optimal immune function has been compromised and the dog’s body processes have begun to break down.

In order to resort his original health, it requires time for the supplements to take effect which many owners do not have the patience to see it through. My advice to you is to allow 30 to 45 days for the supplements to work at its best. If it fails to delivery what’s promised, move to the next.

Of course, the better advice I would give to any dog owners is to supplement their dogs before “crisis” strikes. Continuously taking optimal amounts of nutrients is more beneficial than suddenly reaching for a multi-vitamin supplement when your dog doesn’t feel well. Not only this will save you money and headaches in the long run, but your dog will enjoy many healthy and happy days than not.

Dog Multi-Vitamins and Mineral Complex Recommendations

• Super Daily Canine Multi-Vitamins
• Multi Essential Dog Vitamins
• H20-IonX (Water Nutrients)
• Wild Things (Antioxidants – Helps to prevent free radical damage)