• Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Employee Login
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Call or Email Now
Splash and Dash For Dogs
  • About
    • Overview
    • Our Facilities
  • Spa Services
    • Dog Spa Treatments
    • Bathing Membership
    • Dog Grooming
    • Dog Dental
    • Aromatherapy by Splash and Dash
  • Wellness Service
    • Dog Treats & Chews
    • Dog Accessories
    • Dog Food
  • Memberships
  • Franchise Ownership
  • Locations
    • Point Loma – San Diego, CA
    • Valencia – Santa Clarita, CA
    • Peachtree City, GA
    • Meridian, ID
    • Des Plaines, IL
    • Baton Rouge, LA
    • Grand Rapids, MI
    • Southern Pines, NC
    • Monroe, NY
    • St. James, NY
    • Coppell, TX
    • Louisville, KY
    • Raleigh, NC
    • Cape Coral
    • Keller, TX
    • Australia
  • *
  • Search
  • Menu
Dog Services

Are Supplements Necessary for Pet Health?

Whether you have a new puppy or a senior dog on your hands many concerned pet parents are asking this question. Should I give my dog supplements or vitamins? Supplements have been popular for a long time with humans and it was only a matter of time before we began giving them to our animals for an extra boost of pet health.

So, are vitamin supplements dangerous, helpful, or even necessary?

Pet Health: Fact From Fiction

Many supplements and vitamins are designed to support specific bodily functions like fatty acids, which support coat health, or glucosamine for joint mobility.

The thing is, all FDA approved dog food is formulated to provide all the nutritional requirements a dog will need for proper pet health. When dog food manufacturers develop dog food, they assume dogs will only be ingesting the ingredients within their food. Aside from treats and a few table scraps, dog food should provide a balanced diet.

So most of the time the answer is—no.

The best way to maintain your pet’s health is to provide a nutritious diet. Some supplements contain ingredients that could combine with ingredients in their food. This could cause toxicity or have an adverse reaction. If you believe your dog needs extra nutrition, please seek out veterinary advice before administering supplements.

Of course, not all pet food manufacturers are the same. There is a huge disparity between healthy pet food formulas and pet food that is poor quality. For a pet food to be sold it must “meet one of the AAFCO nutrient profiles, it must contain every nutrient listed in the profile at the recommended level,” according to the FDA.

Any medications your dog is taking could also react adversely with ingredients in supplements.

What Supplements are Available?

Many pet parents fear their dogs will inevitably develop arthritis or are already suffering from joint pain or limited mobility. This is common in senior dogs and some susceptible breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Rottweilers. Glucosamine and chondroitin are commonly used together to combat arthritis and protect joints and repair cartilage.

Giving your dog these bodily chemicals will support joint function, but will not reverse arthritis or restructure abnormalities.

Another popular supplement is Omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fish oil. Fatty acids work as a strong anti-inflammatory and help the functions of multiple organs, skin, and coat health. For directions on dosage amounts refer to your veterinarian. Every dog has different needs based on their own pet health.  Your dog will need a different administration of supplement amounts than other dogs. Your vet is the most equipped to make that call.

Antioxidants, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C, are also widely used with senior dogs who begin experiencing dementia. When pet parents catch their dogs in a ‘senior moment’ they often turn to supplements with high amounts of these vitamins to curb cognitive dysfunction. Both antioxidants help repair aging brain cells. However, most senior dog foods are formulated with high levels of antioxidants that target cognitive support.

The Bottom Line

Supplements can be used under the guidance of your veterinarian, but most pet owners might save time and money by first selecting a premium dog food.

Not only should pet parents be able to decipher dog food labels, but they should also change formulas throughout a dog’s life. Most reputable manufacturers have different formulas that correspond to the appropriate nutrition a dog needs in certain stages of life. A puppy needs different nutrition than an adult and senior dog.

Foods like pumpkin and use of the rotational diet also help provide all the essential nutrition your dog needs with natural methods.

Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique want your dog to live and long and happy life!

 

Follow Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique:

  • Website: http://splashanddashfordogs.com/
  • Website: https://splashanddashfranchise.com/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splashanddashfordogs/
  • Instagram: @splashanddashfordogs
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-j-barton-622ab517
  • Twitter: splashanddash4dogs
April 25, 2017/by Dan J. Barton

Archives

  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • January 2000

2015 inc 500 America's fastest growing private companies, Splash and Dash for Dogs

magazine-covers

Rank: #296

3 year growth rate of 1,550 %

Affiliates

  • Splash and Dash Franchise
  • Dan J Barton – Pet Business Coach
  • Book – “Stop Your Bitchin”
  • Work With Fido
  • Employee Login
  • Splash and Dash License

Follow us on Facebook

Instagram

Follow Me!

Contact Us

  • SD Franchise LLC
  • Phone: 888-815-2284
  • 2820 Scherer Dr. North
    Suite 210
  • St. Petersburg, Fl 33716
© Copyright - Splash and Dash for Dogs
  • Home
  • About
  • Boutique
  • Giving Back
  • Locations
  • Franchising
Millennials Become Primary Pet Owners in U.S. Pet Care: How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Whining?
Scroll to top