Natural supplements for dogs have gained in popularity by an immense degree over recent years. Many people believe that their pets will get all of the various nutrients and nutritional elements that they need by eating dog food. While this may be the case for some dogs and for certain high quality brands of dog food, it is not the situation for every animal by any means.
In these cases, natural supplements can help to provide those missing nutritional benefits. They can help to prevent disease and to keep your pet as happy and healthy as possible throughout the various stages of his life. Read on for some of the best and most common natural supplements to consider giving your dog.
Antioxidants in Dog Food Supplements
Antioxidants are chemicals that help to eliminate free oxygen molecules which may be in your pet's body as a result of normal body chemistry processes. These molecules can pose a danger to your pet's cells and may damage them. While this is not likely to lead to any immediate damage to your pet's body, repeated exposure to this damage can put your pet at an increased risk of developing cancers and other degenerative conditions over the long term. Antioxidants include Vitamins A, C, and E, as well as Selenium, Carotenoids and more.
Glucosamine Natural Supplement in a Dog Diet
One of the more common and more powerful natural supplements that many owners give to their dogs is glucosamine. Glucosamine is a chemical that is derived from the shells of various crustaceans. This chemical is very helpful in promoting bone and joint growth in dogs. It can also help to promote ligament growth to help keep the joints and bones as strong as possible. For dogs facing arthritis, bone or other joint problems, glucosamine can help to slow the degenerative process and may actually be able to reverse the damage that they face as well.
Probiotics for a Healthy Dog
Probiotics are commonly used in both human and animal natural medicine. They consist of a set of helpful bacteria, yeasts and other organisms. These bacteria are those that occur naturally in a healthy dog's gastrointestinal tract. They can help to break down food and will ensure that your pet has a normal gastrointestinal function and healthy bowels. However, many dogs suffer from damage to this system for one reason or another (as when you have to put your pet on an antibiotic regimen to help cure an infection).
With these bacteria and other organisms gone from your dog's system, they have no way to help him to break down his food, and he may face digestive problems.
Before you begin to give your dog these or any other type of natural supplement, it's always a good idea to check in with your vet. There may be some cases in which two or more supplements or other medicines might interfere with each other in your pet's system and cause him some kind of distress or harm.