If you are considering giving your dog supplements to boost its health and quality of life, this guide is for you. Dogs have nutritional and mineral needs just like humans do. However, while your dog may have a healthy diet consisting of home-cooked meals, some essential vitamins and minerals may still be lacking in your furry friend’s food.
Different dog breeds may be prone to various health issues. Including dog supplements in your pawed pal’s diet can delay or, in some cases, help prevent specific health issues entirely. Most dogs are ready to receive daily supplements from 2 months old and upwards. NutriFlex offers a broad collection of dog supplements to keep your pets active, happy and healthy into their old age.
Common Canine Health Issues And How To Treat Them
Dogs are prone to ever-increasing health issues as they grow older. Several breeds of dogs are predisposed to certain diseases of the bones and joints. For others, it may be conditions of the eye or gut health issues.
These are a few minerals to look out for when shopping for dog supplements:
For Joint And Hip Support
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an essential natural ingredient in your dog’s diet. This mineral extracted from crushed shellfish is widely known for its ability to combat joint discomfort.
Joint problems are common in dogs, especially as they age. Over time, the cartilage between the bones begins to wear away and thin, causing the bones to rub against each other. Glucosamine dog supplements help support the body’s natural repair process that maintains healthy cartilage.
It can be administered alone or with other ingredients, including chondroitin or green-lipped mussel extract. Chondroitin is another natural cartilage supplement that can support healthy joint function.
There are a few side effects associated with glucosamine to take note of. Watch out for symptoms that could indicate an allergic reaction, fatigue, insomnia, increased thirst and urination. Use glucosamine dog supplements to support your dog’s mobility and energy and to relieve joint discomfort – but be sure to follow the recommended dosage for your dog’s weight.
Collagen
NutriFlex offers expansive dog supplements to support your pet pal’s joint and bone health. Harnessing the anti-ageing benefits of collagen, our health-boosting supplements, meticulously engineered to fortify your dog’s skeletal structure, ensure the seamless movement of their joints.
Collagen is the powerhouse protein prolifically present in every living body. As a result, we’ve developed supplements specifically tailored to the unique needs of your four-legged companion. Consider collagen the cornerstone, the very scaffolding of life, with an impressive repertoire of over 28 distinctive types, each playing a pivotal role in maintaining the body’s structural integrity.
Our loyal customer base is a testament to the transformative impact of NutriFlex’s collagen supplements. Anecdotes of rejuvenated senior dogs reclaiming their playful youth abound, painting a compelling picture of the potent benefits of our products. The proof of our product’s efficacy lies in the pattern of glowing reviews and repeat purchases, with customers consistently returning to entrust us with their pet’s wellness journey.
We have thoughtfully distilled our collagen dog supplements into two key products. Each offering encapsulates our steadfast commitment to your pet’s health and wellness, promising distinct yet synergistic benefits designed to enrich the life of your beloved pet companion at every stage of their journey.
Young+Active Maintenance Collagen for Dogs + Cats
While usable for dogs and cats alike, our Young+Active maintenance collagen is a proactive and preventative everyday dog supplement. Groundbreaking research underscores the profound impact of a dog’s developmental years on their later life, suggesting that a significant proportion of skeletal and joint issues in their twilight years can trace their roots back to these formative stages. Furthermore, dietary factors during these critical growth phases are implicated in a staggering 70% of our canine companions’ health challenges in their senior years.
The foundation of a dog’s health trajectory is established early on, with nutritional missteps potentially casting long shadows over its well-being. Therefore, it becomes imperative to prioritise optimal nutrition from the get-go, setting the stage for a lifetime of vitality and resilience.
Young+Active maintenance collagen is an anti-ageing dog supplement engineered to start your pet strong, setting them on the road to a healthy, long and active lifestyle. Packed with bio-identical nutrients NutriFlex Young+Active supports bone health, nourishes gut health and even relieves skin irritation. NutriFlex’s everyday dog supplement will promote the active mobility your dog needs.
Advanced Joint Support for Pets
While prevention is always better than cure, this advanced triple-action (joint, cartilage, bone) dog supplement targets our older canine (and feline) friends suffering from acute joint stiffness, discomfort, movement impairment, pain or skin conditions. Advanced Joint Support for Pets is packed with essential amino acids and other natural ingredients to ensure relief, restore mobility and promote a happier active lifestyle for your beloved pet.
Shiny Coat And Healthy Skin
Fish Oil
Fish oils are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty acids such as eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help keep your puppy’s coat shiny and supports healthy skin.
Fish oil is an excellent way to give your four-legged friend the omega-3 fatty acids they need. Depending on your pet’s overall health and diet, a fish oil supplement may be part of a long-term plan. Or it may just add a temporary nutritional boost to your dog’s diet.
Another benefit of fish oil is that it helps dogs throughout their lives. For example, DHA, a building block of omega-3 fatty acids, supports proper brain and eye development in puppies. DHA may also improve cognitive function in older dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction. In addition, studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids can help treat arthritis and chronic kidney disease in dogs.
Fish oil helps with the following:
- Supports the body’s natural defences against skin allergies and skin problems.
- Supports heart health and cardiovascular health.
- Supports healthy cognitive function.
There are three types of omega oils on the market:
Natural triglyceride oils, also known as fish oils, are the easiest to absorb and the most bioavailable because of their careful extraction from raw fish sources.
Ethyl oil contains high concentrations of EPA and DHA but is considered semi-natural.
Synthetic triglyceride oils exhibit the lowest absorption efficiency among the oil types. Their laboratory-based synthesis fundamentally alters their molecular structure, significantly decreasing their bioavailability and absorption.
