Blog
Common Pet Supplements
Sunday 16th December 2018
Melody McKinnon on March 4th, 2017
Thanks to the vast amount of supplements available to pets today, it likely won’t be long until we see health food stores popping up specifically for animal needs. As far as the most common supplements go, there are a few that you’ll come across time and time again. These tend to be very helpful and versatile, in that most pets can benefit from them at some point in their life.
Chondroitin: Typically, you will find chondroitin mixed with glucosamine rather than on its own. Both animals and people can benefit from these supplements as they work to decrease the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is very common in animals as they age.
Multivitamins: The idea is that pets get all the vitamins they need from their food, but sometimes that isn’t the case. A high quality organic multivitamin can do an excellent job of filling in those gaps. Before giving your pet a multivitamin, be sure to take a look at what their food offers so you can then figure out what is missing, or where it may be falling short.
Fish Oil: If your animal suffers from arthritis or skin allergies, then fish oil can prove to be incredibly beneficial. Recent studies have shown that for dogs who are on steroid medications to treat allergies, using fish oil can actually help to decrease the dosage required. Because the use of steroids over a long period of time can cause issues, finding a safer, more healthy solution is ideal.
Digestive Enzymes: If your pet seems to be having issues digesting their food, then digestive enzymes can certainly aid in the process. These are meant to help your animal’s digestive system so they can more efficiently break down their food. Digestive upset can be painful for your pet and even turn them off eating.
Glucosamine: Just like with chondroitin, glucosamine is being used to help reduce inflammation and pain that is affecting your pet’s mobility. Glucosamine works by rebuilding the animal’s damaged cartilage. This means it can actually slow down the progress of arthritis. Obviously, this becomes more important as they age. Just be sure to check with your vet about the proper dosage information so you can achieve the maximum benefits.
Probiotics: Probiotics aren’t just important for people, they are also important for animals. They are the friendly bacteria found in the gastrointestinal system and play a very important role in digesting food. They also help to build up your animal’s immune system and help them fight off pathogens. If your pet is suffering from diarrhea and upset stomach, they may be lacking in probiotics. It’s best to make an appointment with your vet to rule out any illnesses before putting them on probiotics. They come in chew, capsule, and powder form and sometimes are found in dog food.
Making Sure the Good Outweighs the Bad
There are so many different aliments and issues that vitamins and supplements can help with, and in many cases, it makes complete sense to give them to your pet. However, it’s wise to keep in mind that too much can lead to problems. Also, it’s just as important to use the right type of supplement to address their particular issues.