The pet industry has boomed in recent years. Pet stories offer numerous food and treat options and pet toys have reached a level of cuteness that makes purchasing them almost irresistible.
Healthier food brands and supplements have also grown popular. It makes sense, after all. If you take daily supplements and vitamins, and Flintstones vitamins are a mandatory daily part of your kids’ diets, why not do the same for your furry kids?
Do dog vitamins offer your furry pet the same benefit as people’s vitamins? Here’s the scoop on your pup’s health regime:
Are Dog Vitamins Important?
There’s a growing trend for dog vitamins and supplements, just like with dog toys and clothing. In fact, according to recent statistics, the pet supplement market recently passed the $2.7 billion dollar mark. In much the same way that the health and wellness industry has expanded for people, healthy trends have carried over to pet owners who are anxious to include their pets. But is it really worth the expense?
According to Dr. Jennifer Coates at PetMD, dog vitamins are not necessarily bad, but they’re also not necessarily good. Unless your dog has some specific reason for needing vitamins, it might be better to forego the urge to grab a bottle of doggie vitamin chews.
Some instances where your dog may need vitamins are:
Diagnosed Conditions
If your dog has a vitamin or mineral deficiency, or some type of disease that requires supplements, you may need to give your dog vitamins. This is determined by a vet visit and appropriate tests, such as blood panels. So if Fido appears to be more lethargic, schedule a visit with the vet, don’t just start popping doggie vitamins in his supper dish.
Also, with diagnosed conditions, it is normally a specific vitamin that is needed, such as:
- Zinc for dermatosis
- Vitamin E for osteoarthritis
- Vitamin C for inflammatory conditions
- Prescribed vitamins for stress
- Vitamins for Digestive issues
- Supplements for specific diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease or colitis
Home-prepared Meals
If you feed your dog meals with natural ingredients that you prepare at home, you will also need to check that the required vitamins and minerals are included. Reputable manufacturers of pet food ensure that your dog’s food includes the required and recommended proportions of vitamins and minerals.
If your home-prepared meals don’t include all the recommended dosages of vitamins and minerals, you may need to add a vitamin supplement to the food. It’s best to consult with veterinarians and dietary specialists to ensure you don’t overdo some vitamins and minerals.
Senior Dogs
Supplements and vitamins can greatly aid senior dogs in replenishing lowered vitamin and mineral content. As dogs age and struggle with conditions like arthritis, poor eyesight, and other ailments, specific vitamin supplements can help ease those struggles. Multivitamins for senior dogs are becoming more common, though it helps to double-check with your vet before purchasing.
Your Dog is a Picky Eater
If your dog is feeling poorly or is an extremely picky eater, you may need to add a multivitamin to the food he’ll eat. It’s not the recommended way to ensure your pup gets all his vitamins and minerals, however. It’s always best to pay a visit to the vet before choosing the vitamin path.
Won’t Vitamins Make My Dog Even Healthier?
It’s a pretty common belief that vitamins of any type can only help, not hurt. When it comes to your pet family, that’s not always the case. In some instances, vitamins can be just an expensive waste, such as in the case of water soluble vitamins – which tend to go straight through and add little benefit.
Dog vitamins can also have other negative side effects.
Upset Your Dog’s Nutritional Balance
Vitamins can throw your dog’s delicate balance off by providing too much of some vitamins and minerals. Your pup’s food will already have the required vitamins and minerals in most instances. Adding more may cause health problems instead of helping your pup’s health. They can also cause your pup to experience bad interactions by too much of one mineral interfering with another.
Toxic Build-Up
Vitamins for dogs may be unable to be adequately eliminated from the body and can cause a build-up of toxic levels. Some vitamins that don’t need to be increased without a vet’s prescription are copper, iron, calcium, zinc, sodium, and magnesium.
My Dog Wants One of My Flintstone Chews
With any kind of people food, you always need to check the ingredients carefully. Some additives may be poisonous to dogs. Just like with food, vitamins that are designed for humans may include multiple ingredients that are toxic to your pup. It’s better to forego the pleading eyes and offer a dog treat instead. The only time that may change is if your vet approves certain human vitamins.
It’s better to stick to pet vitamins and supplements that are regulated by the FDA and are backed by scientists and researchers. Again, the best source to ensure you’re making the wisest choice is your veterinarian. Your vet can recommend the healthiest and safest options for Fido.
Final Thoughts
The best way to keep your dog healthy is to feed him a diet of high-quality, commercially prepared food. As long as your pup eats the food and doesn’t show signs of health issues or aging difficulties, you probably shouldn’t give your dog vitamins. It’s an expensive trend that may cause more problems than it prevents.But you can keep a bottle of your dog’s favorite treats near your own vitamin bottle and include your pup in your daily health regime!