The Best Nutritional Supplements For Dogs
Keeping your dog healthy is a big part of being a pet owner. While your pup will get the bulk of their nutrients from their food, you may need to supplement their diet if they're dealing with a health issue or eating a special diet. When this happens, you want to be sure you choose the right products to keep them healthy and happy. With so many supplements available for dogs, knowing which one to choose can be a difficult task. To help you with your search, we've rounded up some of the best the market has to offer.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for supplements for your dog: Is it a reputable brand that uses high-quality ingredients? Does the supplement address the problem your dog is experiencing? Do they come in a pill form, chews, or an easy mix-in formula? Our favorite was the 8-in-1 multivitamin bites from Zesty Paws, which contain all the vitamins and minerals needed to help keep your pup healthy. We also really liked the all-in-one supplement from NaturVet, which provides nutrients to support your pet’s joint, skin, and coat health. Read on to learn more about our favorites and why we liked them so much.
Zesty Paws Multifunctional Dog Nutritional Supplement
Healthy benefits
These supplements from Zesty Paws pack a lot of nutrition into each chew to help keep your pup in top condition. The premium ingredients in this blend include vitamins and antioxidants that support strong hips, joints, and a healthy immune system. Plus, its six-strain probiotic blend helps ensure your dog’s digestive system works properly. It doesn’t end there; it also has omega-three fish oil to keep your dog’s coat shiny and their skin looking good.
Pros:
- Free of grains, corn, and soy
- Available in several tasty flavors
- Contains glucosamine and other ingredients to support joint health
- Doesn’t contain any artificial flavoring or preservatives
Cons:
- It would be nice if they sold them in packages with a larger quantity
NaturVet All-in-One Dog Nutritional Supplement
Balanced diet
Mix this all-in-one supplement powder from NaturVet into your dog’s food to ensure they get the nutrients they need to lead a quality life. This supplement is made with all-natural ingredients to support your pup’s overall health. It contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics, and omega-3, 6,9, which help improve digestion, provide joint support, and promote a thick, shiny coat and healthy skin.
Pros:
- Comes in a powder form, making it easy to mix into dog food
- Made with high-quality, all-natural ingredients
- Provides the essential nutrients dogs need
- Resealable package keeps the product fresh
Cons:
- Isn’t available in multiple flavors
PetHonesty Senior Dog Nutritional Supplement
Young at heart
As your dog ages, their nutritional needs may change. This supplement from PetHonesty helps keep your older pup in the best condition possible in the latter part of their lives. The formula contains glucosamine to support healthy joints and mobility to help your furry friend thrive as the years go by. That’s not all; it also contains ingredients that aid digestion, skin health, energy, and more.
Pros:
- Contains essential vitamins and minerals to keep dogs healthy
- Glucosamine is one of its primary ingredients and helps with joint strength and flexibility
- Has probiotics to support digestive health
- Made with natural ingredients
Cons:
- May have to crush it and place it in dog food if your pup doesn’t like the taste
Purina Pro Plan Calming Dog Nutritional Supplement
Take it easy
When your dog is suffering from anxiety, your priority is calming them down, and this supplement from Purina Pro Plan can help. The probiotic formula is designed to promote feelings of calmness in dogs, reducing anxious behavior like excessive licking, lack of appetite, whining, and barking. The theory behind these supplements is that improving gut health positively affects the mind. All you have to do is sprinkle the supplement on your pup’s kibble or wet food and give it a couple of weeks to work.
Pros:
- Promotes immune and digestive health
- Comes in individual packets with a daily dose
- Helps dogs cope with external stressors and helps reduce anxious behaviors
- Has an appealing flavor that dogs like
Cons:
- May take up to six weeks to see results
Planopaws Omega-3 Fish Oil Dog Nutritional Supplement
Shine bright
Ensure your pup is getting the omega-3 fatty acids they need with this human-grade fish oil supplement from Planopaws. The blend is made from wild anchovies, herring, mackerel, and sardines caught off the coast of Iceland. Its unique profile provides your dog with the essential fatty acids they need to thrive and helps nourish their skin and coat, reduce shedding, boost immunity and cognitive function, and support heart and joint health. Plus, it doesn’t have a fishy smell, so it won’t be off-putting to most dogs.
Pros:
- Comes in an easily administered liquid form
- Doesn’t have a fishy smell
- Helps reduce shedding and improve dogs’ skin
- Made with wild-caught, sustainably sourced fish
Cons:
- The pump may malfunction after repeated use
What are the best supplements for older dogs?
As dogs age, they often develop problems such as arthritis and cognitive dysfunction. After talking to your vet, they may recommend supplementing your pooch’s diet with vitamins and minerals that can help these conditions. For example, omega-3s and glucosamine can be helpful for joint problems older dogs experience, while blends targeted to support cognitive functions can help with doggy dementia.
Do dogs need probiotics?
When dogs are dealing with digestive issues like diarrhea, they may need to take probiotics. Like the probiotics formulated for humans, the particular strain will determine its benefits. So, you should look for a strain that treats the symptoms your pup is experiencing. If your dog is healthy, there’s usually no need to add probiotics to their diet.
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