An Ultimate Guideline To The Best Dog Supplements. Everything That You Need To Know Leave a comment

                Dogs are loyal creatures. Nutrition plays an important role in the overall health and well-being of a dog. For sure, every dog owner wishes to see his/her dog enjoying good health. All along with a balanced diet, dogs need some important supplements in a balanced proportion. For instance, vitamins and some other essential supplements help in improving the quality of a dog’s life.

Many dog owners ask about the “Dog supplements and vitamins” and other related questions. In this article, we are going to discuss some important supplements and multivitamin preparations for dogs under the light of scientific literature and general field experience.

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What Are Essential Vitamins For Dogs?

Vitamins are important nutrients that play an active role in various processes in the dog’s body. Vitamins are essential for the overall well-being of a dog. However, sometimes a dog suffers from vitamin deficiency which can occur due to several reasons. 

For instance, the absence of vitamins in the regular diet of a dog or diets with a low quantity of vitamins can cause vitamin deficiency in dogs. In such cases, it is crucial to give vitamin supplementations to the dog to meet the vitamin requirements. 

Furthermore, there are two types of vitamins i-e Fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins include A, D, E, K. On the other hand, the water-soluble vitamin includes vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) and vitamin B- complex.

Here we are going to discuss some important vitamins and their importance in the dog’s life.

VITAMIN A (Retinol)

This is a fat-soluble vitamin. It helps in supporting the vision, membrane integrity (Cellular differentiation) bone growth, reproduction, and strong immune response. All along with that, vitamin A also helps in maintaining proper weight in the dogs. 

VITAMIN B 

Vitamin B complex is a pack of several important vitamins which help in improving the quality of a dog’s life. These vitamins act as the co-enzymes in the various biochemical process i-e conversions of carbohydrates into glucose to provide energy to the dog’s body. 

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VITAMIN C

As you know, this is the best antioxidant. This vitamin helps the optimum immune system functioning in dogs.

VITAMIN D

This is a very important vitamin for dogs. Vitamin D helps in the better development of bones and teeth. It is also essential for the effective absorption of calcium in the dog’s body.

VITAMIN E

This is also an antioxidant. It helps in maintaining the proper health of the dog’s skin and vision. All along with that, vitamin E plays an important role in the reproductive performance of the dog.

What Are Natural Sources Of Vitamins And Other Supplements For Dogs?

There are various good sources of vitamins and essential supplements in dogs. Here, we are going to highlight some important sources of vitamins & minerals in dogs.

Cucumber:  The best source of vitamin K. It also provides other essential minerals to your dog. Remember, this is wise to give cucumber in moderate quantity. In case of any complications, contact your vet.

 Soft/boiled sweet potatoes:  These are considered the optimum source of various essential vitamins i-e Vitamin C, A, B6. Caution: Sweet potatoes contain a high amount of sugars, so they can increase the blood sugar level of your beloved canine friend.

Bananas and apples: Bananas are the best source of potassium and magnesium. In addition, Apple provides vitamin A, C, and iron to your beloved canine friend. However, you can further talk to your vet before giving these items.

Blueberries and watermelon: Blueberries are the best source of various antioxidants (vitamin C, E). All along with that, watermelon maintains the hydration status of your dog. It also provides vitamin A and B6 to your canine buddy.

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What Are Important Supplements For Dogs?

As discussed earlier, supplements are very important for the health and better performance of dogs. Here, we are going to enlist some essential dog supplements below:

Glucosamine: This supplement is usually used to treat bone-related issues in dogs i-e osteoarthritis, arthritis, and other joint issues.

Minerals: The important minerals for dogs include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, manganese, and chloride.  

Chondroitin: This supplement is chondroprotective (it helps in the protection of a dog’s joint particularly in combination with glucosamine).  

Enzymes: These supplements speed up the various biochemical reactions taking place in the dog’s body. Hence, they are essential for the maintenance of optimum metabolism in dogs. The important enzymes are protease, cellulase, lipase, and amylase.

Amino Acids: These are the building blocks of proteins. Amino acids supplements are essential for the optimum health of a dog. The important amino acids supplements are valine, histidine, arginine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine.  

