Pet Supplements: Does My Pet Need Them?

With the New Year (and decade!) comes a new resolve for many of us to improve our health.

Pets, too, can benefit from a health kick, and supplements are a low-hassle way to boost their nutrition.

Why give your pet supplements?

Nutritional supplements can give your pet an extra paw up in a few ways:  

1. High-quality supplements are minimally processed, so your pet’s body can more easily break down and use these micronutrients.
2. Supplements provide nutrients in high-concentrations, so your pet’s system sees a tangible benefit.

3. Supplements can be given as a preventative measure before your pet develops a health issue.

Some pet parents add in many supplements, and others add only one or two. Both approaches are great; a little goes a long way.

Supplements by Nutritional Need 

Digestive Support

Probiotic and prebiotic supplements are critical for maintaining a healthy gut of “good” bacteria throughout your pet’s life.

We recommend gut boosters when your pet is:

• transitioning to a new diet
• struggling with tummy upsets
• stressed from major life changes
• recovering from illnesses
• coming off a round of antibiotics



Get their bacteria back on track with:

• Probiotics: straight probiotic supplements populate your pet's digestive tract with healthy bacteria
• Fidobiotics Good Guts
• Herbsmith Microflora Plus
• Goat’s milk: goat's milk contains millions of probiotics, with added benefits of anti-inflammatory cinnamon and turmeric
• Bones & Co. Goat's Milk
• Primal Goat's Milk
• The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Goat's Milk
• Pumpkin: pumpkin provides prebiotic fibers for the probiotic bacteria to feed on and thrive in your pet's system
• Nummy Tum-Tum Organic Pumpkin
• Diggin Your Dog Firm Up! Dehydrated Pumpkin

Calming Support

If your pet exhibits nervousness, hyperactivity, or responds to environmental stress, a calming solution can help.

Calming supplements reduce hyperactivity without drowsiness using natural ingredients like chamomile.

Hemp oils contain anxiety-fighting cannabinoids, which can help your pet keep his cool with daily use.

Help them find zen with:

• hemp oil/chews
• WAAYB Organics Hemp Extract Oil
• Blossom Hemp Oil
• chamomile chews
• Herbsmith July Third

Dental Health

Dental care is as important for pets as it is for humans. Yet, it is one of the most neglected areas of pet care.

While dental issues may seem minor, leaving them to fester can result in infection and lead to more serious health problems such as heart, lung, and kidney disease.

Taking care of your pet’s teeth on a daily basis is easier than you think with these simple (and often tasty) tools:

• Dental Treats: dental treats are formulated to "tack" to your pet's teeth as they chew, pulling off plaque and other dental gunk
• InClover Grin Dental Chews
• Terrabone Dental Chews
• Oral Spray: these sprays contain anti-septic and enzymatic properties that help to fight tartar and plaque daily
• Pebbles Dog Co. Dental Spray
• Raw Bones: frozen raw bones scrape and clean a pet's teeth as he chews and is a delicious dental remedy your pet can get excited about

Joint + Hip Support

Stiff joints come naturally with old age, although joint pain can occur in younger pets due to hip dysplasia or osteochondrosis.

Glucosamine + chondroitin is the gold standard for joint support and should be supplemented with every large breed or senior dog. This combo helps to preserve tendons as your pet ages. Look for a food with high levels of glucosamine, treats like smoked esophagi, or added supplements of pure glucosamine.

The Vitamin E and Omega-3s in fish can also help to reduce joint inflammation, as can Vitamin C found in fruits. 

Skin + Coat Support

Strong, elastic skin keeps bacteria and viruses out while keeping moisture in.

Weak, dry or flaky skin can experience cracks or micro-tears, increasing the chances of hotspots or itching.

Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E are both extremely beneficial for healthy skin. Find these in:

• Omega-3: fish oil, flaxseed oil, and flax meal
• Vitamin E: eggs, fish, fruits, and vegetables

At the end of the day, all we want is to provide our/your pets with a healthy lifestyle and diet. If your pet struggling with a particular ailment, try out one of our suggestions listed above. Found success with your pet? Share it with us to help another pet parent out.