Humans usually take a multivitamin every day as a supplement, or at the very least, keep track of which foods have more of which vitamins. But did you know that pet parents are also increasingly inclined to offer them to their pets? This article will share whether your dog requires such supplements and what makes them nutritious.
Do dogs on a raw diet need supplements?
Most dogs usually get all the nutrients they need from their diet. Nevertheless, the concern with raw dog food diets is that they may at times be unbalanced and are unable to meet all of a dog's nutritional needs, especially if prepared at home.
Feeding a meal with too much muscle meat and not enough other ingredients that provide nutritional balance can lead to nutrient shortages, therefore not achieving their optimum health.
It would be ideal if your dog gets all the nutrients or minerals it needs through the ingredients you add into its raw meal, although very difficult to do.
We would recommend mixing other components other than raw meat into your dog’s meal such as raw eggs or vegetables.
Luckily,, most dogs are big fans of vegetables like kale or quinoa, which are all rich in minerals and vitamins.
Nonetheless, sometimes you have to incorporate supplements into your dog's raw diet to ensure your dog's diet has all the nutrients they require to develop healthily.
What are good supplements to add to dog food?
Here are some supplements that you should mix in your dog’s raw food or into their kibble:
Fish oil
Fish oil is an excellent supplement to include in your dog's diet. Fish oil enhances your dog’s health in various ways, such as a smooth coat and eliminates itch.
It may even aid in the strengthening of their immune systems and the battle against canine cancer.
That's because fish oil includes omega-3 fatty acids, a necessary healthy fat for your dog's body and brain. Unfortunately, dogs, like humans, cannot synthesise omega-3 fatty acids and must obtain them from their food.
Omega 3 fatty acids promote brain, heart, kidney, and liver function, vital for your dog's general health. In addition, they help protect your dog's skin, stomach, and joints by reducing inflammatory processes in the body.
So it’s a good idea to boost his diet with some extra Omega 3. You can buy high-quality Wild Salmon Oil from Petcubes. Our oil is made with super-premium salmon oil that is carefully curated to ensure your dog gets all the benefits from the Omega-3 fatty oils.
Additionally, consider your dog's breed, size, weight, and overall health before deciding which sort of fish oil to feed them.
Coconut oil
Although not necessary, you may add coconut oil to your pet's meals after checking with your vet to help balance out its thyroid, which can help overweight dogs shed weight and even the most inactive canines feel more energised.
Coconut oil has also been shown in studies to enhance nutrient absorption, aid in treating digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel syndrome and colitis, and lower general inflammation in the body.
Start with a quarter teaspoon for a little dog, while larger breeds can take up to one teaspoon for 10 pounds of body weight per day. You can try Petcubes’ Coconut Oil which is made from non-genetically engineered coconuts and also contains lauric acid which aids in health-protecting properties. This is recommended when very lean proteins are used such as chicken, kangaroo or venison.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar may help dogs who are suffering from stomach problems. By adding vinegar to your raw pet food, the body absorbs the vitamins and minerals instead of losing them through urine and faeces.
Other health advantages of apple cider vinegar include relieving allergy symptoms and maintaining joint health.
Calcium
Calcium works for dogs just like how it works for humans. For example, calcium is a critical component of bone formation, and the ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the diet is especially crucial for young, developing animals.
Calcium is a vital element of your dogs’ diet since it helps them develop, have healthy bones and teeth, build and function appropriate muscles, have a strong heart, and have a healthy neurological system.
You can try out Petcubes’ Sea Coral Calcium. It is exceptionally rich in calcium and effectively enters the bloodstream for complete use, unlike any other calcium supplement as it contains 38% calcium and 72% trace minerals.
Additionally, pregnant and nursing dogs need a lot of calcium to keep their pups healthy and produce enough milk to feed their litter.
If your dog’s diet does not contain raw meaty bones, calcium is a must. This is not required for a kibble based diet.
Goat’s milk
Because of the tiny size of its molecules, goat's milk is the most digestible milk available. If your dog is allergic to cow's milk, goat's milk is an alternative that is more hypoallergenic and well-accepted compared to cow's milk.
Because raw goat's milk contains naturally existing probiotics, it provides all of the advantages of probiotics in an easily digestible form. Unfortunately, once pasteurized, these benefits are all void so you should instead give fermented goats milk yoghurt or kefir. Give goat's milk a try if your dog has stomach difficulties. Goat's milk is also a terrific method to keep your pet hydrated.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is the vitamin found in carrots that gives your dog clear vision. Growth, development, immunological function, and cell function are all aided by this fat-soluble vitamin.
Vitamin A also helps the immune system by forming white blood cells, which circulate throughout the body and look for foreign invaders and cellular abnormalities.
As a result, Vitamin A is critical in aiding the body's ability to fight infection from viruses and bacteria. Vitamin A is generally found in high concentrations in a fresh diet and not needed to be supplemented.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is not only beneficial to dogs, but it is also necessary. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps the body fight free radicals in the skin and other tissues. In addition, this vitamin is a fat-soluble vitamin that is beneficial to a dog's immune system, muscles, heart, liver, nerve cell membranes, and skin and coat health. This supplement is essential when feeding a fresh diet.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin required to produce coagulation proteins, which are necessary for blood to clot. It also aids in the clotting of blood, which is a vital part of your dog’s ability to heal from injuries.
This vitamin also assists in preventing heart disease and inhibiting calcium from accumulating in the arteries, which can lead to plaque. Thus, vitamin K has one very essential function that dogs simply cannot live without.
Copper and Zinc
Until it's linked to sickness, copper isn't a nutrient that many owners think about. Copper aids in the development of a dog's bones, connective tissue and collagen.
Copper is an essential component of red blood cell activity. It's also an antioxidant, a piece of numerous enzymes, and is required to produce melanin, the darkening pigment in hair and skin. If a dog consumes nutritionally balanced food, copper deficiency is uncommon.
Zinc is an essential component of the immune system and can be lacking in a fresh diet. Feeding freeze-dried green-lipped mussels are an excellent source of zinc and other essential nutrients.
What to look out for when finding supplements for my dog?
Before you start giving supplements for your dog, you can keep a lookout for a few things:
- Pay attention to the labelling. Sound-alikes won’t fool you if you know the name of the component you're looking for.
- Be sceptical of statements that appear to be too good to be true. For example, supplements for vitamins are precisely that: supplements. They aren't medicines.
- Look for a quality certification on the goods, which indicates that the company has implemented quality control measures.
Final remarks
Just remember to keep an eye on your dog for any changes that may be induced by the change in diet or supplements whenever you attempt a new supplement, food, or medicine.
It is essential to discuss the procedure with your veterinarian first to see if there are any acceptable alternatives. Your veterinarian will advise you on the proper dosage for your dog's weight. They can also advise on the appropriate dilutions and administration techniques.
Reviewed by:
Dr Francis is one of the top wildlife nutritionists in Asia. Originating from Montreal, Canada, he left at 21 to pursue his Masters and subsequently a PhD in wildlife nutrition at Oxford Brookes University. Instead of taking the path of common animal science to learn about farm animals, or through the veterinarian space and taking a certificate in nutrition, he took the road less travelled to dive deep into the world of animal ecology, metabolism and nutrition.