Probiotics: These are beneficial bacteria that give lots of health benefits to the dog. Probiotics supplementation is very important for optimal immune functioning, better performance of dog’s digestive system/metabolism, etc. The important probiotic supplements in dogs include bifidobacterium lacti, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and bifidobacterium breve. 

Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids: These are essential for the proper brain functioning in dogs along with the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. They also help in dealing with bone/joint-related issues in the dogs. This has been documented in the scientific literature that omega-3 & 6 fatty acids also help in the growth and development of the dog’s skin.

Antioxidants: This supplementation is important for effective immune performance in dogs. The important antioxidant supplement includes vitamin C. 

Dietary fiber: These supplements are important better functioning of the digestive system of the dog. There are two types of dietary fibers i-e soluble and insoluble. Both are equally beneficial for your dog.

OTHER SUPPLEMENTS include Coenzyme Q10 and various herbs or botanicals. 

What Are Important Considerations Before Giving Supplements To Dogs?

Vitamins, minerals, and other supplements are good for the well-being of dogs. But there are some risks associated with these supplements. However, we are going to share some important points below which can help you in the selection of supplements and their usage in the dogs.

Veterinary Consultancy

This is very essential. Before giving any supplement to your dog, consult with a registered veterinarian. This is a matter of your dog’s health. Keep in mind, the over-supplementation can cause severe complications in your dog. 

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Always Use FDA Approved Supplements

Various agencies deal with the approval of animal supplements in each country. This is better to use the approved/verified supplement in the dog.

Use Only Optimum Quantity

As you know, excess of everything is bad. This is highly recommended to use the minimum amount of vitamins/supplements in the dogs. Overfeeding can cause toxicity and other complications which may put your dog’s life in danger.

How Do Supplements Help A Dog?

Dog supplements help a dog in several ways such as relieving joint pain/arthritis, diarrhea (other digestive complications). These supplements also help in dealing with anxiety/depression, urinary tract issues, skin and coat problems, and other serious health conditions.

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Conclusion

Dog supplements are crucial for the optimum health and well-being of a dog. There are a variety of supplements and vitamins which are responsible for the better performance of a dog. The important vitamins include A, D, E, K and C, B-complex. The essential minerals include chloride, sodium, potassium, zinc, copper, etc.

The important dog supplements include chondroitin, enzymes, amino acids, glucosamine, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids. Keep in mind, this is always recommended to use these supplements in moderation only. Always consult with a registered veterinarian or a pet expert before giving any supplement to your beloved canine buddy

References

Freeman, L.M., Abood, S.K., Fascetti, A.J., Fleeman, L.M., Michel, K.E., Laflamme, D.P., Bauer, C., Kemp, B.L., Van Doren, J.R. and Willoughby, K.N., 2006. Disease prevalence among dogs and cats in the United States and Australia and proportions of dogs and cats that receive therapeutic diets or dietary supplements. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 229(4), pp.531-534.

Comblain, F., Serisier, S., Barthelemy, N., Balligand, M. and Henrotin, Y., 2016. Review of dietary supplements for the management of osteoarthritis in dogs in studies from 2004 to 2014. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 39(1), pp.1-15.

Canapp Jr, S.O., McLaughlin Jr, R.M., Hoskinson, J.J., Roush, J.K. and Butine, M.D., 1999. Scintigraphic evaluation of dogs with acute synovitis after treatment with glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate. American journal of veterinary research, 60(12), pp.1552-1557.

Hesta, M., Ottermans, C., Krammer‐Lukas, S., Zentek, J., Hellweg, P., Buyse, J. and Janssens, G.P.J., 2009. The effect of vitamin C supplementation in healthy dogs on antioxidative capacity and immune parameters. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 93(1), pp.26-34.

Gupta, R.C., Canerdy, T.D., Lindley, J., Konemann, M., Minniear, J., Carroll, B.A., Hendrick, C., Goad, J.T., Rohde, K., Doss, R. and Bagchi, M., 2012. Comparative therapeutic efficacy and safety of type‐II collagen (uc‐II), glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic dogs: pain evaluation by ground force plate. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition, 96(5), pp.770-777.

Wood, M.W. and Barrett-Wilt, G.A., 2019. Effect of twice-daily oral administration of a chondroitin sulfate–containing supplement on urine chondroitin sulfate concentrations in dogs. American journal of veterinary research, 80(8), pp.799-805.