Dog Vitamins / Dog Supplements
Nutrients Dogs require the right amounts of macronutrients, micronutrients, and moisture in order to grow from wiggly little puppies into healthy adults and have a long healthy life. - Proteins, fats and carbohydrates make up the macronutrients, which are nutrients that your dog's body requires in large amounts. Major dog food companies make every effort to provide quality prepared nutritional food that contains correct balanced proportions of vitamins and minerals for the maximum benefit to the dog. Dog foods are packed with nutrients, and generally it's not necessary to supplement your dog's diet with any extra vitamins and minerals. In fact, it can be dangerous to do so since so many micronutrients are needed in really small quantities and too much can be toxic or cause problems far down the road. If you're interested in providing additional nutrition, especially due to a specific problem, it's best ask your veterinarian advice. Additionally, if your dog is having problems your veterinarian can find out if the food might be a contributing factor, and take steps to fix things by switching to another food, running diagnostic tests, and/or adding a vitamin or supplement. Most dogs do not need anything in their diet other than the staples that provide adequate nutrition. However, over time your dog may have special needs such as being under stress from illness, injury, recovering from surgery; suffering from dry skin or coat; bad teeth; joint and bone pain from arthritic conditions; active and working dogs; and dogs on medications may need higher than normal amounts of nutrients. Just like humans with special nutritional needs, dogs must be cared for in the same way to ensure continued health. Be sure to have fresh water available for your dog at all times, and more if he's been exercising in order to prevent overheating. Always check with your vet before adding vitamins or supplements! He or she will know exactly what your dog requirements are, and will also know the correct amounts to give if they are necessary for optimum health. Providing a dog with too many supplemental vitamins can cause serious health problems. Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements Final Thoughts on dog vitamins Home : Pet Supplies Review |