Remember how your Mom used to say that
you must have some health drink,you must! She would run around the house
chasing you with a glass. Well there is always something extra you can
do for your doggy too.....over and above a good diet.There are various
food supplements that can help in many ways!!! They can add
proteins,vitamins,and the other needed nutrients. You have to choose
different dog supplements
according to the age,size and need of your pet. However you must keep
in mind these are supplements and can never replace meals. These can
only be of help when your dog is already getting a wholesome diet and
required exercise.
A dietary supplement is a preparation
that adds to the nutrients that a body needs but is not able to find in
the regular food.These can be proteins,amino or fatty acid,vitamins
etc.As is the case with humans, dogs also may need something
extra.However you need to be very careful as to which brand you choose
and how much you feed your dog. Remember too much of anything is bad.
Any extra protein or vitamins can lead to other medical conditions that your pet did not suffer from in the first place.We can take the example of calcium.We often give kids and as an extension our lovely puppies Calcium supplements.However
an excess dosage of calcium can lead to retention and hence bone
issues.On similar lines excess of any vitamin may also case
dehydration,pain or toxicity. At
various stages of your dog’ s life you would need different supplements.
When he is just a puppy you would need growth supplements.Puppies grow
by leaps and bounds, 20 times faster than a dog!!! These growth
supplements would help him grow into a healthy dog.
More pet parents are making dog supplements
a part of their dog’s daily diet. The most common include
multivitamins, supplements to support arthritic joints, and fatty acids
(important for a shiny coat and reduced shedding). Dog supplement use
is also popular with owners of older and obese dogs, in order to reduce
symptoms brought on by age or weight.
There are a lot of dog food brands available,some
expensive and some cheap.You have to choose wisely. But do dogs need
really supplements? Are dog supplements safe? There’s a lot of talk on
the subject – some experts say they are important while others believe
they could be doing more harm than good.Here are some check points that
you may consider before you introduce supplements to your dog’s
diet.Before you give your pooch dog supplements, take him to the vet and
get her expert opinion. Point out any health issues you think could be
affecting your dog and ask if there are any supplements that could
alleviate the problem.
Check the supplements included in your dog’s food. Some dog foods have supplements built in. Some of these include adult formulas or prescription dog food. Others include botanicals or DHA.
Check the dose. Giving too much of a good thing could lead to serious
health issues. Always follow the recommendations on the packaging. If
you are in doubt, ask your vet. ( Tips for selecting Dog Food )
Does your dog need extra vitamins? If you’re feeding your dog an
FDA-approved dog food, he is most likely getting all the vitamins and
minerals in this complete and balanced diet. If you’re using a homemade
dog food, your dog may need added supplements.
When choosing dog supplements, look for a brand that specializes in the
issue you dog is facing. Read the labels, know the name of the
ingredient you’re looking for and make sure the supplement has it. And
don’t be fooled by claims that sound too good to be true – they usually
are not Although vets disagree on the importance of supplementing a dogs
diet, most dogs remain in good health on a nutritionally complete and balanced dog food and many may benefit from, or at least are not harmed by, certain supplements.
For example, consider vitamin C. Unlike people, dogs can synthesize
vitamin C in their bodies and may not benefit from a vitamin C
supplement the way a person could. Some studies suggest, however, that
vitamin C supplements may be useful to highly athletic and working dogs.
Dogs who lack the ability to synthesize vitamin C could benefit from
supplementation of this antioxidant vitamin. Some breeders believe that
vitamin C supplementation helps maintain orthopedic health in giant
breeds. When it comes to canine dietary supplements, dog owners and
their veterinarians must consider many variables.
