How to Choose Supplements for Dogs: Everything You Need to Know
The average lifespan of dogs is based on their breed but tends to be between 10 to 13 years. If you want your dog to live as long as possible, you should make sure to take a close look at his or her nutrition.
While you may hope that your dog gets everything he needs from the food you give them, sometimes it can be useful to add supplements to their diet as well. The right supplements can improve your dog's health and make up for any deficiencies that they have.
In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about how to choose supplements for dogs.
Reasons to Use Dog Supplements
Before buying any supplements for your dog, you should consider what your reason for doing so is. There are several reasons that you may want to get supplements for your pet, but it's not always necessary.
Here are some of the reasons why you may want to consider giving your dog supplements. Stay clear of synthetic supplements. Most multi vitamins are synthetic. They are not bioavailable to your dog. Choose ONLY whole food or herb supplements that will absorb.
Fix Gaps in a Dog's Nutrition
One of the top reasons to get dog supplements is because they can help to make up for nutritional deficiencies in your dog's diet.
Particularly if you give your dog homemade dog food, there could be some gaps in his or her nutritional needs. However, many store-bought dog foods also have gaps and may not provide your dog with the essential nutrients they need to remain healthy. Most dog foods have sray on synthetic supplements that are not bioavailable. Again, choose only whole food or herb supplements.
Selecting some supplements to add to your dog's diet can be worthwhile and can help them to get all the vitamins and minerals they need. The right supplements will improve your dog's health and well-being and strengthen its immune system.
Prevent Health Issues for Dogs
Another reason to get dietary supplements for your dog is to treat health problems or prevent health problems that you suspect could occur in the future.
There are various supplements that can help improve your dog's health in many ways. Supplements can help with all kinds of problems such as constipation, urinary tract issues, and diseases such as dementia.
Help With Joint and Muscle Pain
A supplement can also help to improve your dog's mobility as well. This can be beneficial for older dogs that are experiencing joint problems but it can also be helpful for sporting and working dogs as well. These dogs put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies.
Giving your dog a hip and joint support supplement can be a good idea and can help them to feel healthier and more active. If your dog has arthritis, then a herbal natural NSAID can help to treat its pain.
Improve Skin Issues
Supplements can also help your dog's skin and coat in some ways as well. If you've found that your dog's skin has been itchy lately, then supplements can help by reducing itchiness and inflamed skin.
In this case, supplements that have flaxseed oil or fish oil and contain omega-3 fatty acids can be helpful.
Prevent Anxiety
Many dogs also suffer from anxiety and can be affected by stress.
In these cases, you might want to consider giving your dog a supplement that can help promote mental calmness and relaxation. Anxiety supplements such as those containing CBD could be helpful for a dog that suffers from anxiety.
Be sure to do your research and find a supplement that works for the type of issues that your dog has.
Types of Dog Supplements to Consider
There are many different types of supplements that you can get for your dog and each can improve their health in various ways. You'll want to think about what your dog's needs are carefully and determine what your goals are when buying supplements.
Here are some common supplements that dog owners buy.
Multivitamins (not effective unless they are whole food)
Antioxidant supplements
Probiotic
Joint pain supplements (herbal)
Hip and joint support supplements
Bone health supplements (herbal)
Weight loss supplements
Anti-anxiety supplements
There are other types of supplements available for dogs as well. However, these are some of the most common that you'll find and will want to consider getting.
How to Choose Dog Supplements
If you're thinking about buying supplements for your dog, there are a variety of things that you'll want to consider to make the best decisions. Here are some things that you should think about when choosing dog supplements.
Consider Your Dog's Age
One of the things that you'll want to consider when buying supplements for your dog is his or her age. Dogs of varying ages have different nutritional needs and the same supplements that you buy for a puppy may not be what you buy for a senior dog.
A senior dog, for example, may be more likely to experience joint pain or have trouble with mobility. A senior dog may also need a cognitive supplement that helps with dementia or a supplement that helps with bladder control and incontinence.
Adult dogs may have other needs that you should consider and will likely need fewer supplements than a senior dog. Be sure to take the age of your dog into consideration carefully when choosing which supplements to give them.
Check the Ingredients
When looking for a supplement for your dog, you should also read the label and check the ingredients. Make sure that the supplement uses high-quality ingredients and that you understand what they are and whether they're suitable for your dog's needs.
When choosing supplements, make sure that the label is very clear and that it shows a lot of information. This is a good indicator that it's a high-quality product that you can trust. Stay clear of synthetic ingredients. Also avoid at all costs synthetic preservatives (BHT) that will wreck havoc on your dogs health. Only natural preservative (Tocopherol-derived from vitamin E).
Find Out About the Company's Reputation
When buying a dog supplement, make sure that you know who you're buying it from. You'll want to be sure that you're buying a supplement from a reliable dog supplement supplier that has a great reputation and is very transparent.
You'll want to look for online reviews and testimonials for the company and for the product. Online customer reviews can give you a great idea about whether the supplement is legitimate and whether it will be a good choice for your dog. Also make sure the supplement is made in a FDA registered facilty (a lot pf pet supplements are NOT) and is Gmp certified. Check the companies website for this. If they are not, DO NOT BUY IT. There are no regularories in place for best mfg practices. This is very important. FDA registered facilites also have to comply with FDA labeling. Companies that do not have FDA registered facilites can have misleading label claims as they are not policed.
Understand the Potential Side Effects
Before giving a supplement to your dog, you should make sure that you know exactly what the potential side effects are.
Some supplements have side effects that could become an issue, so you'll need to ensure that you know what they are. Be sure to read all the fine print and learn everything you can about a supplement before purchasing it. Some supplements have been researched a good bit, so you'll want to find out if there are any studies on the supplement that you're considering.
If you're worried about the side effects of a dog supplement, you may want to consider your options more and look for an option that doesn't have the same potential side effects.
Speak With a Veterinarian
Before adding any supplements to your dog's diet, it's a good idea to talk with a veterinarian. You might want to discuss certain ingredients and supplements with them to find out what their opinion is on them.
A veterinarian will probably have some useful insights that can help you to choose a supplement that will work for your dog. Talking to them can help you be sure that the supplement you're choosing is really a good choice for your dog and his or her needs.
Avoiding Mistakes When Using Supplements
There are some mistakes that you'll want to avoid when giving supplements to your dog. Here are some of the things that you should watch out for.
Overdoing It
One of the things that you should avoid with dog supplements is using too much. Over-supplementing your dog can lead to high doses and mineral poisoning.
Be sure that you do your research and know exactly how much of the supplement your dog should be given and don't go over that amount.
You should also pay attention to supplement ratios in some cases as well. Certain ratios are important to get right, such as calcium to phosphorus, which should stay between 1:1 and 2:1.
Not Having a Reason
Another mistake that dog owners make is choosing a supplement that isn't based on their dog's actual needs but on the hype surrounding it instead.
While a supplement may seem like a good idea based on advertising or information you find online, it doesn't mean that it's right for your dog. Don't just add supplements to your dog's diet without having a clear reason for doing so.
Not Considering Negative Interactions
One final thing to think about is what medications your dog is on. You should always make sure to check that the supplement that you're adding to your dog's diet is compatible with the medication that they're taking.
Sometimes there will be drug interactions between supplements and medications. It's important to do your research or speak with a veterinarian to find out if there are any interactions that you should avoid.
Using These Tips to Choose Supplements for Dogs
If you want to choose supplements for dogs, everything that you need to know is listed above. Consider your dog's needs carefully when choosing supplements and make sure that you avoid common mistakes.
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