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What Are The Best Supplements For Aging Dog?

As our dogs enter their golden years, it’s important to provide them with the extra care and support they need to maintain their health and vitality. You might start to think, ‘what are the best supplements for aging dogs?’

What Are The Best Supplements For Aging Dog?

To keep your four-legged friend happy and healthy during their senior years, supplements are essential to maintain their overall health. Unfortunately, this is something that pet owners often overlook. 

Generally speaking, senior dogs are more likely to suffer from health-related issues than younger pups. 

“Woof! I’m not as young as I used to be, so I might need some extra help getting my nutritional needs met!”

Therefore, having something that can improve their physical well-being can be beneficial – this is where supplements come into play. 

Supplements can benefit senior dogs in many ways. For instance, they can improve their muscle growth, help them gain muscle, develop a healthier coat, and improve their digestion

You can opt for a specific supplement that will help with one particular purpose or something that will improve your pup’s health. 

That said, before giving your dog any new supplement, you should always consult with your veterinarian beforehand. They can help recommend certain supplements while steering you away from others.

With this in mind, we’ve asked Honey and her owner to come in and discuss all the best supplements that can help your aging dog. This will help to keep you informed and your pup happy and healthy!

Key Points

  • As pet owners, your main priority is to keep your dog happy and healthy, especially as they grow older. One way to ensure this is with supplements!
  • Like humans, dogs become prone to illnesses and diseases as they age. Therefore, investing in your senior dog’s health early can help combat this. 
  • The supplements your senior dog should be taking will depend on their current health status and any predispositions to specific health issues.
  • You can choose from various supplements, including joint supplements, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotic supplements, green-lipped mussel, antioxidant supplements, and vitamins and minerals. 
  • Always consult your vet before adding new supplements to your dog’s diet since they can have side effects and interact with other medications. 

What are the Best Supplements for Aging Dog: What You Need to Know

There are many different types of supplements available on the market, and it can be hard to figure out what are the best supplements for an aging dog.

Best Supplements For Aging Dogs

In addition to all the changes as your dog ages, their dietary requirements can also be impacted.  

Even though a dog’s nutrient intake and diet won’t guarantee immunity – they will still play a significant part in maintaining your pet’s overall health. 

As such, it is important for pet owners to familiarize themselves with the most common supplements for older dogs. 

“Woof! What do these supplements include?”

Well, Honey, these supplements can range from anything such as essential vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, probiotics, and holistic supplements for dogs.

The number of additives in your dog’s diet can sometimes be overwhelming – making it easy for dog owners to think they aren’t doing enough to keep their dog happy and healthy. 

“This is true! Some dog food ingredients lists are longer than the wait between lunch and dinner – which is much too long, in my opinion!”

That’s probably a conversation for another time, Honey… As I was saying, as long as your dog is eating quality, commercial dog food, they should get all the vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients they need in their diet. 

“That’s great news! My owner feeds me delicious commercial dog food that contains all my nutrients. No wonder I feel – and look – this good!”

Your dog’s food is generally specifically formulated to contain all the essential nutrients they need. That said, the amount of essential nutrients can differ between brands and types of foods

For instance, puppy food has a different formula of minerals and vitamins than food made for senior dogs. 

Although, even with a ‘complete and balanced’ diet, your dog can still develop deficiencies as they age. These can be addressed by incorporating the proper nutritional and health supplements into their diet.

Joint Supplements For Aging Dogs

Joint supplements are often prescribed to dogs suffering from arthritis. It can be given to dogs who are more likely to develop it. 

These can be given to dogs in the form of capsules, tablets, and liquids and can even be found in certain dog foods. 

It is beneficial for dog owners to know that joint supplements can be safely used alongside other forms of medication. 

While joint supplements can help some dogs, they may not work for all types – therefore, you’ll want to talk to your vet for more information. 

Joint supplements are naturally anti-inflammatory; therefore, they help to soothe any stuff joints your dog may have. They also help to keep joint fluid healthy and feed the cartilage. 

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements For Aging Dogs

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements For Aging Dogs

Omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation for senior dogs suffering from arthritis. Therefore, it may help to reduce any associated pain, as well. 

While the body can make certain fat, omega-3 fatty acids can only be introduced through supplements or food. 

The main three omega-3 fats consist of EPA, DHA, and Linoleic acid

“What do EPA and DHA stand for? Wait! Let me guess! Excellent Pickled Asparagus and Delicious Homemade Applesauce?”

