Dog Supplements and What They Do

If it was up to their discretion, dogs would eat a steady diet of meat, meat, with a side of meat, and topped with a healthy portion of meat. However, much like humans, dogs need a balanced diet of protein, fats, carbs, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water. If distributed correctly, this delicate balance of good thing will promote good health and provide the needed energy for a dog to be a dog.

We’ve talked about this in previous blogs, but to point out an important point… if you’re not reading the labels of your dogs food, you have no idea what they are really eating.  At bare minimum, you should be in tune with the following facts about your dogs canned, dry, fresh, or manufactured food sources. If you look at your dogs food, it should be easy to determine

  • Brand and Product name (you should never buy simply by brand)
  • Type of animal the food is designed to support (don’t feed dogs a cat food)
  • Quality statement
  • Product analysis (how much stuff is in the food, how much of each “stuff” is include by percentage, and how many ingredients are chemical related or not recognizable as actual FOOD product)
  • Balanced diet or Stage of life statement (figure out who the food is designed for and what makes it different for those age or special needs groups)
  • Feeding directions (this should include portion sizes by weight)
  • Name, address, location of distributor/manufacture (look for the “MADE IN” country)

The way your dogs food is named is critical. For instance, there is a huge difference between “beef”, “beef dinner” and a “beef flavor”. A “Dinner”, “Entree”, or “Platter” means that the food only requires that 10% of the product be actual BEEF. Sadly, “With Beef” designation means that only 3% of the product makeup is required to be BEEF. What you are looking for is simple “Beef”, which means that 70% of the food is made from beef. It’s also key that you look at what MEAT is used in production. Is it BEEF, or BEEF w/other animal. There is a huge difference in the quality of those two statements. Check the labels, does it say 100% whole meat? Sounds great, right? The sad truth is that “whole meats” actually contain a percentage of water in the processing. Meat meal sounds gross and low quality, but in reality, Meat meal uses less water and is actually likely to have more meat than “Whole Meat”.

Find out if your dog food of choice provides those key six essential nutrient groups we referred to in the open of this blog (protein, fats, carbs, fiber, vitamins, minerals and water). These are the building blocks of a healthy dog and are required to support life and functions in your fur kids. A “balanced dog food” should tell you more than just that it’s balanced. You need to determine if it has everything to promote healthy growth and your dogs reproduction system (altered vs. intact).  Is the food designed for specific or general age groups, what activity level, is it breed specific or for all dogs. You might need a specially formulated dog food for medical or behavioral conditions. As you can see… not all dog foods are created equally.  Keep in mind, this information is before we even start to talk about the quality of the ingredients the food was made from.

It’s important to know that the way the ingredients are listed on the dog food label is determined by the weight of the items. This sounds great, right? Even this can be confusing, as you may see rice as the #1 on the list and meat at the #4.  This sounds like they use a lot of filler in their food, right? Well that could be correct, OR… the meat they used could have been dehydrated before processing. In this case it would be void of water, thus much lighter. The water added in processing would re-hydrate the meat and could make it the actual main ingredient of the food. Your dogs food should be no less than 18% crude protein (22% for puppies, who need more fuel to restock what they burn off in play).  Older dogs could need less protein, as they burn less fuel. Dogs with kidney problems definitely need less protein for the kidney’s to process. We know its confusing, but if you’re really stressing over the food choice, get a recommendation from your veterinarian (but find out if they are being sponsored by a specific brand, which could weight into their opinion).

Also, don’t buy into the hype about dog foods that boast a “health benefit” from trendy items like berries, fresh herbs, or coconut. Unless those ingredients are high on label listing, chances are there are very small amounts of that “wonder product” in the food. Your dog likely wouldn’t ever see, taste, or smell those “special” ingredients in the food.  Look for proof in the label for a dog food listed as “Holistic” or “Premium”, as there might be a chance that the manufacture isn’t adding enough of those types of ingredients to make much of a difference between THAT food and their normal brand (however, they are jacking up the prices due to the product name). A dog food label with less ingredients may be attractive to you, as less stuff mean more of the good things, right?  Maybe, but remember that there needs to be a balance of the nutrients we listed above.

BUT HOW DO I KNOW IF MY DOG IS EATING RIGHT?

Firstly, there’s no need to shout! We realize how confusing it all is, and we know you want to assure that your dog has 100% of what they need in their diet. This is the point where we introduce you to the wonderful world of diet supplements for your dog.

Before we start, a key and important thing to know is that YOU, the pet parent, should not go wild with supplements unless they are recommended to help with a deficiency or imbalance in your dogs diet. They will know this with blood work and a full physical exam. Too many supplements, or incorrect doses or ingredients, could cause adverse conditions over time.

The name “Supplement” is a blanket term for a product that supplements your dogs diet. Since it is a blanket term, it covers a variety of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and herbs that your dogs needs to balance their diet and assure better overall health. There are different ways to introduce those supplements into your dogs system. You’ll find supplements in pills, food toppers, powder form, liquids, chewables, gels, and injection forms.

