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Supplementing Your Dog’s Diet
By Jane Grimshaw
It is obviously very important to provide your dog with a good balanced diet, as
this plays a vital role in promoting your pet’s overall health and well-being.
Although you can purchase a variety of ready-made products for dogs these days,
they do not all provide enough of the daily nutrients required by your
companion.
Cooking and processes used to produce pet food can greatly affect the
nutritional value of the food. Some manufacturers use food considered unfit for
human consumption in their products, such as intestines and udders. They often
end up leaving themselves with no choice other than to “fortify” their food with
vitamins and minerals, along with the addition of preservatives and other
products to make the food stay fresh for longer and retain its taste. Preparing
your own meals for your dog using fresh and raw foods with the addition of
vegetables and suitable supplements is probably a better option. This way you
can be sure that your dog is receiving the correct diet at all times.
Like humans, dogs have varying needs and those can vary from breed to breed and
depend very much on age, size, weight, how active he/she is, etc. Taking these
points into consideration will help you to determine which supplements will suit
your dog the best and how often you need to provide them. Supplementing your
dog’s diet with a missing ingredient or nutrient can help to improve their
quality of life; by helping them to get over an illness, boost their energy
levels, increase their lifespan, and can be particularly beneficial in improving
joint problems in older dogs - Glucosamine Sulphate and Chondroitin Sulphate,
for example, can be used to help ensure strong and healthy joints.
There are numerous problems which can be treated with a variety of supplements,
such as problems with the coat, arthritis – particularly in older dogs, calcium
deficiencies and even weight problems. However, some nutritionists and
veterinarians are against the use of supplements, as they believe a dog that is
fed a well balanced diet should not require any additional supplements. In some
cases, such as expectant mothers, the addition of extra calcium is thought to
cause more harm than good by suppressing the natural calcium releasing hormones.
It is always a good idea to be aware of any hereditary diseases or illnesses of
your particular breed of dog, or simply watch out for any changes in behaviour
such as lack of interest in food, low energy levels, mobility problems, poor
condition of the coat, etc. These will all be vital clues to any change in your
dog’s health. Always act quickly and have him/her checked out by your vet if you
are concerned. You can then find out if there are any supplements available to
help with the problem.
Always remember that whatever you feed your dog on you must not overfeed or
underfeed, as this can lead to either malnutrition or obesity, which will leave
you pet exposed to health problems. You should also provide a bowl of fresh
water at all times too, as this is very important for aiding digestion and
keeping your companion well hydrated.
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