The majority of dog owners consider their four-legged companion to be a family member. So it’s understandable that they’d want to help their health in whatever manner they can. That might explain why so many dog owners are interested in nutritional supplements. The field of canine supplements is enormous. In fact, you can get a dog version of almost every human product, including multivitamins, fish oil, and even CBD. When a dog is struggling with a particular health condition, supplements are usually required.

If your four-legged friend is already on a natural raw-fed diet, they will probably receive all the necessary nutrients to support their growth, development, and well-being. But irrespective of diet type, whether raw, wet, or dry, your goal is to ensure you meet their nutritional needs and help them to thrive. Surviving is not thriving, a crucial distinction to consider when considering diet and supplementation. That is where ProDog Raw’s canine supplement range can help by allowing you to increase your dog’s food nutrient density, regardless of diet type, according to the desired health outcome. It’s also critical to consult your veterinarian before giving your dog any vitamins since the improper dose or supplement might exacerbate their health problem.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are something you hear a lot about, and although most people understand that they’re good for you, few people understand what they do when they’re in nutritional supplements. When food is processed, chemical processes create “free radicals,” which are oxygen molecules that have lost an electron. When a human or pet is unwell, exposed to hazardous chemicals, malnourished, or aged, more free radicals are created, and these free radicals attempt to steal electrons from the body’s cells. As a result, the cell becomes a free radical, and an electron theft cycle continues, weakening cell lines. Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Selenium, as well as many other vitamins and minerals, include high levels of antioxidants, which may supply electrons to free radicals without becoming free radicals themselves. This suggests that the electron theft hasn’t harmed any cell lines.

Advantages:

• Antioxidants help to keep your immune system in good shape.
• Support the mental health and function of senior canines.
• Antioxidants, when combined with colostrum for dogs, may aid dogs with allergies and skin issues.
• Support elderly dogs’ agility and memory.

Omegas

When you hear the term “omega” in the context of health and supplements, you probably think of omega-3 fatty acids. These compounds are known to be beneficial to human skin and hair health, and they also promote healthy skin and fur in dogs, as well as heart health, cognitive function, and more! It’s also crucial to note that due to the way dogs’ bodies work with chemical bonding, they can’t produce omega-3s on their own, therefore these nutrients must be received from outside sources.

Advantages:

• The health of the skin and fur.
• Scratching, licking, and biting become less common as skin health improves.
• Helps with renal function.
• Assist in reducing inflammation.

Multivitamins

Dog multivitamins are extremely comparable to human multivitamins! They include a variety of vitamins and minerals that dogs need to maintain good health. Dogs, like humans, need vitamins A, B (including B-12 and B-6), C, D, E, K, and a few other minerals, but in different quantities. Including a multivitamin in your pet’s meal may help them maintain a healthy diet.  

Advantages:

• It has a wide range of vital nutrients in it.
• Doses that are simple to deliver (usually in the form of chews).

Glucosamine

The cartilage that cushions joints naturally contains glucosamine. Glucosamine supplements for joint discomfort may help with this. These dog vitamins, in theory, enhance joint health and are an excellent supplement to your dog’s diet. It is now most often used to treat people, horses, and dogs. Look for a multivitamin that contains glucosamine if your dog needs to add a joint supplement to his diet.

Advantages:

• After surgery or injury, may help and perhaps speed up joint rehabilitation.
• It’s simple to use.

Probiotics

Probiotic pills for dogs are utilised in the same way that they are for people to help with digestive health and regularity. Probiotic nutritional supplements help regulate good bacteria in the digestive system, which aids in the digestion of dog food and nutrient extraction. They may also stop the formation of hazardous germs which can make people and pets ill.

Advantages:

• Helps with digestion.
• In dogs with delicate digestive systems, it increases the frequency and quality of faeces.
• Can aid in the normalisation of the inflammatory response.

Getting Supplements for Dogs

Any of the above-mentioned supplements and vitamins are available from a number of sources, and there are several brands with somewhat varied formulas. They are available for purchase on the internet, at pet shops, and in veterinarians’ offices. 

How can you know whether you’re giving your canine companion the proper supplements? Remember to follow these rules:

• Know how much your dog weighs.
• Learn about your dog’s allergies.
• Only purchase brands about which you can get a lot of information.

Knowing what’s in your dog’s food is maybe the most disregarded of all of them, but if you’re supplementing your dog’s nutritional intake, you must know what they’re consuming! This applies to both understanding the contents of store-bought dog food and knowing what critical nutrients your dog may be receiving or missing if you give them homemade food. If your dog already receives their daily intake of certain nutrients from their diet, adding a supplement might make them ill, even if you use the recommended serving quantity on vitamin and supplement packaging.

Additionally, be certain that you can check the brands you purchase. Look for items like regulatory stamps and batch numbers, as well as expiry dates and storage directions. The majority of the supplements mentioned above are available in pill and chew form for dogs, however, some may come in other forms that must be kept and provided in certain ways. Supplements for dogs, when taken correctly and with caution, are an excellent method to guarantee that your canine companion receives all of the minerals and vitamins he or she needs to live a long and healthy life.