Supplements can help in everything from obesity, to help with strengthening bones, easing joint pains, and helping with the impact of growing older… just to name a few.  Here is a quick list of what supplements can do for your dog…

  • Fish oil: promotes healthy coat, itchy skin conditions

  • Vitamin C: produces a protein that can help heal wounds

  • Glucosamine/chondroitin: helps with bone and joint pain in large or highly active breeds, and seniors

  • Probiotics: improve gut health, reduce constipation, and slow diarrhea

  • Vitamin A: helps improve eye health and conditions like glaucoma or cataracts

  • Prenatal Care: includes ingredients like folic acid, calcium, iron, and vitamin that mother & baby need

  • Heart Health: supplements that targets the cardiovascular system & help manage blood pressure

  • Immune System Boost: as in humans, a multivitamin that helps with a variety of the issues listed above is often prescribed, especially to adult or aging dogs

This is us restating the important point that “VETERINARIANS SHOULD SUGGEST AND PRESCRIBE SUPPLEMENTS”, not Mom & Dad. Too much of certain vitamins, nutrients, or minerals can actually be a determent to your pooches overall health. Let’s be clear, supplements are not the cure-all for anything that ails your dog. They are designed to be used in tandem with a balanced diet, a good exercise and play routine, good dental and physical hygiene, and yearly wellness exams by your trusted veterinarian.

What’s the Best Method to Introduce Supplements into my Dogs Diet?

Like everything else we’ve discussed surrounding supplements, there is no single answer that fits all dogs. Consider the following questions when seeking supplements…

  • Is your dog a finicky eater? If so, you may want a pill form vs a food topper or liquid

  • Does your dog turn into a WWE Wrestling Champ if a Pill is Presented? Obviously, pills or gel caps would be the last resort with your dog. But food toppers, injections, or liquids might still be possible.

  • My Dog can Smell a Trick to Get Him to Take a Pill, What Can I Do? Stop trying to be a sneak… make pill time into a game. Hide a pill in a treat, do a bait and switch with snacks they like. If your dog is outsmarting you on a regular basis, ask yourself “Who is Really in Charge?”

Here are some other key points to remember when it comes to introducing supplements into your dogs health routine…

  • Slow and Steady – EASE into a full dose by starting with half and gradually increase over time. The supplement instructions will guide you on a preferred method, or ask your veterinarian.

  • Be a Food Mixologist – you can hide the pill like an Easter egg in your dogs food… liquids can be mixed in with food to make it visually invisible. Just make sure they are eating it all or don’t find he hidden pill and spit it out.

  • Make it a Routine – For the supplement to work, you must make sure its given by the dosing instructions. You can’t be soft, lazy, forgetful, or an easy mark for the dog. This is about improving health, so get in there and be a leader!

  • Storage Wars – Put the pills away and store them per the label instructions. Also, don’t leave a sleeve or bottle of pills where your dog can have easy access. Too many of this good thing could be a bad thing and, we’ll bet, your dog has no self control.

  • Keep an Eye Out – it’s the parents responsibility to be a side effect watch dog. Monitor body temperature, body language, look out for vomiting, or other odd behavior. Know the possible side effects and stop dosing if you see them, then call your veterinarian for guidance.

We know, this is a lot to swallow (so to speak) and what could be a big change in your dogs #1 pass time, EATING! But when you consider the benefits of a shiny coat, better vision, less pain in joints, more energy, help with digestive issues, less confusion in older dogs, isn’t the extra effort worth it?

Should I Make My Dogs Food at Home?

This is the Pandora’s Box of dog dinner arguments. Let’s start by making the point that there is ZERO evidence that cooking dog food at home is any healthier than a store bought alternatives. In fact, an argument can be made on the opposing side. Unless you are diligent and assure your dog food creation is a health balance of all the needed nutrients, you could be walking your dog down a road to needing supplements in their diet.

However, on the Home Cooked Food Team, the argument is swayed to the other side with points about “commercial bagged and canned food is like feeding your dog take out meals every day” & “I can never be sure exactly what is going into my dogs store bought foods, regardless of the label”… and I think we proved both of these points in our statements above.

By having the ability to choose, portion, make, serve and store your dogs homemade food, you do have a sense of control, quality, portion, and shelf life. Chances are that your dog will enjoy your “small batch” kitchen versions of his dinner much more than a bag or a can could provide. Making your dogs food is a further way to bond, pamper, and treat your favorite furry to a special life. Some people even make small-batch dog food at home, then top or supplement with a recommended kibble or food topper from a reliable brand of packaged food. This really provides a “best of both worlds” viewpoint. You can spend a bit more on a higher quality, lesser used, manufactured food… and make the majority of a balanced diet with food you’ve sourced, prepped, cooked, and served.

Ingredients and balance are key to home cooked options for your dog. Too much of a good thing, improperly made, can cause your dog to become overweight quickly. There are 1000’s of home prepared dog food recipes on the internet. Be sure you stay away from “bad foods” for dogs (onions, grapes, garlic, chocolate… and many more) and focus on that super balance we discussed with quality meat being the top ingredient.  Follow recipes and only sub in “like” products.

There is an alternative to home cooked meals, the “Fresh Food” companies like The Farmers Dog, or Freshly. These companies mass produce an “individual” home cooked “loaf” or “stew” type food for your dog. They have various recipes that they suggest based on a series of questions you answer about your dog. Fresh Food is still a niche market, but growing fast in our Pet Friendly world.

We hope this weeks Dog Blog have turned on a light bulb over your head, and interested you in finding out whats in your dogs food, perhaps made you curious about the world of supplements, and pushed you towards the internet to look at the world of possibilities for home cooked dog food. If so, we’ve hit our mark with a 100% “Good Boy” rating.

We hope to see you back again next week for another deep dive into the world of pets, straight from Freddie’s point of view. As always, we trust you will walk a mile in your dogs shoes, stay away from a bout with the blues, look for the sunny side of life and all it’s good news, don’t be to hard when you discover what things your dog chews… and always take the time to be Pet Friendly, #FreddieSez!

Research Found at:

www.AKC.com

www.petmd.com

www.betterpet.com

www.petradar.com