Meet Your Dog’s Changing Needs with Supplements

It is a legitimate question to ask:  Does my dog need a dietary supplement even if I feed her a premium dog food?  Put fifty people in a room and you will get at least that number of opinions about the topic of nutritional supplementation.  Indiscriminate usage of dietary supplements or nutraceuticals may result in serious dietary imbalances or even toxicity, essentially creating a problem where there was none to begin with.  Consequently, the quality of the diet will be degraded.

Consider this.  Whether you feed your dog a raw, dry, or cooked diet, or a canned or homemade dog food, each canine is an individual with nutritional and dietary needs that are as completely unique as they are.  Through the seasons of their lives, their requirements may vary, depending on any number of factors.  In fact, nutritional supplements as vitamins and minerals are actually deemed necessary in very few cases, as are nutraceuticals.

 Supplements may be beneficial for your dog if one of these apply:

          *Agility-Trial dogs

          *Pregnant or lactating

          *Show dog

          *Long term stress

          *Veterinarian recommendation

          *Illness, surgery

On a weekly basis, supplements seem to appear in the news, and following that, on everyone’s kitchen shelf.  Navigating through the maze of nutritional supplements can be confusing and difficult, especially when we depend on the pet industry to provide nutritionally sound, well-balanced foods for our dogs.  Some of the dietary supplements offer substances that are essential nutrients and many of the nutraceuticals, although they  targeted benefits, were not originally designed to be used with our canine companions and must be very carefully dosed to achieve safety and maximum benefit.

Here are some supplements that may be added to your dog’s diet.  Use caution before adding supplements to your dog’s diet.  It may be a good idea to consult your vet.  Most of the supplements are safe, but some may interact with pharmaceutical drugs that your pet is given, and there is a slight possibility that if given in too large a quantity, there will be unforeseen side effects, such as allergic reactions, digestive upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Kelp
Kelp is a sea plant that comes in tablets, powder, or granulated.  It provides an excellent source of minerals, and some B vitamins.  Kelp also provides iodine.  In addition, Kelp contains a small amount of protein.  It helps to clear up dry skin and dull coats and aids thyroid function.  Make sure you choose deep water, ocean harvested plant material to insure purity.

Alfalfa Powder

Depending upon the time of year, alfalfa contains varying amounts of fiber and moisture.  It is mineral rich and a great addition to your dog’s diet.  Be sure that you remove this supplement if your dog is pregnant because of some of its components.  Alfalfa has been used to treat anemia, loss of appetite, promotion of colon health and pituitary gland function.

Bone Meal
Bone meal is used as a nutritional supplement to provide calcium and phosphorus.  Be careful NOT to supplement with bone meal if your family dog has kidney disease.  Each brand of bone meal contains differing amounts of phosphorus and calcium.  Be consistent in the brand that you choose.  DO NOT use garden bone meal.  Use only pure bone meal.

Egg Shells
Egg shells are a form of calcium carbonate and may be a good nutritional supplement.  They can be crushed and cooked in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes to kill the salmonella bacteria.  The shell of one large egg contains about 2,000 mg of calcium and 80mg of phosphorus.

Apple Cider Vinegar
This kitchen staple is a wonderful food for intestinal health.  It also benefits arthritis and gastric upset.  Apple cider vinegar may help a dog on a raw diet to digest bones and fats.  There is some question as to its benefits with the exception of it aiding in fat reduction.

Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is a non-toxic, broad spectrum antimicrobial with the ability to inhibit or kill the growth of a wide range of potentially harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses.  Often people will soak raw meat used for their dog’s diet, in a solution of GSE.  It is derived from the seeds, pulp, and white membrane of the fruit.  Note that it is extremely bitter in taste.  Choose wisely how you use it as it is NOT to be confused with grapeseed extract.

No matter the age or stage of life, your canine companion deserves a life filled with good food, exercise and love.  Your dog depends on you to determine his needs.  You can help to enhance his health with proper supplementation by being an informed consumer and seeking the guidance of your veterinarian if you have specific concerns.