Not quite, Honey, but good try! EPA stands for Eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA stands for Docosahexaenoic acid. These are known to slow the spread of particular types of cancer. 

In addition, fatty acids are also great for your dog’s coat and skin. Therefore, you should notice soft and shiny fur within a few weeks. 

When shopping for omega-3 supplements, be sure to check the label for the content for EPA and DHA. 

Plus, you’ll want to ensure your omega-3 supplement is purified to make sure any contaminants have been removed, such as mercury.

Probiotic Supplements For Aging Dogs

Another beneficial supplement is probiotics. These help to increase the number and diversity of bacteria in your pet’s gut

The best probiotics you can find are ones known as soil-based probiotics (SBOs). 

“Soil-based?! I don’t want to eat soil! I tried it once, and it didn’t taste very nice!” 

Don’t worry, Honey, you wouldn’t actually have to eat soil. These supplements contain spore-forming bacteria with an outer coating that helps protect them from heat, antibiotics, and stomach acid.  

As such, they can survive the journey through your pet’s digestive tract all the way to the colon, where they work their magic! 

Some examples of soil-based probiotics include Bacillus Indicus, Bacillus coagulans, and Bacillus subtilis.

Antioxidant Supplements For Aging Dogs

supplements for aging dog

There are tons of benefits to giving your dog antioxidants. For instance, they help boost their immune system while also alleviating inflammation symptoms associated with arthritis. 

Besides this, antioxidants can also be used to improve cognitive function and treat age-related behavioral problems – perfect for misbehaving or grumpy doggos. Remind you of anyone, Honey? 

“Hey! I’m never grumpy! Except when you’re late bringing me my dinner”

Well, we all get a little ‘hangry’ sometimes, Honey, so I forgive you!

Green Lipped Mussel (GLM)

“Mussel? You mean seafood? Yum!” 

Yes, Honey, but don’t get too excited. Green Lipped Mussel is a common ingredient found in most supplements for senior dogs.

Green Lipped Mussel (GLM) is an excellent source of minerals and vitamins, as well as B vitamins, iron, and selenium.

Plus, they contain high levels of chondroitin sulfate, which can provide anti-inflammatory effects for both inflammation and pain caused by specific proteins and enzymes. 

Vitamin And Mineral Supplements For Aging Dogs

Even if your senior dog isn’t showing specific signs or symptoms of age, a general multivitamin can help to give them a long and happy life

Like humans, taking multivitamins can improve all aspects of your pup’s life! 

For instance, Zesty Paws Multivitamin Bites provides your pet with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. 

“Woof! I take Zesty Paws every day! It doesn’t taste funny or feel difficult to chew like other medicines, so I’d recommend it to all my mature doggie friends!”

In fact, these soft bites guarantee a healthy dose of chondroitin and glucosamine to keep your pup’s muscles moving and ache-free – perfect for older dogs! 

They also contain cod liver, providing your pooch with all the omega-3 needed for a shiny, beautiful coat and a strong immune system

In addition to providing your four-legged friend with all the vitamins and minerals they need, each bite is packed with antioxidants and vitamin A to keep their eyes healthy and functional.

Consult With Your Vet

Consult With Your Vet ​

Even if you’re giving your dog the correct supplements to help with a particular condition your dog may have or a deficiency, it is important to be mindful of the dosage. 

While herbs, botanicals, or vitamins may seem harmless, giving your pup too much of one thing can cause major problems and impact your dog’s health. 

For instance, too much calcium or hypercalcemia can cause skeletal issues. This is particularly true for larger breeds of dogs.

Too much vitamin A can cause blood vessel damage and dehydration. Vitamin B overdose can harm your muscles and nerves, while too much vitamin C can create abdominal bloating or diarrhea.

Furthermore, excess vitamin D can lead to your dog losing its appetite, creating muscle problems, and much more. 

You should also keep in mind that some supplements can obtain other ingredients – such as herbs – which can have adverse reactions to some medications. 

Therefore, before giving your pooch any medication, it is important to consult with your veterinarian – at the end of the day, you’ll want your pup to remain happy and healthy. 

“Wow, it seems like getting a vet’s advice is really important! Maybe I won’t growl at mine so much next time I go for a checkup…

Final Thoughts

By working with your vet and giving the right supplements, you can help your dog go through aging with ease and comfort.

When taking care of your older dog, meeting their special needs is important. Knowing what are the best supplements for aging dogs can make a big positive change in their health and happiness.

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