“You can’t just create a meal and give your dog a vitamin.” Check with a veterinarian or nutritionist for help in determining what, if anything, is needed. “It’s absolutely critical, but it should be done to match the diet,” Wynn says. Dogs fed a homemade diet may need supplements. Most dogs receive a complete and balanced diet - including necessary vitamins and minerals - from commercially processed dog food, according to the FDA. WebMD talked with experts for answers to frequently asked questions about dog vitamins and supplements. Tony Buffington, DVM, PhD, professor of veterinary clinical sciences at The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “Most people are doing it because they want to, not because it’s necessary,” says C.A. “They come in with bags full sometimes,” she says.īut do dogs need those vitamins and supplements? And are they even safe? Experts say some work, others don’t, and some aren’t necessary and may even be harmful to dogs. Veterinary nutritionist Susan Wynn, DVM, sees many clients in her practice near Atlanta who give their dogs vitamins and nutritional supplements. With a growing population of aging, overweight dogs, the market for dog supplements is expected to increase 37% by 2012, reaching $1.7 billion, according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm. Pet owners also may give probiotics to alleviate gastrointestinal problems or antioxidants to counteract the effects of aging, such as cognitive dysfunction. The most common are multivitamins, supplements to support arthritic joints, and fatty acids to reduce shedding and improve a coat’s shine, according to a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. dogs and cats may receive vitamins or supplements. And increasingly, they’re likely to give them to their pets, too.Īs many as a third of U.S. Many people take dietary supplements or vitamins.
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