Best Dog Supplements - How to Choose?
Posted by Rhonda Jewel on Oct 04, 2020
There are so many 'so called' best dog supplements on the market today. It is so difficult to choose what is best for your canine best friend.
Our advice is simple-if it is not straight from nature and if it is manufactured in a lab it is probably not the best choice to give your pet. I use my own judgement and look at the company and manufacturing process. It is mass produced commercially? Is it made in small batches by a small company? Is it sourced from nature? Or made in a lab?
Here is why:
The rule in the school of thought of ‘Animal Naturopathy,’ we recommend animal-sourced or earth based supplements for carnivore pets instead of those created through manufactured sources, chemical synthesised ingredients (which most dog vitamins in dog food are) or from sources not species appropriate for carnivores.
Years of over-farming, the use and abuse of chemical fertilizers, and various other environmental pollutants have taken their toll. Even organic farming cannot guarantee that the meat or produce will be more nutritious, as it will take approximately 75 years for lost nutrients to return to the soil!
Generations of feeding dogs processed pet foods and vaccinating them year after year have left our pups with weakened immune systems that are over-loaded with toxins. This causing overall poor health.
Low immunity can also be caused by genetics. Parentage can contribute to skin and ear issues especially. However, the most likely culprit of these two major health concerns, hands down, is poor diet. Kibble with sweet potato or legumes is considered grain free, however it is not starch free. Starch is often a big part of the issue.
There is no good kibble, unfortunately. It is only a poor substitute for healthy nutrition, so due to that often supplements are needed to add that necessary nutrition.
Starting with a raw diet is where most of the natural minerals and vitamins are found. Balanced with muscle meat, bone and organs and glands. Wild salmon oil and/or pasture raised poultry eggs are also preferable to factory-produced vitamins and minerals.
So ideally feeding raw meat will in fact bring them back to balance - then if needed extra support there are a few natural of supplements found in nature that can be added- this is truly the best way to go for dog supplements.
Here are a few helpful and natural supplements that can be added to the raw diet:
Fish oils, Tuna Oil, Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and Krill Oil- Fish Oil for dogs provides essential levels of omega-3 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat. This supplement is also a great way to help your dog's joint function while protecting your dogs brain, liver, heart and overall
Eggshell Calcium- is an animal-derived alternative to bone meal as a calcium supplement, as long as it is from 100% finely powdered pasture raised/heavy metal free eggshells. The pure eggshell powder should provide approximately 1900 mg. of calcium per teaspoon. Egg shells also contain Magnesium, Phosphorous, and other trace minerals that are great for our pups.
Nutrient rich glands and organs- are superb foods for dogs and cats. They are a vital part of a natural carnivorous diet missing from processed pet foods and even many raw diets. Nutrient rich glands and organs are superb foods for dogs & cats. They are a vital part of a natural carnivore diet. This "physiological" strategy is based on the idea that when another human or animal consumes the gland or organ tissue concentrates, these healthy, intact components can supply his organs and glands with the building blocks they may need. I use the PawHealer glandular concentrates that are from Argentinian range-grazed animals.
Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes- Probiotics are strains of beneficial bacteria that colonize and grow in the body’s intestinal tract — in humans and animals.They are part of the pets bodies natural microbiome, the system of bacteria and microbes contributing to gut function and other body functions. It is known with both humans and animals that these good bacteria are necessary to the digestive and immune support. Certain health problems can certainly start up when there is an imbalance in the types of bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Colostrum- Colostrum is a wonderful, natural supplement made from cow that carries essential, growth factors, immune factors as well as amino acids, enzymes and proteins into the cells which can strengthen the immune system for puppies and aging dogs.
Green Lipped Mussels- Green lipped mussels have high amounts of glycosaminoglycans (or GAGs). One of the GAGs found in green lipped mussels is chondroitin sulfate. Which makes this is a great supplement for dogs with arthritis pain. Green lipped mussels also contain high levels of glucosamine which is helpful for arthritis pain. GLM's are also used for dogs that cannot take NSAIDS as they help decrease inflammation and help with joint pain.
Bone Broth- Is chock full of gelatin which assists in restoring and protecting the gut lining. Which helps to prevent leaky gut and greatly improves digestion. Bone broth is an excellent supplement to a puppy or older dog's existing raw food diet and natural, healthy lifestyle. Giving bone broth is another wonderful way to give your dog natural glucosamine.
Trachea and Poultry Feet- glucosamine and chondroitin are both helpful to prevent arthritis- Both trachea and poultry feet are natural sources of Glucosamine. As your furbaby ages and no longer a baby, arthritis can begin to show up, those tiring aches and pains will be more difficult for your pooch to tolerate. So natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin are key components to a balanced raw diet. Trachea is mostly cartilage, which is high in glucosamine. Beef trachea is the easiest to get ahold of, but some raw dog food companies offer goat, lamb or even sometimes ostrich trachea. Chicken feet are particularly high in natural glucosamine. Chicken feet make a a nice addition to your raw dog’s meal.
We recommend colloidal silver, colostrum, medicinal mushrooms and probiotics for immune support.
As an exception to animal-based supplementation, I do use and recommend some plant-based and earth based supplements. Including diatomaceous earth, zeolite, earth based probiotics, medicinal mushrooms, garlic, ginger, golden paste, CBD, nettles, alfalfa and apple cider vinegar are a few.
I also feed a green food supplement when a dog needs that extra boost. This company, Holistic Pet Care, puts together supplements from greens, grasses, roots, soil, and soil probiotics. We call this supplement our HIGH VIBE NUTRIENTS.
Fulvic Ionic Minerals can both balance and energize cell life and biological properties once they come into contact with the cell. If the individual cell is restored to its normal chemical balance and electrical potential, we have given the cell life where death and disintegration would normally occur. This is due to the ability of Humic Acid to break down the salt acids that build up on the cell membrane, and the ability of Fulvic Acid to transport nutrients into the cell and toxins out of the cell. Fulvic and Humic Acids will break the bonds of inorganic matter and transform them into organic matter.
In this day and age, some supplements can be useful, just not as an everyday practice when feeding a balanced raw food diet. Supplements added to your dog's diet should be given on an as-needed basis.
So what is the best dog supplement? As I said above, if you are feeding a good prey-model, balanced raw meat diet, everything a dog needs is in the raw meat itself — all the protein, vitamins, and minerals are in the animal flesh itself.
However, with that being said-What is ideal for most puppy's starting out? As far as what I supplement with a good probiotic, fulvic minerals, bone broth, colostrum and colloidal silver to boost immunity.
