Dog supplements? Why not?
When you adore your dog, it’s understandable that you’d want to keep them in the best possible condition. You take them to the vet on a regular basis, work to keep them clean and give them a balanced diet which includes everything they need, ultimately eliminating a lot of the common issues a pooch can face.
Of course, though, there is always something else out there that can damage your dog. To help you to remove these additional threats, this post will be exploring dog supplements, and how they can be added to your canine’s diet to improve their overall health.
ESSENTIAL DOG SUPPLEMENTS
Fish Oil:
A lot of people take cod liver oil as part of their daily routine, taking advantage of the positive impact it can have on your brain, skin, and joints, even if it doesn’t taste too good. While your dog shouldn’t take exactly the same options as you, they can still gain the same benefits from a product like fish oil. Containing Omega 3 Fatty Acids, this sort of supplement can impact your dog’s entire body, improving things like cognitive function while also making their coat look sleek and shiny.
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Coconut Oil:
It can be painful to see your beloved dog driven mad by itchiness or allergic reactions, but a lot of people don’t know what they need to do to solve issues like this. A product like Zesty Paws, a coconut oil formulated just for dogs, can have a visible impact on your dog, reducing scratching and dry skin, while also making their coat look healthier in the process. This sort of oil can even make their waste a little less smelly, as it will improve their digestion and quality of their stomachs.
Multivitamins:
It’s very hard to make sure that you get all of the vitamins and minerals you need through your normal diet, even when you’re intently focusing on it. For a dog, this can be even harder, especially when you’re not sure what goes into their food. To solve this issue, multivitamins which are specifically designed for different types of dog can be found all over the web. This sort of product could fix a lot of different symptoms, especially if your dog has any major deficiencies.
A Big Chew:
Dogs use their teeth for a lot more than simply eating. Acting as their only tool for picking things up, their favorite body part to use during play, and as one of their forms of communication, it’s important to consider the health of their mouths. Unlike a human, they can’t brush their teeth, though, and this leaves few options to help them.
Thankfully, there are plenty of dog chews around the web which can be used to clean their teeth, while strengthening their jaws and keeping their mouth free from issues.
Glucosamine:
Like humans, dogs are well-known for their joint’s frailty in their later years, with a lot of pooches suffering from arthritis and other joint conditions which cause discomfort and pain. This has made supplements like glucosamine very popular, as it can save your dog from this pain, keeping their joints from falling into disrepair. One of the best parts about this about is that it can be simply added to their food, making it almost impossible for your furry friend to eat around it.
Milk Thistle:
Diseases of the liver can wreak havoc on your pup’s wellness. Looking after a complex and sensitive organ like the liver is never an easy job, with even the smallest things having an impact on this part of your body. Not drinking enough water, eating the wrong foods, and even lacking the exercise you need can spell doom for your liver, and the same can be said for a dog. Supplements like milk thistle can help to turn back the clock when it comes to areas like this, even if they are already suffering from a condition that is hard to treat.
Probiotics:
Finally, as the last area to think about, dogs can be just as susceptible to disease as humans but lack the knowledge to avoid things which could make them sick. Probiotics can solve this for them, improving the number of good bacteria in their gut, while also boosting their immune system.
Not a lot of people take this sort of supplement, as many simply don’t need it. Your dog, on the other hand, could benefit greatly from a little bit of culture in their diet.
The Bottom Line on Dog Supplements
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking for dog supplements to improve the health of your pooch.
Supplements can help your dog sleep better, maintain a healthy weight, and metabolize waste with fewer issues.
You probably take one or two supplements for your own body, giving yourself a little boost which can’t be found in food. This can be more important for your dog, though, making it well worth doing some research to see what could help.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
This blog celebrates all things home.
