Daily Supplements for Healthy Companions

A Good Diet Can Help Promote Overall Pet Health

Diet is the foundation of health. Nothing can replace a healthy diet for promoting good health, and in helping to ward off the onset of both acute and chronic disease. A healthy diet for dogs and cats includes as much fresh food as possible and food of the highest quality you can provide. Yet, even the best quality diet will not provide optimal wellness if your dog or cat is not digesting and absorbing it properly. And even the freshest homemade diet may be missing key nutrients. We recommend regular daily supplements depending on your pet’s specific diet and lifestyle, but there are some essentials that most cats and dogs can benefit from. Here is what we recommend to help maintain the general health of all ages and breeds.

Digestive Enzymes

When food is not properly broken down before reaching the large intestine, particles that are too large for the body to process are absorbed into the bloodstream setting off an immune response that can lead to inflammation, allergies, and chronic health matters. Nature’s way of preventing this is to endow every vegetable, fruit and animal food source with enzymes that help break it down. These enzymes are destroyed, however, by heat and processing. Dogs and cats, especially those who are eating cooked or processed food, should receive digestive enzymes with every meal. For pets receiving a raw-meat based diet, it can still help to provide enzymes and factors necessary for proper digestion. This will not only support digestion and absorption, but is also a great way to ensure good health.

Probiotics

The first line of defense for your dog or cat's immune system is the digestive tract, and helping to maintain the right balance between the various strains of organisms normally living there can play a critical role in supporting your pet's overall health. The so-called "bad" bacteria are a normal part of the intestinal environment, but they can easily over-multiply when "friendly" bacteria are depleted due to stress, dietary changes, or illness. Probiotics are often used to help occasional diarrhea, flatulence and foul-smelling stools as they help maintain proper gut flora in the digestive tract. A daily dose of probiotics can help support gastrointestinal health and provide a source of beneficial intestinal bacteria.

Essential Fatty Acids

Dogs and cats require both Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega-6 fatty acids in their diet for everyday health. Usually, pets receive plenty of Omega-6 fatty acids (found in most vegetable oils and animal-source fats) through their food, but that is not true for the Omega-3 fatty acids. The positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acids are primarily due to two fatty acids called EPA and DHA. EPA is a crucial part of every cell membrane, and it helps maintain a normal inflammatory response. DHA can help support the central nervous system and promote normal healthy brain activity. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease normal inflammatory pathways, potentially lessening the effects of arthritis and other troubles associated with inflammation.

The plant-source Omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid, does not provide the full benefits of EPA and DHA; and our pets can’t convert it. The easiest and best way to supplement these essential fatty acids is with fish oil, such as salmon, sardine, anchovy, or cod liver oil. These oils contain EPA and DHA in the precise form needed by our cats and dogs. Make sure the oil you choose is free of toxic heavy metals and other contaminants, and that it is formulated especially for pets, to avoid the added vitamins and flavorings that human products typically contain. Supplementing with natural fish oil can help facilitate your companion's health in many ways:

• Supports coat health and a healthy inflammatory response
• Supports the immune system
• Supports reproductive function and digestive tract health
• Supports healthy cardiovascular function
• Supports animals with joint tenderness due to everyday activity
• Supports proper brain and eye function

Multivitamins

Many of us take a daily multivitamin to insure we receive an elemental amount of important vitamins and minerals. The typical American diet does not provide a well-balanced source of these nutrients for most people. Our companions can benefit from a daily multivitamin as well. Much of the vitamin content in packaged dog and cat foods can be destroyed during processing. Even when added back in after the cooking or extruding processes, the vitamins and minerals break down rapidly when exposed to light and air. The first bowl of kibble from a bag may contain most of what the label claims, but many vitamins and other nutrients might degrade over time. It is difficult to know how much, if any of the vitamins are left in the last portions from the bag.

Minerals tend to be much more stable over time, so replacing them is not a concern. However, processed commercial pet foods may contain an excess of most minerals, making supplementation potentially hazardous if certain minerals, such as zinc, become excessive. If your pet is eating a good quality natural pet food, large amounts of minerals in a supplement are unnecessary.

If you are feeding homemade food, it’s important to recognize that many common recipes are deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. Many whole food sources no longer contain the high vitamin content they had in the past due to depleted soils and modern farming practices. All essential minerals, particularly calcium, need to be supplemented in homemade diets. For cats, taurine and other feline-specific nutrients also need to be added.

A basic multivitamin supplement is a good investment for most of our companions. Vitamin support for healthy pets can support healthy cellular activity and help maintain the general health of animals.

As with any other supplement, all multivitamins are not created equal, and not every dog or cat needs the full dosage suggested on the label. While supplementing can be helpful, too much of a good thing can be harmful. If you are feeding a fresh food that is professionally formulated, then your companion does not likely need the full dose of a daily vitamin; half would likely suffice. If you are feeding homemade food, then a full dose of a multivitamin supplement is a good idea. Also, when feeding homemade food or raw food, pay close attention to the calcium content of the food and be sure to supplement if need be. Raw diets tend to be higher in phosphorus, and calcium should be supplemented to insure a proper balance.

You know your dog or cat best, so watch them closely and notice when they seem livelier or more sluggish, when their eyes are brighter, or their coat is a bit more shiny or dull, and adjust your supplement regimen to meet their needs. If you're unsure or overwhelmed by the process of choosing supplements, consulting with a holistic veterinarian can set you and your companion on course with a healthy diet and supplement regimen that meets your lifestyle and your companion’s health needs.

Extra Support for Puppies and Kittens

Puppies and kittens can have unique needs. Puppies and kittens are more vulnerable to parasites and disease than mature animals because their immune systems are still developing. In addition, they are under a great deal of stress as they leave the safety and familiarity of their mothers and try to learn the ways of living with a human family. We highly recommend that the diets of all puppies and kittens are supplemented with colostrum to help support their immature immune system for at least a month or two after weaning.

Senior Pets

As animals age, they need extra support to stay healthy and maintain the best quality of life well into their senior years.

Joint Support

Holistic vets often recommend starting dogs on extra support for joint health at the age of 8-9 years old, and cats at the first signs of stiffness. A good joint supplement including glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as MSM, can be extremely helpful in helping support joint flexibility and mobility. Supplements with some herbal ingredients, like turmeric, bromelain, Boswellia, and Chinese herbal formulas can also be added to help maintain proper joint nutrition. Note that most joint supplements require several weeks to reach optimal effect.

Vitamins & Antioxidants

A senior vitamin or extra antioxidants added to an aging pet’s regimen may also be helpful. Antioxidants have been shown to aid in the elimination of unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals and to help support the immune system. CoEnzyme Q10 is an antioxidant supplement that holistic veterinarians often recommend for older animals.

Cognitive Support

For senior animals beginning to show cognitive decline, antioxidant supplements and Omega-3 fish oils can help support cognitive function.