The Complete Guide to Pet Supplements

The health and well-being of our pets is always our top priority, but with so many products claiming to offer total care for your pet, it can be easy to get overwhelmed which may lead to you feeling you’re not doing all you can for your pet.

Luckily, we’re here to help! We’re going to delve into the realm of pet supplements to help you better understand what they are, what they do, and most importantly if your pet needs them.

What Are Pet Supplements?

Put simply, pet supplements are a type of nutraceutical that can be added to your pet's daily diet to provide them with vitamins and nutrients they may otherwise lack.

Most pets can get all the vitamins and minerals they need from a complete, high-quality pet food diet. However, there are instances where pets need a little more support, such as:

• For breed-specific concerns (such as skin and coat supplements for long-haired breeds)
• For age-related concerns (such as joint supplements to ease symptoms of arthritis)
• To support diagnosed health conditions (such as liver or kidney supplements)
• To support while on medication (such as digestive supplements for us alongside antibiotics)

That's not to say only pets with problems can benefit from supplements. All animals are unique individuals, and their needs will reflect that. Commercial pet foods are designed to meet many of these needs, but there is no "one food suits all" option, and there may be times your pet needs a little more of certain nutrients. This is where pet supplements come in.

Do All Pets Need Supplements?

Whether supplements are suitable for your pet will depend on your pet's needs.

For example, essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, are crucial for skin and coat health, so they are added to most pet foods. However, some pets may have a higher need for these fatty acids because they have longer hair or known skin issues. In these instances, supplements help top up the nutrients that the food may be lacking, ensuring your pet stays in optimal condition.

If you are unsure if your pet needs supplements, speak with your vet. Not only will they be more familiar with your pet's condition and needs, but they will also understand how each of these nutrients affects your pet and how much is needed.

In some cases, too much of certain nutrients can be as detrimental to your pet's health as a deficiency, so always discuss adding supplements to your pet's diet thoroughly with your vet beforehand.

What Type of Pet Supplements Are There?

If you walk into a pet shop and take a look in the health section, you may find that there seems to be a supplement for every aspect of your pet’s life, from their physical health to their mental development and so on.

To keep things simple, we’re going to focus on the key supplements your pet may need in their lifetime and the impact they can have on your pet's health.

Pet Digestion Supplements

Digestive problems in pets are unavoidable because of the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria required for a healthy gut. There are various things that can interfere with your pet's gut health, which is why digestive supplements for pets come in handy.

Digestive supplements are typically made up of prebiotics or probiotics, or a combination of both, depending on what your pet needs:

• Probiotics are the millions of living organisms naturally found in the body (often called “Good Bacteria”) that work to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
• Prebiotics are what feed and fuel probiotics and allow them to do their job, often found in high-fibre foods.

An unhealthy balance of harmful bacteria in your pet's gut can lead to unpleasant digestive issues for both you and your pet. Introducing a daily probiotic or prebiotic supplement can give your pet’s digestive tract some added support to promote the growth of these good bacteria and help to regulate their immune systems as well as potential other health benefits.

You can learn more about probiotics for pets here.

Pet Joint Supplements

Movement is an integral part of any pet's well-being, and all their muscles and joints need to be able to support them.

However, factors such as ageing, accidents, or injuries can affect your pet's mobility, making it harder for them to get around, especially in cases of chronic arthritis in dogs and cats. This is where joint supplements come into play.

Joint supplements for pets are intended to soothe stiff or painful joints and improve joint lubrication by using two ingredients: Glucosamine and Chondroitin. These two compounds are naturally found in your pet’s body and are the major players in building and repairing cartilage, the connective tissue that supports and cushions your pet’s joints so they can move freely.

Introducing a pet joint supplementcontaining these two ingredients may help support or even prevent conditions that affect your pet’s joints, such as arthritis, to keep them running, jumping or climbing to their heart's content.

Large dogs, in particular, may benefit from joint supplements as large breeds (such as Labradors and German Shepherds) are more prone to joint and mobility issues, including arthritis and hip or elbow dysplasia.

Other pets that can benefit from joint supplements include:

• Overweight pets or breeds prone to obesity (like Beagles and Domestic Shorthair cats)
• Breeds with naturally weak cartilage due to breeding (such as Scottish Fold Cats and Dachshunds)
• Pets who have suffered an injury or trauma affecting their joints

If you're not sure if your pet could benefit from joint supplements, speak with your vet for advice.

Pet Skin and Coat Supplements

Some pets have long been admired for their beautiful coats, and many are bred specifically for this, such as Ragdoll cats and Afghan Hounds. Many of these breeds require additional grooming (sometimes daily) to keep their coats in optimum condition and to avoid matting.

An animal’s coat and skin are made up almost entirely of protein and fats, so if their diet doesn’t contain enough high-quality protein, it can greatly impact their skin and coat health, resulting in flaky skin, a dull coat, and even hair loss.

Skin and coat supplements are usually a combination of essential amino acids, fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6), and vitamins and minerals (Vitamin A and E in particular) that help promote skin and hair growth, protect skin cells, and sometimes even aid in moulting for pets with more than one coat (such as Siberian Huskies and Siberian cats).

Many owners add a quality skin and coat supplement to their pet’s meals to nourish their skin and maintain optimal coat condition. While any pet can benefit from extra skin and coat care, it’s particularly important for pets with long coats and sensitive skin to receive that little extra help.

Other pets that could benefit from a skin and coat supplement include:

• Pets prone to skin dryness or irritation (common in hairless breeds like Xoloitzcuintli dogs and Sphynx cats)
• Pets with food or environmental allergies (allergies often cause itchy, dry skin)
• Ageing pets with dull coats

If you're not sure if a skin and coat supplement is suitable for your pet, speak with your vet for advice.

Pet Calming Supplements

Modern life can be a challenge for pets that rely on their instincts to stay safe. Small changes in a daily routine can spark stress in pets, from unexpected visitors to building works or fireworks.

Some pets are more susceptible to changes like these than others, and diagnosed anxiety disorders are not unheard of in today's pets.

Stress or anxiety in pets can cause a number of issues, including:

• Destructive behaviours (chewing, digging, scratching)
• Excessive vocalisation (barking, meowing, howling or whining)
• Bathroom accidents
• and more!

Calming supplements for pets utilise the natural calming properties of certain ingredients to ease your pet's stress and promote a sense of calm, helping them feel safe and secure.

The main ingredients found in pet calming supplements include:

• L-Tryptophan
• L-Arginine
• L Theanine
• Fish protein hydrolysate
• Melatonin
• Thiamine
• Herbal ingredients (Lemon Balm, Passiflora Incarnata and Valerian)

Generally speaking, stress and anxiety are rooted in fear. Removing the source of your pet's fears is always the best way to help them feel safe. However, that's not always possible. While there are contradictory accounts on whether these supplements are as effective for pets as some prescription pet medications, many of our customers have found calming supplements for dogs or cats to be very effective at easing their pets' anxiety.

Do Pets Need Supplements?

As we’ve mentioned, what your dog needs nutritionally depends on several factors, including but not limited to age, breed, health, and temperament.

Many pets can get all the nutritional support they need from their food, especially when fed a complete diet or breed-specific food that considers their dietary needs.

That said, making pet supplements a part of their every diet can drastically impact your pet's health and well-being, and once you see the change, you may never look back!

If you would like to know more about what supplements are available and whether they would suit your pet, please get in touch with us. You can also view our full range of supplements for cats and supplements for dogs in our store.

This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.