Most of our pets eat ‘off the shelf’ commercial pet food that is somewhat less than ideal, or that contains toxins or ingredients from questionable sources.

Even if you are making your own pet food at home, it’s still not easy to guarantee it contains everything your dog needs, or that all of the ingredients are free from hormones, pesticides or toxins. I do strongly advocate making your pet’s food at home, and as long as you offer your pet a variety of foods, your pet will do well.

So, the question is – do you need to provide nutritional supplements for your pet?

No, not for your pet to survive. For your pet to thrive, to give your pet an extra advantage over food, environmental and genetic problems, yes.

If your pet is currently suffering from allergies, arthritis, skin problems, digestive issues, heart disease, cancer, or any of the host of health problems pets have today, supplements can and have helped countless pets, something I saw in my practice on a daily basis.

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Probiotics
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The number of neutraceuticals is MANY, but in my experience there are a specific ones which are FAR more important than others.

Probiotics are one of those…

Lactobacillus (Probiotics). These are the beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines and help control yeast and harmful bacteria, as well as helping with digestion and intestinal health. These friendly bacteria are destroyed whenever antibiotics are given, and can also be flushed out of the system if your dog has diarrhea. I recommend using probiotics for 1 week following any antibiotic usage.

Azodyl is a natural probiotic product for the reduction of the toxins that increase in Kidney failure (azotemia) in dogs and cats. These probiotics metabolize and flush out uremic toxins in the bowel. They slow down uremic toxin buildup in the blood and helps prevent further kidney damage. I have been using this very successfully in both dogs and cats with Kidney failure. The Azodyl dose is 1 capsule per 10 lbs daily, to a maximum 4 caps per day.

Probiotics are increasingly being used for dogs with allergies. These beneficial bacteria play a role in normalizing the overactive immune system. You won’t see an instant response, but you may see some marked decrease in allergic signs after using probiotics for 4 weeks. You can dose lactobacillus at 1/4 capsule per 10 lbs of body weight twice daily.