For our last article in the series “Healthy Pets on a Dime” we are going to discuss supplements. There are so many different types of supplements on the market, and it can be overwhelming deciding if any would really be useful. You want your pet to be healthy, but you don’t want to spend a fortune doing it. This article is going to focus more on generally healthy pets and a couple of key supplements that are very beneficial and also economical.
The first supplement that is quite helpful and cost effective for both dogs and cats is fish oil. There have been numerous studies examining its benefit in heart and joint disease. Veterinary cardiologists and orthopedic surgeons routinely have their patients take it daily. It is also widely used by dermatologists in treating a variety of skin diseases. Even if your pet doesn’t have any of those medical problems, they will still benefit from fish oil. After giving it daily for 6-8 weeks you will see that your pet even has shinier fur.
The next supplement that you have probably heard a lot about is multivitamins. They can be quite useful especially if it is a high quality product that is specifically formulated for your species of animal. It should also be a balanced product that contains both vitamins and minerals. This is especially beneficial for animals that don’t eat their regular food well or tend to eat a lot of treats or table scraps. Using a good multivitamin/multimineral is also a must if you give your pet a homemade diet. Even if you perfectly balance all the protein, carbohydrates, and fats in the diet, your pet still needs this supplement to even out the nutrients. The other group of animals that can really benefit from a good vitamin are animals that are in their golden years or have digestive problems. As pets age, they often don’t absorb the nutrients as well from their food. A supplement will often help bridge the gap.
Lastly, another supplement that many pets have benefitted greatly from is a combination supplement of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and MSM. Those ingredients together seem to really help support the joints. It is primarily used for dogs that already have arthritis or joint problems, but there has also been a lot of discussion amongst veterinarians about giving it to dogs that are not yet showing signs of arthritis. If you know arthritis runs in the family genes, then you may want to consider starting this supplement early before problems develop. This may help delay the onset of arthritis and reduce the severity.
There are certainly many other types of supplements and we have only discussed the tip of the iceberg, but we hope this will help get you started in the right direction with some of the basics. Specific medical ailments will obviously require more specialized supplements. If your pet does have a specific problem then you should also consult with your veterinarian about their recommendations. They may have a suggestion of one that would be quite beneficial. Supplements alone will not solve every medical problem, but when the right supplement is used, it can help save you money by reducing the amount and frequency of more costly prescription medication.
