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Should You Supplement Your Dog's Food? Is supplementing your dog's food healthier? Let's talk about diet for a minute. Our bodies cannot make something out of nothing. If Doritos are your staple diet, taking a multivitamin will not make eating Doritos healthy (trust me on this, it's how I ate during college). Before you consider supplementing your dog's food, determine if you are feeding the highest quality food for your budget. What is quality food? Everyone has opinions about what makes a quality food, myself included. I can almost guarantee that your veterinarian, dog trainer, and breeder will not agree on the which is best argument. click here for more on the which is best topic. Before you start supplementing ask yourself why you want to supplement. Is your dog sick? Is he vomiting? Diarrhea? Talk with your veterinarian first if your dog is not feeling his best. Dry or greasy coats, bad breath, gas, lack of energy, itchy skin, and even weight gain or loss can be signs of a medical problem. Find out first, before you start supplementing. That way you will know where your dog is lacking nutritionally, and that will give you a place to start with choosing supplements. Hard working dogs almost always need more than plain old dog food. If your dog is out in extreme temperatures, training for a marathon with you, is your hunting partner, or traverses backcountry trails with you, he probably needs a nutrition boost beyond dog food. I would start supplementing with raw meat, wild salmon oil, and pureed veggies. I would look at nutritional supplements that add protein like Annamaet Impact (High Energy Nutritional Supplement) (4-lb container) Old dog supplements (mobility supplements) can be really helpful in keeping your dog active. Dogs can develop problems with prescription arthritis and pain medication over time. If your dog is just starting to show signs of age, supplements may help him stave off the prescription medication for a little while longer. Some supplements that help dogs move better are Annamaet Endure Supplement for Dogs (400-gram (64 doses) bottle) You can also ask your veterinarian about Adequan injections which helps the snovial fluid keep doing its job lubricating joints. The powder form looks like this Synovi G3 Granules for Dogs -960 grams Supplementing for allergies can offer some helpful relief. If you have an allergy dog you are probably in a constant state of surfing the web for the miracle cure. I can relate. Our dog Joey has allergies, and a good day for him means he can actually sleep through the night without violently shaking his head because his ears are itchy. Allergies are frustrating. One thing to understand about allergies is no matter where they affect your dog (ears, skin, feet, muzzle) the problem is how your dog's immune system reacts. Allergies cause the body to overreact to something in the environment, or in your dog's food. Even the ingredients in supplements can cause a reaction so you have to be really careful about choosing supplements for allergy dogs. I strongly recommend finding a homeopathic or holistic veterinarian to help you work out which supplements are best for your allergy dog. Every dog is different and it is far too complicated of an issue to address based on supplements alone. Supplementing your healthy pet's food. So your dog is generally pretty healthy, but you want to give him the best you can. You can give a multivitamin to help boost his system. You can get one over the counter like this Canine Plus - 270 Ct - Beef Flavored What about antioxidants? Blueberries and grape seed extract are hot items in the antioxidant department. You may be more familiar with vitamin C and vitamin E as antioxidants. There is some conflicting evidence around grape seed for dogs. The concern is that dogs should not eat grapes or grape products, and given grape seed is an extract, a possible toxicity could build up over time. I don't know if there is a right answer. My veterinarian gives grape seed the okay. All dogs are different, so talk with your veterinarian if you have concerns. Antioxidants scavenge free radicals. Free radicals are a natural by-product of living beings and are created during exercise and stress. When we add a poor diet on top of stressed bodies (this works for humans too) we put our dogs at risk for disease. We can counteract some of that stress with antioxidants, but antioxidants will not fix the problem. Always remember supplements are not a magic cure. It is easy to fall prey to clever wording and testimonials of some powder or liquid when you are desperate to fix your dog's pain or suffering. Supplements are just that, a supplement to the big picture - good food, physical exertion, and mental exercises are all part of a healthy dog. More Dog Food Articles
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. Keep in mind that when you add to your dogs diet, you may be off setting the diet in other ways. It is not necessary to add supplements everyday for working dogs. Just the days they work hard.
, elk antler velvet, 
, 
, 
, 
, and of course blended fresh fruits and veggies. 
. Keep in mind that older dogs sometimes have other issues, like decreased kidney function, which complicate the way their body handles any food including supplements. Always work with your veterinarian to determine the best supplement schedule for your old dog.
or this 
. You can also make your dog food better with enzymes like these 
. Enzymes are catalysts that help your dog's body break down commercial food. Basically, it helps your dog get the most out of his dog food. This might be the simplest method of supplementation for the healthy dog. Be careful about getting caught up in the hot new supplement item. Remember, pureed fruits and veggies are the best form of vitamins.
