Are dietary supplements necessary for your dog’s health? While it’s true that most dogs receive a complete and balanced diet from dog food, there are some instances where dogs need tailored supplements to address their specific needs. Like humans, dogs also need a specific set of nutrients to support their every need at every stage of their lives. This is where pet supplements come in.
Pet supplements provide the essential vitamins and minerals to address nutritional deficiencies. In general, supplements improve your dog’s quality of life. It helps them get the necessary nutrients needed to support their overall health and development. If you think your dog is not getting enough nutrients from their diet, the best course of action to take is to consult your veterinarian. One important thing to remember is that each dog is unique. The needs of your pup may be different depending on their age, size, breed, and unique medical condition (if there are any).
Now that we got that out of the way - here are five of the most important benefits of pet supplements to your pup.
Provide Essential Nutrients
Like humans, dogs also need six major nutrients to keep themselves healthy. These essential nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Not getting enough essential nutrients may lead to nutrient deficiencies that may ultimately lead to illnesses. According to Vetericyn, the main sources of nutritional deficiency stem from not eating enough food, malnutrition food, and digestive diseases preventing the absorption of nutrients.
As pet owners, it is your responsibility to care for your dog and ensure that they are living a happy and healthy life. If you think they are not getting enough nutrients from their diet, maybe it’s time to pay closer attention to their nutritional requirements. This is also the perfect time to consult your veterinarian about introducing dietary supplements to your pup’s diet. Pet supplements will help provide the essential nutrients that your dog needs to support their overall growth and development.
Maintain Healthy Skin & Coat
One telltale sign that your dog is not getting enough nutrients from their diet is the development of a skin or coat disorder. Introducing supplements that include biotin, omega fatty acids, vitamin E, and antioxidants can fight common skin and coat problems as well as cell damage caused by free radicals.
Boost Digestion
Put simply, boosting and maintaining healthy digestion improve your dog’s immune system. If you think your dog is having digestive issues, it is important to talk to your veterinarian to diagnose the root of the issue instead of self-treating the symptoms. Digestive issues may lead to more serious health issues so it’s better to err on the side of caution and seek professional help.
Before administering digestive supplements to your pup’s diet, look for a supplement that contains a blend of enzymes that help the body break down essential nutrients to quickly jumpstart digestion and offer fast relief to the most common digestive problems. Other ingredients to look out for are probiotics and CFUs (colony-forming units) of good bacteria that help regulate your dog’s digestive and immune systems while naturally supporting gut health.
Increase Absorption Rates
In addition to boosting digestive health, pet supplements should also increase your pup’s absorption rates of vitamins and minerals. While there are a plethora of reasons why dogs experience low levels of nutrient absorption, this can be remedied by incorporating pet supplements into their diet. If your dog is experiencing signs of lack of nutrient absorption, expect your veterinarian to suggest supplementing your dog’s diet with additional vitamins and minerals depending on the type of nutrients that they need.
Improve Overall Health
Pet supplements such as multivitamins and probiotics provide your dog with the essential nutrients that they are not getting from their daily meals. However, it is important to remember that supplements will only improve your dog’s overall health when it’s matched with their current diet. As responsible pet owners, make sure to consult your veterinarian or your veterinary nutritionist to make sure that your dog is getting the right mix of nutrients at the right dosage.
Final Thoughts: Do dogs need dietary supplements?
So do dogs really need dietary supplements? The simple answer is it depends. Dietary supplements, in some cases, are more of a requirement than a suggestion especially if you have a dog that has unique medical conditions or an aging dog. It’s no secret that choosing the right pet supplements is an overwhelming task. Keep in mind that you should also do your own research to determine which supplements would improve and support your dog’s unique needs.
