Top 3 Supplements to Keep Your Senior Dog Healthy
Most people take supplements daily to maintain our health because most of our food choices don't offer the number of nutrients we need in a day. Most dog foods are designed to provide the proper amount of nutrition to keep your dog healthy, so daily vitamins aren't necessary for most dogs. However, some dogs may need extra supplementation due to health conditions. I don't provide a daily vitamin for my dogs, but I have incorporated different supplements over the years. Like humans, as dogs age, they sometimes need additives to assist with skin, stomach, anxiety, and joint issues. Speak with your vet before adding supplements or medications to your dog's diet, regardless of their health condition.
Here are the top three supplements I highly recommend for aging dogs.
Triglyceride OMEGA Fish Oil
My dogs use the Triglyceride OMEGA brand of fish oil. Fish oil has many benefits. It can assist with heart health, calm allergy flare-ups, and add extra shine to your dog's coat. We even use it to soothe Roxxi's throat when she has coughing spells from her collapsing trachea. I give my dogs a dose every day by breaking a capsule for each and letting them lick the oil from my hand. This especially helps Roxxi because the oil coats her throat. Also, the dogs just really enjoy the taste, so it doubles as a treat!
This brand is designed for small dogs and cats. Be sure to select a fish oil that is designed for your animal because human supplements can cause health issues or even death in other animals. If your dog has pancreatitis or any other organ failure or disorders, be sure to speak with your vet about the dosage of fish oil and other supplements they should consume.
GlycoFLEX Joint Supplement
Maxx began having trouble jumping into the car and onto the bed around age eight. I took him to the vet, and our doctor recommended we start a joint supplement. We began GlycoFLEX Classic 300 MG Joint Support supplements, and he improved immediately. I give these supplements to all three of my dogs. They are all in the 9-20 lb range, so the exact dosage works for all of them, thankfully.
Quiet Moments Calming Aid (Chill Pill)
Maxx and Roxxi are calm dogs. They are only excited when food is involved, and Maxx gets car sick but is pretty unfazed the rest of the time. Sisi, on the other hand, is nervous by nature. Everything startles her. Vacuums, blow dryers, fireworks, random things hitting the floor, you name it. She's most nervous on stormy nights. That's when I give her some melatonin. We use Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin. These supplements really help Sisi to settle. She doesn't fall asleep, but she feels comfortable sitting on her own instead of following me around the house because she's afraid of thunder and lightning.
Be sure to give your dogs melatonin or CBD designed for dogs. Many human melatonin supplements contain xylitol which is deadly to animals.
These are the top three canine supplements and vitamins that I recommend. I've been considering adding a daily vitamin now that the dogs are seniors, but I'm not totally sold on that notion. I'll bring it up at our next vet appointment, but I believe their foods are doing a great job at providing the proper nutrients. Let me know if you've tried these supplements or plan to try them. Also, let me know if your dogs are on a multivitamin or any other nutrients and how they have benefited your dog's health.
Karyn, Maxx's Mom
