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You may have noticed while at the pet store or pursuing the pet selection online that there are a variety of dog nutrition supplements. These supplements come in a wide variety of formulas, types, and even flavors. With the popularity of these supplements, you may be wondering if you should add them to your dog’s diet.
A Dog nutrition supplement can offer a wide range of benefits can help ensure that all of your dog’s nutritional needs are being met. Here is everything you need to know about dog nutrition supplements so you can decide if they are right for you dog.
VIDEO: Dr. Karen Becker Discusses The Dog Nutrition Supplement That Is Most Important
What Is A Dog Nutrition Supplement?
Dog nutrition supplements are just like the supplements humans take except they are specially formulated for the health needs for your dog. There are many kinds of dog nutrition supplements including multivitamins, special formulas to meet specific health needs, and even herbal supplements. Dog nutrition supplements are available for all life stages from puppy to senior. They also come in a variety of delivery methods from tablets to soft chews to liquids so that they can be easily added to any dog’s diet.
Top Selling Dog Nutrition Supplements For Dogs
Why You Should Give Your Dog A Dog Nutrition Supplement
Unfortunately, even if you buy the highest quality dog food on the market, your dog may still not be getting all the nutrients they need for their diet. Every dog breed is different and every dog has a unique lifestyle, so their nutritional needs variety greatly from dog to dog. Adding a dog nutrition supplement to your dog’s diet can help ensure they are getting everything they need to live a happy healthy lifestyle.
Another reason you may consider supplementing your dog’s diet is because they have developed an illness or a medical condition where they need extra support. A dog nutrition supplement can help address things like skin allergies that cause flaky, itchy skin, digestive issues, low energy, and in some cases, can help reduce pain and suffering. If your dog has developed a health problem, talk to your veterinarian to see which supplements can help support their health.
Finally, you should consider supplementing your dog’s diet with dog nutrition supplements at different life stages. When your dog is a puppy, they will need extra support to make sure they have healthy develop and grow strong bones, muscles, and organs. Then when your dog is a senior, they may begin to develop issues from joint problems to lethargy to digestion problems that can all be helped with their right supplements.
What Are The Benefits Of Dog Nutrition Supplements?
There are so many benefits to dog nutrition supplements that it’s really easy to understand why so many owners have added these to their dog’s diet. Dog nutrition supplements like a daily multivitamin can:
- Increase energy and support healthy sleep patterns
- Strengthen immune system
- Improve concentration and elevate mood
- Support a shiny coat, soft skin, and clear eyes
- Help support bowel movements and healthy elimination
- Reduce swelling and pain
- Clean teeth and improve breath
Dog supplements are also very affordable, costing pennies per serving. Many come in treat form so they can be used as a healthy way to reward your dog for good behavior. Finally, a dog nutrition supplement can help give you peace of mind that you are providing them with everything they need.
What To Consider When Buying A Dog Nutrition Supplement
When deciding what supplements to feed your dog, you should always consult with your veterinarian first. Once you know what kind of supplements your dog needs, then you can start picking one out. However, with so many choices on the market, it can be quickly overwhelming to know which brand is best. Fortunately, shopping for dog supplements is just like shopping for a healthy dog food. You want to avoid the same things you’d avoid in any dog food such as artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. You also want to make sure you avoid anything with added sugars or too much salt.
Next, you want to make sure all the ingredients have high bioavailability, which means your dog can easily absorb and access the nutrients. Talk to your veterinarian about the specific nutritional requirements of your dog, then compare the ingredients in the supplement with the ingredients in your food. There are some vitamins and minerals like calcium, vitamin K, and potassium that can be dangerous if given to your dog in too high of quantities. So just make sure that you are feeding your dog what you need.
How To Pick A Good Brand Of Supplements
Once you know what ingredients to look for, you then need to make sure that you are purchasing from a trustworthy manufacturer. Like dog food, dog nutrition supplements are not highly regulated so you want to ensure that you are purchasing your supplements from a good company. If you find a dog nutrition supplement that you think will be right for your dog, take a minute to look on the FDA’s website to make sure that the company doesn’t have a history of recalls. Then take some time to read some reviews online and see what benefits other owners have experienced.
Ten Dog Nutrition Supplements We Recommend
To get you started, here are Dog Food Insider’s top ten picks for dog supplements. All of these brands are high-quality and have great reviews.
- NaturVet All-In-One Support For Dogs
- VetriScience Laboratories Canine Plus Multivitamin
- Buddy & Lola Multivitimin
- Vitahealth Adult Daily Vitamins
- Solid Gold SeaMeal Nutritional Supplement
- Spring Pet Canine Multivitamin Yums
- Pet Tabs Plus For Dogs
- Halo Vitaglow Daily Greens
- My Pet Nose Mutlivitamin
- The Missing Link Ultimate Canine Health Supplement
All of these supplements would be a great addition to your dog’s diet.
Ultimately giving your dog a nutritional supplement is a great idea. They are a great way to ensure that they are getting all the vitamins and nutrients they need for a healthy lifestyle. However, you should always work with your veterinarian to make sure that any supplement that you give your dog is going to meet their specific health needs. Once you know what to look for, check out our recommendations to find the dog nutrition supplement that’s perfect for your pup.