Here is one thing that everybody should realize before adopting a pet, especially a dog. This canine companion expects you to be their friend for life. So you must do your best to keep them healthy and live a long life.
Okay, you get it. Then what should you do after adopting? Feeding them a balanced diet is not enough to keep them healthy. You also must give them supplements that meet their dietary restrictions and suit their needs.
The 5 Best Supplements for Dogs
1. Glucosamine
This supplement is one of the most popular ones, especially for senior dogs. Its primary purpose is to improve joint health and prevent any joint and muscle issues. Unfortunately, it's not something that you can naturally get from any dog food.
However, since arthritis is a common and serious issue for all dogs, adding glucosamine can help your dog a lot. They can avoid any hip and joint problems as they age.
2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
In its most basic form, you know this supplement as fish oil. Despite how it looks, fish oil has multiple benefits for your dog's eyes, coat, and gut health. It can also improve appetite, which makes it a favorite among many.
As one of the natural supplements, you can give your dog a tablet of fish oil or choose a supplement with a high fatty acid content. Within weeks of regular use, you can notice your dog's coat has a healthy glow and feels softer to the touch.
3. Probiotics
Having good gut health is a telltale sign that your dog lives their best life. They have an impressive appetite and good bowel movements.
But probiotics go beyond having a healthy and regular poo. It also means their bodies can better absorb minerals and help prevent urinary tract infections. Another great thing about probiotics is that your dog will no longer have bad breath.
4. Medium-Chain Triglycerides
MCT is a fatty acid supplement that helps improve a dog's heart and brain health. Several studies show that it helps dogs with early dementia and also reduces seizures.
Despite all these benefits, it's easy to overdo it with this fatty acid. If anything, too much MCT may lead to inflammation and can also trigger allergic reactions.
5. NAD+
This popular supplement is one of many recent discoveries for dogs' health. But it's simply because researchers only recently linked this coenzyme with cell regeneration in dogs.
Just like other supplements, it works well for senior dogs with serious health issues, such as arthritis, or for dogs recovering from hip surgery. Of course, it's not everything it can do.
These supplements work great in all stages of life. For puppies and young dogs, regular NAD+ can boost their immune system and metabolism. Adults and senior dogs will experience a delay in aging and can remain healthier longer.
On Choosing the Supplements
1. Watch Out For The Claims
These days, it only gets easier to claim to be the best one or more. While it's understandable as a marketing tactic, many also fell for these claims.
What you have to do is double-check if they have everything that matches these claims. You can ask for certifications or any research with supportive findings. Doing the basic due diligence will help you avoid some bad brands that may hide allergens or even dangerous additives.
2. Learn More about the Ingredients
Naturally, you're curious about what's inside their meal. Whether it's dry food, jerky snacks, canned food, or even frozen raw food. You have to check if the ingredients match the claim.
Understanding what's in their meal is far more beneficial than keeping a blind eye. Not only do you get to know what your dog loves to eat, but you can also notice if there's an allergic reaction or any issues with their meal.
Yes, your dog can also develop allergies, even to some expensive brands that claim to be the best. Anyhow, each dog may react differently and to varying degrees. As long as it triggers an allergic reaction, you must stop using the product and quickly identify which ingredient is the culprit. After all, it's a lot easier when you know what to avoid.
3. Ask for Recommendations
A recommendation can come from anyone you know. However, a vet can give you a better assessment. Their experience and knowledge will help you choose which supplements your dog needs most.
Whether you need supplements to reduce the pain or improve gut health, or both, your vet can guide you all the way. Anyhow, you must be honest in your interaction with your dog so that the vet can suggest the best feeding method.
If you are still building a bond with your senior dog, the vet may suggest liquid supplements to mix in their meals. This way, you can improve the dog's health and continue building trust. But if you have been with the dog for most of your life, the vet will recommend chewables since you already know how to trick your dog into opening their mouth.
Do Supplements Have Side Effects or Any Risk?
As long as you follow the dosage and instructions correctly, you don't have to worry about any side effects. A supplement works just like vitamins, which you have to take regularly.
However, several supplements may cause side effects if you miss or skip doses. This is often the case with supplements that specifically target joints or are used as pain relievers. To get your dog out of such a situation, you have to reintroduce the supplements to their diet.
At any rate, you shouldn't try doubling the dose or making a medication cocktail for your dogs. Taking only one or two supplements at most is enough to improve their overall health.
For specific needs, such as a pain reliever, contact your vet for recommendations. Don't forget to ask how you should schedule adding the supplements and how to tell if they're working.
