No doubt, you love your canine friend the most in the entire world and ensure wholesome food and regular exercise to keep him fit and healthy. He is an indispensable part of your life, for whom you try to assure every possible satisfaction and protection. But have you ever thought that your beloved pet needs supplements besides good food?
The food you are feeding your cherished companion may not fulfill the requirement of all necessary nutrients, as just like us, our four-legged friends may also face different health issues as they grow older.
Does your dog seem sluggish? Do you feel him distracted in his regular activities? Don’t overlook any change in his attitude as it might not be the only result of leaving him alone at home for hours. Such changes may indicate the lack of nutrients and need an additional regimen to keep him healthy.
Like humans’, a pet supplement is not an ‘all in one’ package, and you need to give attention to the specific needs of your pet. Do dogs need joint supplements? Should you give them vitamins? If you still have this inquiry in mind, then the straight answer is yes. Well, irrespective of age, size, and breed, all canines can be benefited from such supplements.
Why Are Supplements Necessary?
Some dog owners wonder whether the food they are feeding their canine can fulfill their nutritional needs or not. But the fact is, irrespective of the pet-food you are feeding the pup, you have to include supplements and multi-vitamins to his diet because of the following reasons:
- The food may not supply adequate nutrition
- If he suffers from joint pain or to slow the process of osteoarthritis
- To combat diseases that drain his nutrients.
- To keep his coat and skin healthy.
- To combat anxiety and stress in dogs.
Essential Supplements to Aid Dog Nutrition
Vets recommend the use of supplements and vitamins to maintain the overall health of the pets. If you are still in a hassle, whether you should use them or not, let’s get insight into some of the very prominent that play a very significant role in improving your dog’s health, and help him live longer.
Probiotics and Prebiotics: Improve Digestion
Probiotics are very beneficial bacteria that aids digestive health both in humans and dogs existing in their gastrointestinal tract. These supplements help limit the development of damaging bacteria and regulate his bowel actions and mood.
They boost the beneficial bacteria in the digestive system of your dog and improves his digestion breaking down the food to extract the nutrients. They also boost the immunity of the pet and help him combat the pathogens.
The efficacy of the probiotics gets increased if they are given with prebiotics and dissolvable fiber. Prebiotics enhance the efficiency of probiotics boosting the growth of beneficial bacteria, and the supplement that combines these two is referred to as synbiotic.
Synbiotics, coupled with dissolvable fibers, limit the growth of harmful bacteria and keeps him safe from diarrhea, bad breath, upset stomach, etc. and increase the water absorption rate. They come in the form of tablets, chew, powder, and some dog food also contains them.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin: Help Heal Arthritic Pain
Irrespective of the age, size, and breed, all dogs need glucosamine supplements to combat osteoarthritis. While large breeds are more susceptible to this problem, it develops as your canine gets old. Glucosamine, an element found in cartilage, pads the joints and gets decreased when your canine faces arthritic issues.
If your dog has hip and joint problems, you can feed him dietary multivitamins containing glucosamine. It will soothe him from the inflammation and joint pain caused by the deterioration of glucosamine from the cartilage. Multivitamins containing glucosamine helps repair the worn away cartilage and delays the process of osteoarthritis.
Chondroitin, another significant element, can relive your pet from arthritic pain. You will get them combined with glucosamine supplements.
Do not forget to consult the vet to be assured of the perfect dose before you feed your canine.
Omegas: Boost Coat and Skin Condition
Skin problems are common in canines. These irritations can also be the outcome of many underlying causes, and coat specific supplements can give your dog relief from these issues. Skin and coat problems may occur when your pet suffers from:
- Fungal infection
- Bacterial infection
- tics and parasites
- Itchiness
- Hotspots
- Allergies
Each of the above conditions indicates an imbalance and a lack of Omegas in the dog’s diet. Most of the food you give your pup lacks the required amount of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. They are the two vital elements to keep his fur healthful and lustrous, but the dog’s body itself fails to produce them.
Supplements containing these necessary fatty acids act as an anti-inflammatory agent and improve his coat condition. Don’t skip the proper dosages as an unbalanced dose can induce other health problems.
Antioxidants: Improve Cognitive Development and Immune System
Adding an antioxidant supplement in the pup’s diet can bring a radical change in improving his cognitive development. You can observe the change in his spatial awareness and training only in 2 weeks. When you give him antioxidant supplements from a very young age, you can expect him to live longer and fight off CDS (Cognitive dysfunction syndrome).
Antioxidants combat free radical damage and boost his immune system. They also act as an anti-inflammatory agent to reduce hip and joint pain and fight against allergies. Adding antioxidants to his diet ensures a healthy heart by decreasing C-Reactive Protein (CRP).
The vitamins and minerals that are rich in antioxidants and can bring a long-term difference in his physical and physique health are:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Coenzyme Q-10
- Selenium
- L-Carnitine
Introducing them along with proper exercise and training slows down the process of aging by boosting cell repair and helps combat illnesses like cataract and cancer.
Vitamin Supplements: Keep the Bones Stronger
Vitamins, both water-soluble and fat-soluble, work great to keep your pup’s bones healthy and strong. Water soluble-vitamins, such as vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, folic acid, and Niacin should be included in his daily meals.
While supplementing the nutrient intake of your canine companion, make sure you know what you are feeding him! If given with proper care maintaining the perfect dosages, supplements can help your furry friend lead a long and healthy life.
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