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Ever thought about giving your pooch dog supplements?
You're probably giving the best quality dog food for your puppy, but you find yourself asking, “is it enough?” That's when multivitamins for dogs come into the picture.
About 31% of dog owners in the United States give their pets supplements for joint health and other common medical issues. While owners wouldn't hesitate to share their canine companion dog vitamins, some would still weigh the pros and cons of dog supplements.
In this article, we will help you identify dog supplement pros and cons so that you can easily decide whether giving vitamins is the best decision for your pup.
Pro and Cons: Dog Supplement – Why it Matters
People take extra measures to take care of themselves, like taking vitamins or exercising. Some pet owners would do the same with their dogs!
Pets need extra care and nutrition to thrive and live happily and healthily. However, you don't have to be overwhelmed when giving them these additional nutritional requirements.
Your dog needs six essential nutrients to live a healthy lifestyle, including protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. However, each is taken in at different levels.
To determine the level of nutrients needed by your dog, you may consult your vet or acquire the necessary vitamins suitable for your dog's breed, age, activity level, and health problems.
Dog supplements help you provide more of these nutrients through regular dosage. According to the American Kennel Club, one joint supplement for dogs is glucosamine.
This compound aims to lubricate the joints and prevent arthritis among dogs. Other multivitamins for dogs treat skin issues and inflammation.
When giving pet supplements, don't give human vitamins or over-the-counter ones. Order directly from your vet or any recommended stores.
Providing multivitamins for dogs may be an added expense, but it will surely improve your dog's overall health. This is probably why dog owners take time weighing the pros and cons of dog supplements.
ALSO READ: 10 Best Multivitamin Supplements for Dogs
What are Dog Supplements?
Have you noticed how some people take protein shakes or daily calcium supplements on top of their diet? It's the same with dog supplements as they are multivitamins with a function quite similar to the ones humans take.
Dogs don't get enough nutrients from their food. That's why some pet owners prefer giving multivitamins to dogs for that added nutrition.
These dog vitamins help your pooch function better physically and mentally. They will get all the minerals they need that they lack from their regular diet.
So, if you are weighing the pros and cons of dog supplements, this is considered an upside. After all, you don't have to worry about adding specific ratios of vitamins and minerals when preparing your dog's meal.
Dog Supplement: What are the Pros?
Your pup deserves nothing but the best. And there's no better way of showing that extra tender loving care to your dog but with some dog vitamins.
Here is a list of pros of getting dog supplements and why you should add multivitamins for dogs into your canine care regimen:
- Cheaper than dog medicine
- Tasty
- Easy to feed
- Prevents illnesses
- Dog functions and feels better
- Gives owners peace of mind
Dog owners often debate the pros and cons of dog supplements. It is said that pet owners give dogs vitamins because “they want to” but not because “they have to.”
On the other hand, veterinarians recommend giving multivitamins to dogs according to their diet and the purpose of providing nutritional supplements in the first place. You can't just give your dog a meal and any vitamin to pair it with.
That's why it's essential to consult with your vet whenever you decide to give dog supplements to your pup. That way, you will be able to provide all the nutrients your dog needs the most.
Dog Supplements are Cheaper than Medicine
When it comes to dog supplement pros and cons, one of the benefits of dog vitamins is that it's a cheap alternative to medicine.
Multivitamins for dogs prevent illnesses in the joints, skin, heart, and many more. Hence, it's best to spend on dog vitamins than get them sick and pay for expensive medicine.
They are Tasty!
Dogs don't seem to have a problem taking in dog supplements. Most vitamins taste and smell good, and you can even choose flavored ones!
If your pooch is a picky eater, you can mix the multivitamins for dogs into their meals. You can also add water to soften the substance.
Got puppies? You can still provide the best nutrition with puppy supplements! They are flavorful enough that your young canines would surely want more!
Dog Vitamins are Easy to Feed
Dog supplements are flavorful and easily blended with dog food and homemade dog meals. You can even give it to your pup directly.
