In general, your dog can take glucosamine for joint health, fish oil for skin and coat health, and prebiotics and probiotics for digestive support. If you’re looking to add some extra ‘oomph’ to your dog’s diet, you’re in good company–anywhere between 10 to 33 percent of dogs (and cats!) take some form of dietary supplements.
Hip & Joint
Arthritis, hip dysplasia, and other issues can cause your dog to limp, struggle going up and down stairs, and display other signs of weakness or discomfort. Hip and joint problems are more common in older and large-breed dogs. Owners of breeds that are especially prone to joint issues can start supplementing their pup’s diets from a young age as a preventative measure. Joint supplements are a common long-term treatment to reduce inflammation, slow progression of joint disease, and provide higher quality of life overall.
Glucosamine & Chondroitin Sulfate
Found naturally in cartilage, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate work together to suppress inflammation and boost cartilage repair in the joints. A study published in The Veterinary Journal reported that dogs with osteoarthritis saw reduced pain and severity of their conditions after receiving a combination of glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements have minimal to no side effects in most dogs. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for osteoarthritis treatment, if your dog struggles with the negative side effects, your vet may suggest glucosamine supplements instead.
Anti-Inflammatory Supplements
Hip and joint supplements often contain natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as turmeric, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and dried yucca schidigera extract. Inflammation attacks the joints and causes increased swelling, pain, and cartilage damage.
When treating your dog’s joint pain, rather than administer every ingredient separately, look for an all-in-one product such as Deley Naturals Advanced Hip & Joint Supplement for Dogs. Available as a tasty chew, it takes all the guesswork out of the process and comes with other important ingredients like Vitamin E and collagen to protect your dog’s bone health.
Fish Oil
Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil can benefit your dog’s heart health, improve coat or skin condition, and may even relieve allergies or reduce joint inflammation. Like you, your dog doesn’t produce omega-3 fatty acids naturally. Instead, they obtain them through their food. While commercial dog food should provide the correct ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3, plenty of dogs need a little extra help with their skin or joints.
Omega-3 fatty acids also play an important role in cognitive development. Growing puppies may appreciate a small dose of fish oil, as would senior dogs who show signs of slowing down. Fish oil can also help your dog’s coat stay shiny and soft while reducing shedding. Its anti-inflammatory properties help ease painful, inflamed joints. If your dog has developed osteoarthritis, eicosapentaenoic (EHA) and docosahexaenoic (DA) decrease inflammation. Both are found in omega-3 fatty acids–and fish oil is a potent source of them both.
Sourcing is also an important concern. Large, predatory fish such as salmon can contain mercury, obtained from the air or the waters in which they feed. While Deley Naturals Omega 3 Fish Oil For Dogs is human-grade and molecularly distilled to remove potential toxins, it also sources its ingredients exclusively from the North Atlantic, using small, non-predatory fish such as sardines, herring, mackerel, and anchovies
Prebiotics/Probiotics
Prebiotics encourage the growth of good bacteria already in your dog’s colon, while probiotics are live microorganisms that help improve your dog’s gut flora and restore their microbiome.
If you’ve noticed your dog seems to be suffering from frequent gastrointestinal upset, don’t be surprised when your vet suggests one or both. This is especially common for puppies, who not only get very adventurous about what they’re willing to consider edible but have shorter digestive tracts, resulting in softer stools and more gas.
Your dog’s microbiome can be affected by stress, illness, medications, or something else entirely. Probiotics are especially useful when your dog has acute diarrhea, with research indicating that cases of diarrhea can resolve approximately 40 percent faster when probiotics are introduced. If you know your dog is prone to an upset stomach when traveling, adding probiotics to their food a few days before and after can help you both ride it out with minimal fuss.
Just like in humans, gut health affects everything. Probiotics can help address bad breath, allergies, and skin and coat issues. They help stimulate the immune system, especially in young dogs.
Deley Naturals Advanced Probiotic Supplement for Dogs contains 4 billion colony forming units, or CFUs. Or, put more simply, each serving contains 4 billion active and live microorganisms. Each chew contains “friendly” bacteria that help break down food, fight off stomach upset, and absorb nutrients: Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus fermentum.
Some dogs also experience consistent stomach problems due to insufficient digestive enzymes, preventing them from absorbing nutrients fully. To treat this, Deley Naturals’ probiotics also come with a proprietary enzyme blend that helps your dog’s body break down their food:
- Amylase: Complex carbohydrates
- Protease: Protein
- Lipase: Fat
- Cellulase: Cellulose
- Lactase: Lactose
- Bromelain: Protein
If the world of canine dietary supplements seems overwhelming, grab a bottle of Deley Naturals 15 in 1 Multivitamin Treats. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate keep your dog’s joints healthy and flexible, while collagen promotes mobility and MSM helps maintain a balanced immune response. Krill oil contains the all-important omega-3 fatty acids for healthy brain function, skin and coat maintenance, and healthy cardiovascular function. And each multivitamin comes packed with six strains of probiotics for digestive support and gut health.
In other words, multivitamins can give your dog the benefit of joint supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics with just one bite!
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