- PET HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS - Healthy Supplements for your Dog ' s Diet
With all the food and treat recalls over the past several years , more and more dog owners are paying stricter attention to what they ’ re feeding their pets . This heightened awareness has thankfully led to owners putting their dogs on higher quality food , often supplementing their diets with added nutrients , as well . While you must be careful not to overdo it , there are a number of natural ways to boost your dog ' s immune system and overall health . As always , be sure to speak with your veterinarian about changing anything in your dog ’ s diet , and the proper dosage for any of the following supplements :
# 1 - Fish Oil An excellent source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids , fish oil can improve your dog ’ s skin and coat , in addition to your dog ’ s immune system . It can also reduce inflammation and pain in dogs with arthritis or joint and hip issues . You must be careful not to feed your dog too much fish oil , however , because it can reduce the amount of vitamin E in his system .
# 2 - Vitamin E Vitamin E is important to cardiac and immune health , and can also improve skin and vision .
# 3 - Yogurt Plain , unsweetened yogurt is a great source of probiotics for dogs . Probiotics provide many gastrointestinal health benefits for pets with stomach issues . Be sure the yogurt has no sugar additives , though , and no xylitol , which can be deadly for your pet !
# 4 - Coconut Oil Coconut oil is becoming more commonly used as a supplement for people and pets , as it ’ s full of benefits , and dogs love it , too ! It has anti-bacterial , anti-fungal , and anti-viral properties , which improves overall health . It is also known to improve skin conditions and digestive problems . Add it to your pet ' s food , and they will think it ' s a treat !
# 5 - Glucosamine / Chondroitin Glucosamine and chondroitin are well known to help dogs suffering from arthritis , hip dysplasia , and other joint conditions . These supplements have very few side effects and longtime use has proven safe , making them a popular choice for senior dogs .
# 6 - Biotin If your dog itches and bites at her fur a lot , she might benefit from an extra dose of biotin . Although biotin deficiencies are rare in dogs , your pup doesn ' t necessarily have to have a shortage to reap results from extra supplementation . It can work wonders for dogs that have dry , itchy skin . A warning , though - biotin can taste very bitter , so you may have to be creative getting your dog to actually swallow it .
# 7 - Pumpkin If your pet is experiencing gastrointestinal upset , try adding some raw pumpkin to his diet . Its high fiber content can ease stomach aches , and firm up loose bowel movements . It can also help constipated canines . Depending on your dog ' s size , a teaspoon or tablespoon is plenty . Be sure to only use plain , unsweetened canned pumpkin , though no pumpkin filling for pies or desserts !
# 8 - Peppermint Peppermint is another remedy for soothing upset tummies , as well as reducing gas and nausea . Fresh breath is an added benefit ! There is some concern about using peppermint for pets , however , as it can be toxic in large amounts , and oils are sometimes mixed with xylitol , which is dangerous for pets ! And one kind of mint - pennyroyal - is toxic for dogs . It ' s best to use a small amount of dried peppermint leaves , mixed into dog treat recipes .
For 6
more info about natural remedies : betterpet . com ... topdogtips . com ... dogsnaturallymagazine . com ... drjudymorgan . com ... petwellbeing . com .
Pawsitively Pets -- February
9