You can also give the dog vitamins along with treats. When compared to dog medicine, they are less troublesome to administer.
Puppy vitamins are equally easy to feed since they can be in a chewy form or taken in through a syringe. Also, with their great taste, young pups are more than happy to lick off whatever is left.
Treat and Prevent Illnesses
When comparing the pros and cons of dog supplements, this is one of the significant reasons dog owners prefer to give pet vitamins to their puppy. These multivitamins for dogs can help them prevent common canine illnesses.
For instance, you can give your pooch dog vitamins for arthritis and stomach issues. Supplements for dogs doesn't only affect physical medical condition but also psychological ones like anxiety.
ALSO READ: Best Dog Anxiety Medications: 12 Best Calming Supplements For Dogs
Help your Dog Function and Feel Better
The primary purpose of dog supplements is to provide more nutritional value to top off what they usually get from their meals. Your puppy will have more energy, feel better, and even have a healthier appearance with the added nutrients.
Even dog supplements help your puppy gain weight or get silkier coats. The effects on your puppy can be more than its physical state since these pet vitamins can also improve your dog's mood and mental sharpness.
But when considering the pros and cons of dog supplements, make sure to get multivitamins for dogs that are in line with your goals for your dogs.
Give Dog Owners Peace of Mind
Let's face it.
There is a chance that you're giving your puppy these dog supplements so that you have less to worry about. That's probably why you're comparing the pros and cons of dog supplements and reading this article right now.
When your dog has nutritional supplements, that means they are less likely to acquire any of the common canine illnesses. Also, you want your pup to be as comfortable as possible.
Knowing that you've done everything you can, you can feel assured that your pet has the best to achieve optimal health.
Dog Supplement: What are the Cons?
The benefits of dog supplements are pretty straightforward and simple — providing more nutritional value to their dog's diet and achieving good health. So, what is stopping some dog owners from giving their dogs multivitamins?
Here's the list of cons or disadvantages of giving supplements to dogs:
- Extra expense
- Denial of its effectiveness
- Reaction to existing medication
- Allergies
- Difficult to gauge dosage and effectivity
- Some brands may fall short
The debate continues as the disadvantages of dog supplements result in hesitation to most dog owners. Like the ones for people, these dog vitamins could be full of fillers, chemicals, and synthetic materials.
Make sure to find the time to read the ingredients and consult with your vet if you're still hesitant. The bottom line is that you only want what's best for your pup, and doing additional research about pet supplements can surely put your mind at ease.
Added Expense to your Budget
You probably have finalized a specific budget for all your dog's needs. Adding multivitamins can be an added expense, especially if you give regularly.
It's best to know what the dog supplements are for and what other formula it needs so that you get a good glimpse of how much the total cost is. Otherwise, you might end up spending more than you should.
Denial of the Effectiveness of Dog Supplements
Not from your dog but you! Some dog owners are skeptical about the effectiveness of multivitamins for dogs because the results are not precisely seen right away.
As dog owners compare the pros and cons of dog supplements, most of the reviews would say that the effects of pet vitamins don't readily show.
However, that is always not the case since it works more on your pooch's internal body and systems rather than on the outside.
Such misconception often stems from the thought that these dog supplements can treat common illnesses just like medication. These multivitamins can only boost your dog's health and prevent sickness but not exactly cure any condition.
Bad Reaction to Existing Medication
Is your dog currently taking any medication? If that is the case, you might want to check with your vet before giving your dog any pet supplement.
Some dog supplements would say that they are “100% natural”, but they pay extra careful. Some vitamins could be fatal when mixed with other prescriptions.
Allergic Reaction to Dog Supplements
It's pretty rare for a Fido to have an allergic reaction to dog vitamins. Still, it would be best to ask about the ingredients and possible allergens.
