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Dog Supplements

Dog Supplements

All pet owners feel that their pets deserve the best.



Just like us, our pets also have many nutritional needs. However, unlike us, they cannot take care of their nutritional needs by themselves and depend on us.

Luckily, there are many different brands of dog supplements which can be used to make up for the nutrients that our pets lack in their meals. As your dog’s primary care taker, it is your responsibility to do proper research and find out which nutrients should essentially be present in your dog’s diet and how much daily intake is required for each.



Compare these with the amount of nutrition they are receiving from their daily meals to determine if there is a nutritional deficit. In case your dog’s not receiving all the nutrition it needs, you can use supplements for dogs to meet those needs.

Dog food supplements are simply edible products that are given to the dogs to supplement their diets.



These supplements can enhance your dog’s health by providing the valuable nutrients that are otherwise missing from the dog’s diet. Food supplements can not only make your dog healthy, but also improve physical attributes such as sheen and shine of the coat or development of the ears and paws. In addition to that, dog supplements can also increase your pet’s life and improve levels of activity.
There are several factors which determine which supplements for dogs suit your dog the best. If your dog has a particular disease or an ailment, the nutritional needs may become different and the dog supplements required would differ from that required by a normal healthy dog. The size and the breed of the dog also determine which kinds of nutrients are required for it. For instance, a large dog breed would need more calcium, since there is more pressure on the joints. The dog might also require additional amounts of glucosamine sulfate, a nutrient which promotes healthy development of joints. There are other nutrients like chondroitin sulfate and L-carnitine, both of which are required in increased quantities by large dogs. Similarly, small dogs have different nutrient needs and a qualified vet may be able to discuss these with you.

Since nutritional supplements for dogs can affect the health of your pet directly, it is recommended that these supplements should be given to the dog only after a thorough consultation with the vet. All dogs may not need to consume supplements. Your vet may be able to advise you on the same.

 
  Submitted on July 13, 2010