Different Kinds of Supplements for Dogs

Just like how we take dietary supplements and vitamins, we'd love to give them to our pets, too, for added nutrition.

There are a lot of supplements available in the market today and most of them are to support skin and coat health, arthritic joints, healthy gut, etc.

The following are some of the most common kinds of supplements for dogs, how they work and what benefits they can offer for your furry pal.

Glucosamine

Hailed as one of the most popular supplements for dogs, Glucosamine is naturally in the fluid surrounding the joints that help in building the cartilage. It is a compound that helps create a cushion around your fur-baby's joints, promoting flexibility & relief from pain & discomfort.

It is commonly taken from shellfish shells and can also be laboratory-made. Glucosamine is known to be effective in helping treat canine arthritis. It helps in relieving joint pains in dogs and improves their mobility. It helps alleviate the symptoms of joint damage by boosting the repair of the damaged cartilage that forms a cushion between joints.

Glucosamine comes in many forms - it can be in powders, pills, treats and can also be an ingredient of a better overall supplement, together with chondroitin sulfate (a powerful substance that helps nourish tissues of joints, resulting in pain relief, boosted mobility, & improved ability to exercise), just like how it is for Pet Parents® Joint Supplements.

Fish oil

Fish oil is also one of the most given supplements to dogs, that can either be in pure form or as an ingredient for a better overall supplement like Pet Parents® Omega 3 for Dogs Supplement. Why? Because it contains Omega-3 fatty acids responsible for helping improve your fur-baby's skin and coat health. It also helps in preventing and/or minimizing the intensity of symptoms if ever your dog is dealing with skin allergies.

Antioxidants

These kinds of supplements (most often ingredients in something else) ward off the negative effects of aging in dogs, like cognitive issues, joint problems, etc. It also helps in reducing inflammation as it protects your fur-baby's body from free radicals that can potentially harm him.

Multivitamins

Multivitamins for dogs have similarities with multivitamins for humans. They contain a lot of minerals and vitamins that support and help provide optimum health for your dog. Adding a multivitamin supplement to your dog's daily routine can help create a balanced diet for your furry companion.

Most multivitamin supplements contain Vitamins A, B, B6, B12, C, E, K, Thiamine, Folic Acid, etc. These are responsible for helping support good vision, immunity, growth, metabolism, energy regulation, proper cell function and a whole lot more!

Things to keep in mind when giving supplements for dogs

Before you begin giving supplements for your dogs, here are a few things to remember:

• Consult your vet first to know if your fur-baby has an underlying health condition or if he's taking medications. Supplements are great for your dog's health but make sure they will not negatively interact with your pup's existing medications.
• If it's too good to be true, it's probably not true. Supplements are all that they are - supplemental. They are not meant to cure diseases like parvo and cancer.
• Only buy from trusted and reputable brands from companies who really care for your dog's well-being, like Pet Parents® whose supplements are meticulously formulated by the best & created in FDA & GMP approved facility and whose ingredients are branded and clinically-proven!