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Supplements

Why Supplements Can Be Beneficial

There are many types of canine supplements available today, joint support, vitamins and minerals, immune support, probiotics, digestive enzymes, essential fatty acids, and more. Just as with human supplements, not all products are created equal, and not every supplement does what the label promises.

A supplement may not help if:

It is not targeting the real problem
It is poorly formulated or incorrectly processed
It does not contain enough of the active ingredients
The ingredients are low quality or not bioavailable

Over the years, I have tried dozens of products in my own program. After a lot of trial and error, I chose to consistently use Nzymes® and NuVet® products because they fit my goals for immune support, digestive support, and joint health in my dogs. That does not mean they are the only good options, but they are the ones I have chosen to stand behind and that I have personally seen benefit my dogs.

As with any supplement, I encourage families to:

Read labels carefully
Choose companies that are transparent and reputable
Discuss supplement use with their veterinarian

Balanced Nutrition as the Foundation

A balanced, complete diet is always the starting point. According to WSAVA and other veterinary nutrition groups, a balanced diet for dogs should include the correct proportions of:

High-quality protein
Appropriate fats (including essential fatty acids)
Digestible carbohydrates and/or fiber
Vitamins and minerals in appropriate amounts for the life stage

When a diet is labeled “complete and balanced” and the company follows strong quality-control and research standards, it should provide the core nutrition your dog needs.

Supplements are not a substitute for a good diet, but they can help:

Support the immune system
Promote joint comfort and mobility
Aid digestion
Support skin, coat, and overall vitality

This is why, in my program, I recommend specific supplements such as Nzymes® Antioxidant Treats or Granules to help replace some of the beneficial compounds that may be reduced during food processing and to support overall wellness.

Immune Support

A strong immune system is especially important for puppies, who are going through:

Physical growth
Vaccinations
Teething
Environmental changes (new home, new routines, new people and pets)

These factors can temporarily stress a young dog’s immune system. For that reason, I choose to use NuVet Plus® as an immune-support supplement during the first year of life in my puppies and often continue it into adulthood in my own dogs.

A few important points:

Immune-support supplements should not replace routine veterinary care, vaccinations, or parasite prevention.
Evidence for many “immune boosters” is still limited; the strongest data in veterinary medicine generally supports omega-3 fatty acids, some joint supplements, and certain probiotics.
Any supplement should be discussed with your veterinarian, especially if your dog has other medical conditions or is taking medications.

My philosophy is prevention whenever possible, supporting the body through growth and stressful life stages, instead of waiting to act until problems appear.

Digestive / Gut Support

The gut is central to overall health. A healthy microbiome supports:

Digestion and nutrient absorption
Immune function
Stool quality and consistency

For gut support, I like to use Nzymes® Bac-Pak Plus, a prebiotic/probiotic product. The dose is small because the formulation is concentrated, and I use it to help:

Support a healthy balance of gut bacteria
Aid digestion
Provide additional antioxidant support

Current research on probiotics in dogs is still developing: some strains and products show benefit, others do not. Quality and strain selection matter. This is another reason it is important to choose reputable products and to consult your veterinarian about which probiotic is appropriate for your dog’s situation.

Immune Support

The reason that I support the NuVet Plus tablets is not because of kickbacks. Although my dogs stay on the supplement throughout their lives, this is a choice I have made to continue to support their immune system during times of stress. However, I do not require that owners keep their pups on the supplement for their entire life. That is the choice of the puppy parent. Nonetheless, I do require it be given for the first year of the pup’s life due to the fact that they are going through multiple changes that can stress their immune system during this time. These stressors can range from the simply immature immune system of a puppy to new experiences that may be stressful, and vaccinations. A weakened immune system can cause many additional health issues, as a result, I prefer to try to prevent it instead of treat it.

Digestive/Gut Support

The supplement I recommend for pro/prebiotics is the Nzymes Bak Pac Plus. The dosage of this supplement is extremely low because it is so well made. Just as with humans, a healthy gut tends to translate to a healthier body overall. Additionally, it helps with food processing and as an antioxidant.

Bone/Joint Support

I start my dogs on the NuJoint when they reach one year of age. At this point, their growth plates are starting to close and they are becoming “less flexible” (think of the difference in flexibility between a nine-month-old human and a 9-year-old human). As their bones and joints are maturing and starting to solidify, I start giving them the joint supplements. I believe in trying to prevent an issue instead of treating it after the fact. In addition, this can delay arthritis and other bone/joint issues from presenting. As a final thought, the reality is that giving the supplement does not harm, it can only help.

Healing and Wound Care

We use the Ox-E Drops when we have a puppy/dog recovering from a wound or surgery. When it is a wound, we use the Ox-E-Drops both internally and externally. Ox-E-Drops truly offers a wide diversity of applications for your pet’s needs. Simple Uses: add to your pet’s daily meals and the water dish for internal removal of free radicals and toxins or mix with water and spray on for topical needs. Ox-E-Drops is used in many of the Nzymes-sponsored “programs” for healthier pets. To learn more, read articles such as NZYMES® “Healthy-Skin Program“, or the “Papilloma Program” and finally, the “Respiratory Program.” For Veterinary Insight on using Ox-E-Drops for a variety of challenges, see this page by Doc-Kitty

Final Words

The truth is that your dog can eat what you eat. If introduced early in life, “People food” is not bad for dogs. However, much of our food is also cooked. In turn, we have the same issues with our foods as dogs have with their processed foods. The RAW diet is an option, but it comes with many of its own issues, with the biggest being a significantly unbalanced diet. You also have hundreds of types of dog food available to choose from. Making the dog food decision can be difficult. With Golden Retrievers, there are foods on the market that have actually been associated with heart disease.

As a result, I have done a great deal of research, to try and make sure that my pups/dogs have everything they could possibly need. In all reality, if their body does not need the supplement at a specific time, it will process it out without harm. However, if their system is taxed for a reason I am unaware of, these supplements can be largely beneficial. Over the years, I have come up with what I feel is the most optimal option to provide my pups/dogs with everything I can to give them the healthiest life. To be honest, my dogs get supplements, commercial dog food, and human food.

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