Apart from a balanced diet, some dogs might need additional supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, CBD, and more, to support their health, growth, and development.
If you want to know more about how supplements can improve the overall well-being of your pet and why supplements like CBD oil are helpful for your dog, and how much and when to offer, read on.
What Are Supplements
Before we move onto what supplements you should give to your pets you must know what a supplement is.
In general, a supplement is anything that enhances the daily diet by introducing beneficial or essential elements to the diet such as essential vitamins for dogs.
Supplements can improve the quality of life for dogs by reducing joint inflammation, improving skin and coat health, improving cognitive health, and much more.
Before getting your first dog, there is one thing to remember. Not all supplements can be offered to every dog. Some supplements should only be given to pets after consulting a veterinarian.
What Supplements Should I Give My Dog?
Following are some of the best dog vitamin and minerals and supplements that can be offered to canines:
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most popular and widely used supplements for dogs because of their numerous benefits.
Dogs with joint inflammation such as arthritis, allergies, skin issues, dull coats, cognitive problems, and eyesight problems can all benefit massively from this magical supplement. Fish oils such as cod liver oil, salmon oil, and others are top sources of omega-3.
Chondroitin And Glucosamine
These are primarily joint supplements. They aid in the repair of damaged cartilage in the joints, improve cartilage growth, and overall reduce inflammation and help in mobility.
These supplements are usually prescribed by veterinarians to dogs who suffer from arthritis, hip dysplasia, cartilage trauma, osteoarthritis, and loose joints.
Probiotic Supplements
A dog’s digestive health mainly depends upon the healthy gut microflora which aids in digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Without the healthy gut microflora dogs can suffer from upset stomach, diarrhea, impaired nutrient absorption, and other issues.
When dogs get sick and become stressed, changes in the body can lead to the death of this microflora. So, to replace these microflora, probiotic supplements are offered to dogs, which are actually healthy gut microflora.
Hepatic Supplements
These supplements are only prescribed by veterinarians to liver patients. These supplements help in liver maintenance and functioning.
Dogs that have hepatitis or are on long-term medications that get metabolized in the liver can benefit from these supplements.
Vitamin Supplements
The best vitamins for dogs are usually vitamin D and C. Vitamin C for dog’s benefits includes healthy skin, and enhanced immunity while vitamin D is necessary for bones and teeth.
Antioxidant Supplements
Antioxidant supplements mostly include vitamin E and other compounds. These helps eliminate free radicals from the body protecting it from cellular damage and toxins. Antioxidant supplements are usually made with fruit extracts and should be administered after consulting a veterinarian.
Are Supplements Unhealthy for Dogs?
In some cases, supplements can harm the health of a dog rather than provide benefits especially if you don’t know what you are doing without consulting a veterinary professional.
With supplements, you have to be very careful with the dosage which usually is according to the age, weight, breed, and health status of a dog.
Overdosage of certain supplements can cause digestive, hepatic, and renal problems in dogs.
