What supplements should you give your dog?
Supplements are a great way to provide your pup with essential nutrients to take care of their everyday health so that they’re happy, healthy and fit for all your adventures. However, as a dog owner, you may have a few questions about dog supplements, like what supplements you should give your dog, why they’re beneficial, and at what age you should start giving your dog joint supplements.
Yappy has teamed up with Holly Marsh, a veterinary surgeon specialising in natural medicine, to produce a helpful guide on what supplements you should give your dog so that they can lead their happiest, healthiest life.
What do dog supplements help with?
From aiding digestion to lubricating stiff joints, using dog supplements is an easy way to get your pup’s health back on track and help them to maintain it, whatever life throws at them. It may be as simple as using an essential fatty acid supplement to help relieve a dry, scruffy coat or giving your pup a probiotic after a tummy upset.
Dog supplements can support:
Anxiety
Digestion
Joint pain and mobility
Skin and coat issues
Overall health
Anxiety relief
If your dog is over-anxious, especially around stressful events such as fireworks, vet visits and grooming, or if they suffer from separation anxiety, they may benefit from a calming supplement. These supplements often contain herbs that have traditionally been known to have anxiety-relieving action, (such as chamomile and passionflower). As well as a range of amino acids and vitamins, (such as Thiamine and L-Tryptophan), with similar soothing functions.
At Yappy, our Calming Supplements include Chamomile and Passionflower, which work together to relieve anxiety and promote calm and relaxed behaviour. They also include ginger to help with travel sickness and settle digestion pre-travel. These are perfect for pups with sensitive tummies.
Digestion
Supplements that contain probiotics, prebiotics and digestive enzymes can offer great digestive support for dogs that have had any sort of gastrointestinal upset. They can also help to alleviate excess wind and make stools firmer and easier to pick up.
Probiotics are the ‘good bugs’ that your dog needs in their digestive system in order to stay fit and healthy. Together with prebiotics, (food for the ‘good bugs’), they can help to restore and rebalance the gastrointestinal environment (called their ‘microbiome’). They can help to optimise the digestive process and help your dog to get the most of out their diet.
If you’re wondering what supplements you should give your dog to help with their digestion, look no further than Yappy’s Probiotic Supplements, which help to balance your dog’s gut with essential enzymes, as well as support your dog’s digestion and promote good bacteria.
Joint pain and mobility
Hip and joint supplements can help if your dog is struggling with their mobility; for example, if they are slowing down on walks or finding steps more of a challenge. Supplements containing Glucosamine and Chondroitin are important in these situations as they can help to lubricate joints and to rebuild and repair joint cartilage.
When should you start giving your dog joint supplements?
If your dog is predisposed to joint problems (as is a common issue with larger breeds), has broken bones, joint trauma, or suffers from elbow or hip dysplasia, you can start giving your dog Glucosamine as early as 8 weeks old.
Yappy’s Hip & Joint Supplements contain both Glucosamine HCL and Chondroitin to help ease pain, lubricate joints and reduce cartilage damage. They work together to repair the joints and improve your dog’s mobility.
Skin and coat issues
Essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as the omega-3s found in fish oils and some plants are essential components of your dog’s daily diet, (hence the name). However, EFAs can be lacking or missing in your pup’s diet, which is why supplementation with these oils is helpful, especially for dogs with skin or coat problems.
So, what supplements should you give your dog to help their skin and coat? Well, with Yappy’s Skin & Coat Supplements, your pup’s skin will be hydrated to keep it soft and supple. These tasty supplements can be eaten like a treat and include Salmon Oil, which is a key source of omega-3 fatty acids and will help to maintain normal moisture in dry skin and make your dog’s coat glossy, shiny and itch-free.
For overall health
What better idea than to keep your dog in tip-top condition before any problem has the chance to arise? This is the idea behind giving them a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement. These products sometimes also combine the added benefits of Glucosamine for joints, probiotics for tummy support and even a splash of essential oils for a glossy coat. They do say that prevention is better than cure, after all!
Offering your dog Yappy’s All-In-One Supplements is an easy way to top them up with the nutrients they need for their everyday health. These yummy supplements can be eaten like a treat and contain a range of minerals, vitamins and nutrients to boost your dog’s overall health and vitality.
Live a Yappy and healthy life
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about what supplements you should give your dog and feel more confident about choosing what supplements are best for your pooch.
Whether you want to help calm an anxious breed, need a topical tear stain solution or anti-chew spray, or simply want to give your best friend’s overall wellbeing a boost, we’ve curated our supplements to help them be their most pawsome self. And, in true Yappy style, you can even have your product personalised with your dog’s icon!
From comfy and cosy personalised dog cushions to snuggly dog blankets, we’re always adding new and exciting personalised dog products to our range.
To keep in the loop with Yappy’s updates and exclusive offers, make sure you join the pack! Simply add your dog to see everything personalised specifically for your pup.