If you have noticed that your dog’s coat is dull, their skin and nails are dry or chipping, and their eyes look yellow, our fish oil dog supplements are here to help! Our OmegaMax softgels are just what your four-legged friend needs for daily support.
The perfect daily super booster for dogs and cats of all ages, NutriFlex Purified Deep Sea Fish Oil, natural triglycerides, provides pets with a rich source of omega-3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.
Omega-3, EPA, and DHA fatty acids are essential because dogs and cats cannot produce them themselves and must obtain them from food. NutriFlex OmegaMax delivers the correct amount of purified natural triglycerides sourced from anchovy, sardine and mackerel and encapsulates it with additional Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant to ensure freshness and maximum benefits in every serving.
How Age Impacts Your Dog’s Supplement Needs
A dog’s journey from vibrant youth to dignified seniority sees dramatic shifts in nutritional demands. Canine dietary needs are not static but evolve alongside the ageing process. This process underscores the imperative of a tailored approach to supplementation, meticulously tuned to the age-specific needs of your pet.
Maintenance of optimal health transcends the realm of nutrition alone. Regular grooming is critical to every pet’s comprehensive wellness regimen. This practice, often overlooked, plays a crucial role in preserving your pet’s health at every life stage.
Encouraging a consistent physical activity regimen is instrumental in helping your dog sustain muscle mass, manage weight effectively, and bolster cardiovascular health. In addition, vigilance over dental conditions and the integrity of the skin and coat also commands priority in your pet’s health monitoring protocol.
In essence, as your dog traverses the stages of life, their supplement needs morph in tandem. Marrying these nutritional shifts with a holistic wellness routine helps ensure your four-legged companion thrives at every age.
When it comes to energy needs, tailoring your pet’s food intake to mirror their activity level is paramount. For instance, arthritic dogs generally exhibit diminished activity levels and consequently lower energy expenditure and are susceptible to unhealthy weight gain. Therefore, a low-energy diet becomes imperative for these dogs only when an excess weight issue is evident.
A decline in a dog’s enthusiasm for physical activity should not be hastily chalked down to the natural ageing process. Instead, such a shift could be a symptom of an underlying health condition or disease that requires attention. Therefore, consistent monitoring is crucial to promptly identify changes in their health status, ensuring timely intervention and treatment.
Every aspect of a dog’s life—from energy requirements and diet to activity levels and health monitoring—requires careful consideration to ensure their continued well-being throughout their life.
Dogs that have reached the threshold of three-quarters of their expected lifespan are considered geriatric dogs. However, as they journey into the senior stage, signs of ageing start surfacing with increasing clarity. These ageing markers become evident in small dogs around 12 years of age, medium dogs by 10, and large breed dogs as early as 8 years.
As dogs transition to this life stage, proactively increasing their supplement intake becomes crucial to counteract the advancing signs of ageing, extending their health span. If your dog suffers from hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, or other orthopaedic problems, introducing an advanced joint supplement such as NutriFlex is highly recommended. Leveraging targeted joint support dog supplements as soon as your dog starts showing symptoms can bolster vitality and ensure maximum comfort for your faithful friend.
Dog Supplements: Consult Your Veterinarian
Navigating today’s saturated market of vitamins and dog supplements necessitates caution, as it teems with products that haven’t received approval or regulation from reputable authorities. Ensuring your pet’s safety and well-being demands the selection of supplements from trusted brands, like NutriFlex, endorsed by the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).
The vet will check your pawed pal’s age and diet and examine for any underlying medical conditions, comorbidities, and other factors before recommending certain supplements.
Be sure to flag any apparent symptoms you may have noticed in your dog during the consultation. Although dog supplements are recommended to deal with various issues as both a prevention and an aid, your vet will know which dog supplements are tried and trusted.
Some vitamins and minerals are perfectly safe for humans to consume but may cause your dog to fall ill when ingested. Therefore, when constructing a healthy and supplemented diet for your dog, it is best to be cautious of these particular substances.
Alpha lipoic acid (thioctic acid) is a vitamin-like antioxidant found in many foods such as yeast, broccoli, spinach, potatoes, and certain meats. It is often used to reduce symptoms, delay memory loss, lower blood sugar levels, promote weight loss, and improve neurological function. Values may vary in their intensity.
Clinical signs of overdose are general drooling, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, and seizures. These effects appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after overdose. Left untreated, this overdose can be fatal for your pet, but most pets recover with a swift response and veterinary intervention.
Coffee extract is commonly found in dietary supplements such as green tea extract, coffee, and guarana. People often take these supplements to boost their metabolism, aid weight loss, and improve their eyesight. Or, in our four-legged friends, overdosing on these supplements can cause vomiting, restlessness and hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. In addition, it can cause both tremors and seizures. In some reported cases, very high doses of caffeine can be fatal without veterinary intervention.
Many people take iron as a diet supplement. While iron intake benefits most people, high doses of iron in pets can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause corrosion. It can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and liver damage at high doses.
Vitamin D3 is a commonly recommended vitamin for people who are often deficient due to an unbalanced diet and lack of sun exposure. In our pets, consumption of vitamin D3 can lead to diarrhoea and loss of appetite. At very high doses, calcium levels in the body increase, which can lead to kidney damage and soft tissue calcification.
Xylitol, a natural sweetener sugar substitute now found in more and more supplements, especially chewable or fast-dissolving supplements, is extremely toxic to pets and can cause hypoglycemia and fatal liver damage in dogs.
For reliable dog supplements, NutriFlex is the way to go. Our top-tier products are vet-approved and come highly recommended. It is never too early to start your dog on healthy supplements, so don’t hesitate to hop onto our catalogue and pick out the perfect product for your beloved pooch!