Does Your Dog Need Multivitamins to Maintain Wellness?
According to the US Office of Dietary Supplements, about one-third of American adults regularly take multivitamins. Mostly people buy these nutritional supplements for themselves or other people in their family. Typically, they want to promote general health or treat certain illnesses. In any case, multivitamins have remained fairly popular since they were first introduced in the 1940s.
It's probably not surprising to learn that a growing number of pet parents also supplement their dogs' diets with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrient supplements. More recently, manufacturers have made chewable vitamin treats for dogs in response to consumer demand.
If you buy vitamin supplements for yourself or other human family members, you might wonder if your dog can benefit from this extra nutritional support. Learn how you can make sure you're feeding your dog what he needs to thrive, grow, and enjoy a comfortable life.
DOES YOUR DOG NEED A MULTIVITAMIN SUPPLEMENT?
High-quality, commercial pet food should provide most of the nutrients a typical pet needs. In general, you should buy food that's tailored to your individual dog. For instance, you can find pet chow for small or large breeds, puppies, adults, and senior dogs.
For some examples of why it's better to choose the pet food that's right for your dog:
- Puppies need more fat to develop and grow than adult or senior dogs.
- Large breeds may require a lower proportion of calcium in their food to keep them from growing too quickly. Later, too-rapid growth can increase the risk of developing certain bone and joint problems.
- In contrast, seniors may need more protein and less fat than they did when they were younger and more active.
WHEN TO BUY A MULTIVITAMIN FOR DOGS
Just like people, dogs don't always consume the perfect diet for their age, breed, or individual needs. A multivitamin provides extra insurance that your furry family member enjoys plenty of such important nutrients as folic acid, biotin, and other vitamins and minerals.
According to PetMD, you should especially consider multivitamins for your pet if:
- Your dog has a medical condition that inhibits nutrient absorption or tends to respond well to extra supplementation:Â As an example, biotin can help with regrowth of hair, nails, and claws. Vitamin B12 supports healthy digestion, nerves, and blood-cell formation. Certain parasites can deplete folic acid, another B vitamin, and dogs need this nutrient for normal metabolic functioning.
- You feed your pet a home-made menu: Some pet parents prepare their dog's food because of allergies, availability of high-quality choices in their area, or to maintain better control over diet. It's tough to include every nutrient when you fix your dog’s meals out of the food or pantry.
- Your dog doesn't have a good appetite:Â Finicky eaters and ill or older dogs may just not finish their kibble every day. At the same time, commercial dog food will only deliver a good balance of nutrients if your pet eats a recommended portion.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR DOG'S DIET WITH MULTIVITAMINS
Avoid giving your dog a supplement made for humans. People don't have exactly the same nutritional needs as their pets. Instead, choose multivitamin bites for dogs. With a multivitamin for dogs, your pet will think he's getting a tasty treat. In turn, you will have the assurance he's getting a balanced supplement that won't contain any potentially harmful ingredients.
Related Products
Here at Moe's, our focus is keeping your pup healthy and happy. Just as we disguise medicines as gummies or smoothies for ourselves, Moe's dog treats are created as a fun supplement with a healthy purpose! If you don't know where to start with adding multivitamins to your pup's daily routine, try our Pampered Pooch bundle to treat your dog's heart and tummy!
Sources:
