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We all know someone who takes a multivitamin, right? It might be your mother, your brother, or even you, but anyone who takes a multivitamin swears by it and knows that it holds healthy benefits. Many dog owners also like to give dog supplements to their dogs as a way to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need to not only survive, but thrive. As an example, here are some of the best selling dog supplements on Chewy.
Sometimes You Need A Little Help
There are, of course, the people who think that as long as you eat the right variety and amount of good food then you don’t need any kind of supplement. The sad truth is, there aren’t many people who have the time or the resources to eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies in a day, let alone a plethora of whole grains, legumes, and lean meats. Sure, we can do it on some days, but others? We barely have time to toss back a protein shake! That’s where a supplemental multivitamin can help, and the same applies to our pets.
Not All Dog Food Is Created Equal
When it comes to your dog, it’s pretty much the same thing. Yes, there are plenty of dog foods on the market that provide amazing nutrition, but not all dog foods are created equal. You’ll need to read the ingredient label to make sure that you’re getting exactly what you need for your dog’s optimum health. Even then, there are several supplements that can be added to the diet to give your dog plenty of what they need to keep them healthy and strong.
Some of the Best Dog Supplements can be found in the best brands of dog food, such as:
- Purina Pro Plan Chicken & Rice
- Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Fish
- Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice Formula
- Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe With Red Meat
- Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Lamb Meal & Brown Rice
Maybe your dog already has a brand that isn’t on this list? It might not be as high-quality, but it meets his nutritional needs (for the most part) and he really loves the taste of it. No worries; this is where the Best Dog Supplements can come in handy.
Different Day, Different Dog
Every dog is different. Some are born very healthy and they stay healthy throughout their lives. Some start out healthy, but face a few challenges along the way. Some dogs have great genes and some have genes that are not-so-great. Some dogs are rescues, some come from shelters and some of them might have spent time facing malnourishment. And then there are senior dogs, who have a whole different story of their own. The point is, different dogs have different needs, breed-to-breed, and situation-to-situation. So, why not provide some of the Best Dog Supplements to your dog to cover anything that life can throw at her?
Much-Needed Nutrients Come From The Soil
You might not know this, but there are many substances that dogs in the wild will eat to keep their bodies healthy. From feces to clay, and tree bark to other animals. You might not think of these things are health foods, but they are to your dog. These things all provide key nutrients to your dog, and they know this instinctively. The Best Dog Supplements will provide those nutrients so that your dog won’t need to scavenge around to find what his body is crying out for.
Believe it or not, there are plenty of beneficial microorganisms that live in the soil. These are what we know as probiotics and they are extremely helpful for the balance of good bacteria in your dog’s gut. That’s why probiotics are one of the Best Dog Supplements you can add to your pup’s diet. Try some of the following brands for optimal nutrition:
- Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites
- NaturVet Digestive Enzymes Plus Probiotic
- Nusentia Probiotic Miracle
- Vetri-Science Mega Probiotic Supplement
Along the same lines as soil intake is the need for minerals that are found in clay and earth. Many vets are suggesting adding montmorillonite clay or bentonite clay to a dog or cat’s food as it has been proven to strengthen bones and joints as well as boost the immune system. Some of the Best Dog Supplements with this ingredient are:
- Clay Terra Calcium Montmorillonite Clay – Food Grade
- Animin Calcium Bentonite Clay For Pets
- Rx Vitamins for Pets RX Clay
Greens And Fats – Two Of The Best Dog Supplements
Greens are another one of the Best Dog Supplements to add to the diet, and you can find greens in high quality brands of dog food. You can also purchase wheatgrass or dried green powders that can pack an amazing nutritional punch to your pet, such as:
Just about every vet will agree that there are many benefits of Essential Fatty Acids, such as Omega-3 and -6, which can be found in fish oil and flaxseed. EFAs can help your dog absorb vitamins and minerals better and modern research has found evidence to suggest that EFAs can also help lower the risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Some of the Best Dog Supplements for EFAs include:
- Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Supplement For Dogs
- Vetri Science Labs Omega 3, 6, 9 Pet Supplement
- Grizzly Omega Health Omega-3 Dog Supplement
Vitamins For Vitality
Finally, you can be sure that your dog’s health is well-rounded in general by adding a daily multivitamin, just like other people you know! After all, you can’t have a list of the Best Dog Supplements without including vitamins.
Vitamins work together with nutrients to increase nutrition and health, and many contain antioxidants that can neutralize free radicals that can create damage and deterioration to cells in the body. Some of the vitamins you should consider are:
- Animal Essentials Herbal Multi-Vitamins
- Pet MD Advanced Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
- Nutri-Vet Multi-Vite Chewables For Dogs
- Pet Naturals Daily Multivitamin Tablets
Keeping your dog healthy is no easy task; or is it? As long as you feed her the best dog food you can find, with high-quality ingredients and no chemicals or fillers, you’re halfway there. And adding a few of the Best Dog Supplements can only increase her chances of having optimal nutrition and health to last a lifetime.
Great informative post. I did not really get into supplements for dogs for years – then I had a dog with chronic skin problems and after some really expensive testing and medications that didn’t work I finally met with a wholistic veterinarian on the recommendation of a friend.
They noticed all kinds of things about my dog that the vet missed. It is not that traditional vets don’t know what they are doing, it is just that their training is very biased towards surgical and pharmaceutical solutions. Anyway, the wholistic vet helped me with elimination trials, and recommended some supplements, and the skin issues have fully resolved.
I am a believer in natural supplements…but I do think dog owners are best served if they spend time with a wholistic vet who is going to be able to do a complete assessment and recommend the supplements that make the most sense for the individual dog.
plenty of great dog information on this site !