Dog food supplements are not always necessary, depending on the type of diet you feed your pet. For example, if you feed a high-quality kibble, no supplements are needed because vitamins are included. However, if you feed a home-cooked or raw diet, you may need to add supplements.
Frozen Raw Diet
Many commercial raw diets come in pre-made tubes that include vegetables, crushed bone and a variety of protein. These diets don't really need to be supplemented. Because dogs are given the ingredients they need for optimal health, you don't have to add a lot of supplements.
Many nutrition experts recommend adding omega-3s to any raw diet in the form of capsules or a type of oil, such as coconut oil, vegetable oil or salmon oil. This should be added in small amounts at first, gradually building to a spoonful per day for medium dogs.
Protein-Only Supplements
If you feed your dog a raw diet that consists solely of protein, it's important to supplement. Dogs are omnivores, so they get nutrients from fruits, vegetables and grains as well. Add fruits and vegetables to your dog's diet either as a food addition or as healthy snacks. Good vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, squash and zucchini. Healthy fruits include berries, bananas and apples.
If your dog suffers from constipation or difficulty defecating, supplement with cooked oatmeal or canned pumpkin. This can also help dogs release anal glands if you notice scooting. Yogurt is another good supplement for a balanced diet because it provides healthy bacteria, strengthening your dog's digestive system.
Calcium Supplements
If the meat you feed does not include crushed bone, it's important to supplement with some form of calcium. Meat contains very little calcium. In the wild, dogs would get this through consuming bone. This can be restored by feeding raw bones two or three times per week, adding dairy such as eggs to the diet or adding a supplement. Calcium supplements can be used for dogs, or you can purchase animal bone meal powder, which will fulfill your dog's calcium needs.
Additional Supplements
To ensure your dog is receiving the proper nutrients, you can also add a pet vitamin, which can be found at many pet stores and health food stores. This contains vitamins A, B, C and E, which are all important nutrients and antioxidants that improve your dog's health. If you can't find this, you can supplement the diet to include all of these vitamins as well. In addition to purchasing vitamin A, B, C and E supplements, brewer's yeast is high in vitamin B, iron and other nutrients. Powdered kelp also includes many nutrients, and many dogs enjoy the taste. Cod liver oil also includes vitamins A and D.
It's important, however, not to overdose your dog on vitamins. It is possible to over-supplement, so remember that your dog doesn't need all of these options. Pick just a few supplements, such as calcium and omega-3s, and stick with those rather than giving your dog a handful of different vitamins, many of which your dog will be able to get from a balanced diet anyway.