How to Choose the Right Vitamins and Supplements for Your Dog

One of the most important things to know as a dog owner is that our dog's health is entirely in our hands. So, when we adopt a dog, we need to think about their vaccination, about deworming them, keeping them safe from parasites and pests, etc. But that's not where our responsibility for our furry little friends ends. All dog owners need to know as much as they can about their needs, their health, as well as what they can expect according to their breed. This way, you can always be sure to provide your puppy with the right nutrients as well as medicine if necessary. 

Learn about Potential Dog Health Issues

We should treat our dog's health as we do our own. Namely, even when we are healthy and everything is all right, we think about what we eat, we get our vitamins and dietary supplements, and when we are ill, we get medicines. It should be the same for our pets. So, one of the things we need to always have at home is the right healthy dog products to ensure our animal's wellbeing, regardless of whether they are completely healthy or they have a health issue.

Aside from learning to regularly check if your dog has fleas, ticks, lice and so on, getting them the needed vaccinations, cleaning them of parasites, worms and so on, aside from taking care of their hygiene, as well as learning how to recognise when your dog has a problem, dog owners should be ready about some other common health issues that they can expect for their dog, such as skin conditions, digestion problems, ear or eye infections, etc. Furthermore, when you adopt your beautiful four-legged furry companion you should learn about all the potential health problems not only for dogs in general but also for your dog's breed. 

Learn about Essential Nutrients

 Just like for most people around the world, it's almost impossible for dogs to get every nutrient they need just through the food they ingest in order to be healthy, comfortable and happy. Like us, dogs need a number of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, proteins..., and these may vary from dog to dog in regards to their breed, their age, their weight, their physical shape, their health, and other factors. These nutrients are necessary for your pet so that their organism can function properly, they have enough energy to perform their activities, etc.

Learn about Dietary Supplements for Dogs

While some dogs may have to take dietary supplements because of some health issues, even healthy dogs should get some of the most important vitamins and other nutrients through supplements. However, you need to be cautious about what you give to your dog. Even though people often decide on their own which supplements to get, when it comes to your furry companion it may be a good idea to consult your veterinarian about which health dog products to buy and give them. This is because, although these nutrients are vital for our wellbeing and even for our survival if we get too much of them, it can lead to health issues, such as problems with their muscles, bones, blood, etc. 

Your pet should always get supplements that are made for dogs. Furthermore, because dog supplements aren't as well regulated as a medicine when you are buying them, you should make sure you learn as much as possible about the brand, the manufacturer and the specific dog supply you are buying. Make sure that you are investing in trustworthy, healthy and high-quality products for dogs.

Joint Supplements

One of the most commonly used health dog supplies for dogs are joint supplements, because many dogs, especially at older age, get osteoarthritis or some other type of joint problems. While if you suspect that your dog is suffering from this, you should get them to the veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis, regardless of their age. However, there are ways to recognise if this is the case. If your dog has joint issues, they might: 

• get slower
• start limping
• favour one leg over the other or hold a limb up
• not run as much or as long
• have trouble jumping on the couch or in the car
• have trouble going up and down the stairs
• have trouble standing or sitting down
• move and do common activities with difficulty

Probiotics

Many dogs have digestive problems, which is why probiotics are another common type of dog dietary supplement. Of course, there are foods that contain probiotics, like yoghurts or fermented vegetables, and you can learn about how safe they are for your dog and how much you should allow them to eat. However, there are cases when a supplement can be a better choice, like if the digestive problem gets bad, for instance.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria and yeasts that are good for both people and animals. Unlike harmful bacteria, these bacteria help your dog's organism communicate better with microorganism, meaning that they can restore the balance in the stomach. Probiotics also help organisms fight off bad bacteria. Apart from improving digestion by helping break down food, probiotics are also beneficial because they help the organism make nutrients and vitamins, as well as fight off bad bacteria, pathogens.