Important supplements for dogs

I often write about healthy supplements we might give our dogs in addition to their regular food. But I keep coming back to a question:

Which supplements are really important?

Most of us assume the food we give our dogs is well-balanced, but that may not always be the case. For example: you may see probiotics on a bag of dog food, but when you look at the list of ingredients the probiotics in there is way down at the bottom, which means the percentage is pretty small and may not not enough to really do anything. An exception may if you have a specific dog food that caters to a specific issue. So, some owners may want to consider additional supplementation based on their dog’s age, breed, activity level or individual needs. If you have questions about the amount of a particular ingredient in your dog’s food, you can contact the manufacturer for more information.

Here is my personal take on separate supplementation for dogs.
Joint supplements: If your dog’s age, activity level or breed makes joint health a concern, you may want to consider joint support beginning in early adulthood.

Common ingredients in hip and joint supplements include glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and hyaluronic acid. Some products also contain collagen, including eggshell membrane. I generally add turmeric separately.

If you can’t find everything you want in one product, you may need to use more than one. Younger dogs may have different needs than older dogs, so be careful about combining products and giving excessive amounts. You can adjust the level of support as your dog ages and its needs change.

Probiotics: Probiotics are another supplement dog owners may consider. As a dog owner, I am well aware of digestive issues that come and go. Probiotics may help support digestive health.

While they aren’t a substitute for veterinary care when a dog has a chronic or acute digestive problem, probiotics can be part of a dog’s regular diet.

Canine probiotics also shouldn’t be confused with simply adding yogurt to a dog’s food. There’s nothing wrong with giving some dogs a little plain yogurt if they tolerate it, but it isn’t necessarily a substitute for a probiotic formulated for dogs. Dairy products also can cause digestive problems for some dogs.

Two commonly available canine probiotic brands are Proviable and FortiFlora, although there are many others. Personally, I prefer a powder that I can mix into my dogs’ food. Whatever product you choose, follow its directions for the appropriate

Multivitamins: Some owners also choose to give their dogs a multivitamin. Products vary considerably, so read the label carefully rather than assuming every multivitamin contains the same ingredients or amounts.

commonly included in canine multivitamins. Products may also contain vitamins E and C, as well as fish oil or other sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

I don’t routinely give a separate fish oil supplement, but I have used one for coat and skin support and as additional joint support. Some multivitamins already contain fish oil, so check the ingredients before adding another supplement.

Fiber: I also add a pumpkin fiber supplement. I prefer a ground, dried pumpkin product rather than canned pumpkin. The product I use is Diggin’ Your Dog Firm Up!, which can be mixed into food.

Are there other supplements? Certainly. But that doesn’t mean every dog needs them. A dog’s nutritional needs can vary with its age, diet, health and other factors.

Before adding supplements, particularly multiple products containing overlapping ingredients, it is worth knowing what your dog is already getting from its regular food. Read labels, ask manufacturers for additional nutritional information when necessary and discuss your dog’s individual needs with a veterinarian.

Supplements can be useful, but more isn’t necessarily better. The goal is to determine what, if anything, your individual dog needs and choose products accordingly.

Abby Bird is the owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail.com.