Dog Multivitamins Buyer's Guide
We have listed a few multivitamins that make your pooch look great in their appearance and promotes general health.
But does your furry friend need these multivitamins?
And what factors should you consider while buying multivitamins?
By the end of this section, you will have answers to the questions. So, let's get started.
Does Your Dog Need Multivitamins?
It is a well-known observation that many modern dogs are suffering from various health problems which were not common in canines earlier.
You may ask yourself why that is so. The rise of processed food is replacing the fresh food diet that dogs are accustomed to having in the wild.
Most of these health problems are associated with the processed foods your pooches are consuming nowadays. However, it is hard to avoid giving them this diet because of its availability. The hard truth about the whole scenario is the increasing incidences of dental problems, dog cancers, allergies, obesity, and many diseases.
A dog in the wild is used to a raw diet – herbs, fruits, grass, meat, bones and skin of their prey. That means they get a well-balanced meal. You must ensure your canine friend have a balanced diet too. And a non-balanced diet means your pooch might have a vitamin deficiency.
As dog owners, we truly care for our furry friends and will make sure that they are given the best diet which we can afford. However, there are still times when they need a specific vitamin for their growth. For example, when recovering from medical conditions such as diseases, surgical procedures, pregnancies, they do need a higher dose of multivitamins.
What should you look at before purchasing a multivitamin?
Choose Your Multivitamin Carefully
Your canine companion may need a little boost especially when they are not in their best of health.
Multivitamins can help to supplement your dog's diet and provide nutritional benefits. It is always advisable to consult your local veterinarian prior to giving your pooch any form of supplements. Your veterinarian will be the best person to provide any medical opinions for your dog.
If your dog has a specific vitamin deficiency, then your veterinarian should be able to advise you on the vitamins and minerals to look for. Besides, if your pooch currently on any other medication, your veterinarian should recommend a supplement that will not react negatively with the medication.
Check The Expiry Date – Just as you check the expiry date of your food products, ensure you don't skip this check when purchasing the multivitamins. An expiry supplement could cause negative side effects such as vomiting, abdominal pains, constipation, diarrhea, or even mortality.
Read The Labels Carefully – This will help you to understand the ingredients that are used in the product. Check if there are additives and artificial colorings that can cause harm to your dog.
Check The Lot Number – Some labels have great ingredients, but that's not the actual ingredients. That's why you need to check at the lot number. It tells you that the company did quality checks on the product.
Read Actual Reviews Of Customers – Especially if you are doing online shopping, be sure to check their customer reviews. These customers will mention their experiences with the product and how effective the product was.
Clinical & Laboratory Studies – As a general guideline, lookout for a supplement that has successful clinical results from their laboratory studies. Your veterinary should be able to help you out.
Avoid Out-Of-The-World Promises – Multivitamins are not meant for curing diseases. Instead, the multivitamins support healing. Avoid multivitamins that provide "too good to be true" claims.
Vitamin E Complex – They are natural antioxidants which are good for your dog's immune system.
Avoid Calcium & Iron – These 2 compounds may hinder proper absorption. If your dog needs the two minerals, buy two separate multivitamins instead.
Factors to Consider When Buying Multivitamins
Before purchasing any type of multivitamins, you need to think about these dog-related factors.
Age Of Dogs
Dogs usually require different amounts of vitamins and minerals depending on their age. If your puppy is not on a well-balanced diet, then it might need more vitamins. Inversely, an older adult pooch will need a higher amount of supplements to boost their immunity because they are not as healthy anymore.
How Much Does It Cost?
We must emphasize that the multivitamins are for supplementing the food you are feeding your dog. So, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to buy a single supplement unless it is unavoidable. Always do a price/feature comparison to make sure that you are getting the best supplement at a reasonable price point.
Types Of Ingredients Used
You should avoid multivitamins with fillers, additives, synthetic colorings or any other ingredients that seem dubious.
Some unethical manufacturers might include these filler ingredients to extend the shelf life of their product, which might not be that healthy to your furry friend.
It is also advisable to look out for multivitamins whose nutrients have been activated. Nutrients in their active form tend to be absorbed faster into the bloodstream, hence giving the multivitamins greater effectiveness.
Is Your Dog Active?
Some breed of dogs are great runners and swimmers while others just like sleeping. Depending on the activity level of your furry friend, you might need to tweak the dosage of the multivitamins.
Dogs that are more active in nature could have greater tendencies to develop joint conditions. Therefore, it is important to choose the right multivitamin that matches the lifestyle that your furry friend has.
Your Dog's Weight
The weight of your dog is an important factor that you should consider before purchasing multivitamins. It affects metabolism and most multivitamins in the market have some certain weight limits to ensure effectiveness.
Your dog's weight determines the type of multivitamins, the frequency which they can be taken and also the dosage.
For this factor, we highly recommend consulting with a qualified veterinarian first.
Your Dog's Existing Medication
There are some medications that can interact dangerously with the multivitamins that your pooch consumes. You need to check the ingredients and consult your veterinary doctor for more information.
It's for the safety and well-being of your canine companion.
Mode Of Consumption
The mode of consumption of multivitamins is another key factor that you should consider. Multivitamins generally come in various methods of consumption such as capsules, tablets, suspensions, and injections.
Injections are easy to administer. However, it may prove to be an inconvenient method if your dog is highly temperamental and will not stay still at the sight of a needle.
Capsules and tablets are a common method of consumption. But if they taste bad, your pooch may refuse to eat them in the future. A trick is to mix the capsules and tablets together with its meal so that the taste is masked out.
