One of the things that dog owners need to be mindful of is ensuring that his dog has the right multivitamins to meet his dietary and nutritional needs.
It’s not enough to regularly provide food, water and exercise, because there will some health conditions that are best addressed with key vitamins and minerals.
However, not all vitamin supplements are alike. Prior to purchasing a multivitamin, it is important to consider the kind of diet that the dog is into.
It is also important to determine what deficiencies a particular dog has to know which specific supplement or multivitamin will be necessary in helping them out.
In addition, there are also certain health concerns as well as genetic issues per breed that will require more than your regular, vitamin- or mineral-enriched dog food.
Multivitamins and/or supplements might be the necessary component that will balance out their diet to ensure that they are feeling and performing optimally. Then there’s also the issue of double-dosing, which is harmful to a dog.
For example, if you give your dog a multivitamin that already has calcium, you should be very careful about providing your dog with a diet that is also rich in the same mineral.
Doing so will lead to a lot of health problems in the future, like mineral deposits.
A General Guide in Choosing the Ideal Multivitamin
Basically, the best kind of multivitamin for a dog will come with a strong formula that meets its needs, and helpful ingredients that addresses his health concerns and requirements.
A formula that is as full as possible will be ideal, but beware of brands and variants that turn out to have filler ingredients. The healthier option is a natural one, which hopefully includes the following components:
1. Basic vitamins.
For general health needs, your dog’s supplement will ideally have vitamins A, B, C and also D. These are also vitamins that you will find in most supplements meant for people.
An optimal daily amount of these vitamins is necessary for developing and maintaining growth, bones, and other organs. They are also crucial in ensuring optimal energy levels.
These four basic vitamins will ensure that your pet will perform in top condition to meet its daily routines.
2. Calcium.
Calcium is necessary for bone health, and a supplement might be required if your dog does not get enough calcium from its diet.
The right amount of calcium will mean stronger joints, teeth, and bones for your dog – all important things that will help it lead a more active lifestyle.
3. Glucosamine.
If you care for your dog’s bones, then you should also pay special attention to its joints. Just like humans, your pet will also greatly benefit from glucosamine to keep its joints healthy and strong.
Having healthy joints will make your dog more flexible and give it more strength. Glucosamine is also especially important for dogs that are much older, when they are prone to joint problems.
An older dog that takes glucosamine regularly will be a lot more active for a longer period of time. Luckily, some multivitamins out there already include glucosamine. If you find one, you won’t need to buy it separately.
4. Iron.
Just like humans, dogs are also susceptible to iron deficiency and anemia. Iron will help increase a dog’s blood count as well as give it more energy and strength to lead an active day.
5. Resveratrol.
Often found in wine and other kinds of superfoods, resveratrol is an antioxidant that your dog will really benefit from.
While it’s not a good idea to give your dog some red wine just so it can have its dose of resveratrol, the next best thing is to look for a multivitamin supplement that also includes resveratrol.
This antioxidant works to lower a pet’s blood pressure, making it a key ingredient for longer life in older dogs and dogs that have hypertensive issues.
Capsules or Pills?
Apart from the contents of a multivitamin, the form in which is comes in will also make a difference in how well or how easily your pet will take it.
Humans have it easy as we are used to taking our multivitamins in either capsule or pill and take less than three seconds to down it with a little water first thing in the morning.
However, the same cannot be said with pet dogs. There’s usually some difficulty when it comes to getting your dog to take its vitamin.
The usual process is to mix the contents of the capsule with some water or blend it with the food, but such a process isn’t always guaranteed to work.
What will work most of the time is a multivitamin that’s in a chewable form. It is easy to dispense, poses zero risks, and often comes in a taste that dogs like.
Many chewable vitamins come in a size that won’t choke a dog, and some even offer it in wafer form so it can even be given as a snack at the same time.
Chewable vitamins are far better than capsules and tablets, which can be problematic if your dog is not in the mood to take it.
Don’t Forget Your Vet’s Approval
This guideline for choosing a good multivitamin for your dog will certainly help narrow down your choices, but it’s also important to get your vet’s approval before you go ahead with the purchase.
Even if it seems like choosing a multivitamin is a task that you yourself can handle on your own, your vet will be in a much better position to determine if a particular brand or variant will be the best kind to give your dog.
A vet will know the specifics of your dog’s health and dietary concerns and can recommend or require additional vitamins or minerals that will help address certain deficiencies or prevent potential health issues.
And finally, avoid making the decision of which vitamin to choose based on what your wallet can afford.
Your pet is a very integral part of your family, and you wouldn’t want to shortchange it any more than you would another member of your family.
Choose carefully, consult your dog’s specialists, and you will be doing your dog a whole world of good!
Leave a Reply