Be careful when giving puppy vitamins since younger dogs have extra sensitive stomachs. Also, puppy supplements might be something new to their body system, so it's best to check what suitable age the vitamins are for.
To be extra safe, choose dog vitamins with natural ingredients. Best to consult with your vet or purchase from recommended suppliers to make sure.
Challenging to Identify Dosage and Effectivity
How do you measure the amount they have ingested? Dog supplements are probably in pill or pellet form already in grams and specific dosage.
But what about those similar to wet food still left in the food bowl? How do you gauge that an allergic reaction is due to the pet supplement?
How do you measure the number of nutrients and minerals in a set of multivitamins? And how do you ensure that these dog vitamins are adequate?
Some Dog Supplement Brands May Fall Short
Dog supplements is a rising business in the pet industry. This is good news, but you have to look for reliable suppliers.
Just like supplements for people, they may synthetically produce some dog vitamins with fillers that only beat their purpose in the first place. Another way to determine that the brand is reliable is to check if it's legally registered or consult your vet about it.
Common Questions People Ask about Dog Supplements
Just like any pet owner, you probably have a few queries in mind about dog vitamins. Here are common questions that most people ask about supplements for dogs.
Does my Dog Need Supplements?
That depends on the type of diet you're giving them. According to the FDA, commercially processed dog food comprises a balanced diet packed with necessary vitamins and minerals.
However, if you are preparing a homemade dog meal, you might add dog supplements to the diet. Still, you have to make sure that your vitamins are compatible with your dog's diet.
Is it Good to Give your Dog Supplements?
If your dog is already eating a well-balanced commercial meal, they are probably receiving all the nutrients they need. Too many vitamins and minerals can be harmful to your pup.
For instance, feeding dog food with too much calcium could cause skeletal problems to puppies in the large dog breed group. Too much vitamin A can also result in abnormality in the blood vessels and joint pain.
If you're giving your pup a homemade meal, adding dog supplements is not such a bad idea since you will be giving your pup the nutrients he could be lacking from the diet.
What Multivitamins Should my Dog Be On?
Dogs need several vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to stay healthy. Some of the essential vitamins to your pet's diet include Vitamin A, C, E, K, and B.
Some probiotic dog supplements help maintain your dog's gut health. You could also opt for dog vitamins that prevent serious health problems in dogs like periodontal diseases.
What Supplements are Toxic to Dogs?
You probably think it's entirely safe to overfeed your dog with supplements. After all, is there such a thing as too many vitamins?
There is.
Dog supplements can become poisonous or fatal when taken in large amounts. Some multivitamins for dogs would even cause long-term health problems instead.
There are four ingredients in dog supplements that are toxic to canines. These are iron, calcium, xylitol, and vitamin D.
Do Dog Supplements Work?
Most veterinarians attest dog vitamins are a practical meal addition to ensure your Fido's overall health. These multivitamins are packed with nutrients your dog needs for optimal health.
However, always keep in mind that these dog supplements are not substituted for medicine. So, it can't claim to cure any dog illnesses.
Most pet owners acquire dog vitamins with this expectation, leading to disappointment. That is why most owners think that supplements don't work.
How to Choose the Right Supplement?
Determine what your dog needs and what you want for your dog. Do you want to prevent those common dog health problems? Do you prefer your dog with a silkier coat?
Once you have identified the goals of those multivitamins for dogs, you can then consult with your vet about which dog vitamins would suit your pooch.
Dog Supplement: Final Thoughts
It can be tough to weigh the pros and cons of dog supplements. You want what's best for your pooch, but you don't want to invest in things that may not be effective, like giving them dog supplements.
Dog vitamins rely more on the decision of the pet owner. If you can find a reliable supplement for dogs that don't go beyond your budget, then there is nothing wrong with getting multivitamins for dogs.
However, if you're still hesitant about its effectiveness, you can continue your research and compare dog supplement pros and cons. You can also consult with your vet for expert advice about the best nutritional supplement for your pooch.
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