Why might you use supplements?
If you feel that a supplement might be useful for your dog, consider what you are trying to achieve before choosing one. Perhaps a supplement is to support your dog’s overall health, or maybe to help support a specific health condition. Knowing your aim will help you check if there is a positive outcome or not.
Well-formulated supplements are intended to support the overall well-being of your dog. If your dog suffers from poor skin and coat condition, digestive upsets, mobility issues, or even some behavioural problems, there are supplements that claim to possibly help your dog. Indeed, these are the most typical reasons people will explore supplement use.
Supplements for joint health might be useful for highly active or older dogs. They often include a range of ingredients thought to be beneficial, although marine or algal-derived omega 3 oils currently have the best supporting evidence. If your dog does show signs of stiffness or limited mobility, chat to your vet in the first instance as supportive pain management might also be needed.
Dogs with long coats and those with skin allergies or conditions will often benefit from supplements to support skin and coat growth and condition. These often include vitamin E, biotin, and omega fatty acids, all of which are known to be essential for skin, hair, and nail health.
Other supplements might be useful for general ageing or behaviour. Whatever supplement you choose, make sure you check its effectiveness. A photo diary or keeping other records of your dog’s health is a clever way to check if the supplement is working or not. If there is no change or improvement within a couple of months, it could be the supplement isn’t working. Don’t be afraid to stop or change. Your dog (and your pocket!) may thank you!