The Benefits of Canine Nutritional Supplements

Dr. Pam Barker DVM

The idea of using nutritional supplements for dogs is not a new one. But as research is beginning to show, it may be much more important than we ever believed. One common misconception is that a diet labeled as “complete and balanced” provides adequate nutrition for all dogs at all stages of life. As in human nutrition, we are learning that this “one size fits all” approach is far from ideal. The problems of dietary excesses, deficiencies and nutritional imbalances are becoming more apparent as we discover that this simplified approach to nutrition may be woefully inadequate.

Just as in human medicine, veterinarians are recognizing the importance of nutrition and supplementation in improving the quality of dogs’ lives and in treating a number of chronic diseases and degenerative conditions. High-quality, scientifically balanced nutritional supplements provide a means of elevating pet nutrition beyond what can be achieved by commercial dog food alone and are a very pro active approach to your dog’s better health.

Manufacturers of premium quality dog foods continue to invest vast amount of time, money and resources to continually improve their products. As a result, pet parents now have a seemingly endless number of choices when selecting an appropriate food for their dog. Premium quality foods are available that are designed to meet the needs of different breeds of dogs, those with varying levels of activity, those with sensitive digestion, or pets with skin problems. Several companies specialize in producing veterinary-dispensed prescription diets specifically formulated to meet the needs of dogs with medical conditions.

Many pet parents base their selection of a dog food by finding one that matches their pet’s profile, is one their dog will eat readily and is within their family budget. Even if the food is the highest quality super premium dog food that can be found, there still may be inadequacies in the diet that may not be apparent until a supplement is added. Pet parents commonly report increased energy, improvements in coat quality and decreasing severity of some chronic conditions, such as digestive problems, arthritis or allergies after they add a nutritional supplement to their dog’s diet.
 

WHY DOG FOOD IS NOT ENOUGH

The logical question that follows is why would a premium food not provide the same levels of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that are in a nutritional supplement? The answer is that manufacturers of pet foods address a number of challenges that make this task very difficult. In addition to meeting or exceeding the AAFCO standards required for pet food manufacture, producers must develop a marketable product. Consumers demand that pet foods that are convenient to feed, aesthetically pleasing, palatable to their pet and have a long shelf life. They must also be affordable. In the case of dry dog foods, the food must be able to withstand temperature and humidity fluctuations without spoiling or becoming stale. In order to meet these criteria, manufacturers must process raw ingredients into a finished product that fulfills these requirements. Many of the vital nutrients required by pets are fragile and become damaged or destroyed during this process. Vitamin E, for example, is destroyed when exposed to rancid fat. In the case of essential fatty acids, where the ratio, or balance, of the omega 3 and omega 6 components is vital for them to work effectively, it can be cost prohibitive to include these nutrients at levels that are actually beneficial. Finally, dog foods would then have to contain levels of vitamins and minerals that were ideal for each dog, regardless of how much food the dog consumes each day.

In addition to these constraints, pet food companies must also carefully select and monitor their suppliers to ensure that the freshness and quality of their ingredients is consistent and free of contaminants. Because components in dog food come from meat and vegetation sources, the nutritional levels of these ingredients can vary widely. Economics demand that meat, poultry and crops that are of the highest quality are destined for the human market. Less desirable cuts of meat, internal organs, blemished fruits and vegetables, or grains not used for human foods are frequently used in the manufacturing of pet food. In many cases, proteins, fats and carbohydrate levels of these ingredients remain intact, but levels of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids are inadequate and must either be replaced in the food itself or added as a nutritional supplement.

DOG VITAMINS ADD CONSTANCY TO YOUR DOGS DIET

By contrast, when developing a dietary supplement, companies are able to develop their product exclusively to meet specific nutritional needs. They are not attempting to meet caloric requirements or to balance protein, fat and carbohydrates. Their singular purpose is to provide an ideal combination of vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. The best companies optimize the quality of their product by using top-of-the line human-grade ingredients while still retaining an affordable product. Since intensive processing is not required, fragile nutrients are provided in their active and effective form.

In professional circles, the benefits of nutritional supplementation are well-known. Modern canine athletes face intense competition and most of these dogs are fed not only a premium diet, but are also supplemented with nutrients to reduce recovery time, improve coat and increase energy levels. Nutritional supplements also help reduce injuries by giving the body the tools necessary to keep cells and tissues healthy and strong.

In Western medicine, there is a definite shift away from the medical model that separates body and disease from nutrition and diet. The connection between nutrition and health is now widely recognized and accepted. Researchers are still learning how providing proper nutritional supplementation can accelerate the healing process and can be used to correct chronic conditions that are not necessarily responsive to conventional medicine.

It is not always possible to determine whether a disease in becoming more common or if it is being more readily diagnosed. Regardless of this, we now see a large population of dogs that suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, glaucoma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atopy and allergies, just to name a few. More and more veterinarians are using nutritional supplementation and dietary changes to reduce the symptoms of these diseases and to decrease their severity. As we learn more about how nutrients affect body system functions, customized nutritional supplementation may well become a cornerstone of medical treatment.