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4 Things Every Dog Should Have in Their Diet

4/27/2013

12 Comments

 
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Nutrition plays a very important role in your dog's health and well-being during their life, and adding supplements and nutrient dense "extras" to their food bowl can have a big impact on their overall health. There are many different supplements pet owners can add to their dog's diet, but there are five specific supplements that I strongly believe every dog should enjoy the benefits of.

Supplements provide a nutritional boost when fed along with a balanced and complete diet, and can ensure that your dogs dietary needs are being met and potentially exceeded. By adding certain supplements to your dog's diet you can help prevent disease and fight illness. The reason why I recommend giving your dogs supplements is because I strongly believe in using nutrition as a preventive. When the body is strong and the body's systems are functioning properly (be it digestive, immune, cardiovascular, etc) the dog is better able to recover quickly from illness, avoid disease and handle physical and emotional stress.

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OMEGA FATTY ACIDS
Omega fatty acids such as salmon oil, fish oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil provide many different nutritional benefits. Omega fatty acids are ideal for dogs with allergies, skin disorders or plain dry skin since these nutritious oils help add moisture, fullness and shine to any coat. These oils also promote healthy cognitive function as well as growth and development in puppies and young dogs. Omega fatty acids have also been proven to aid in promoting heart health and relief from arthritis and inflammation.

Read more about omega fatty acid oils with my article: The Benefits of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids For Dogs

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PROBIOTICS / ACIDOPHILUS
Probiotics are an excellent way to significantly boost the digestive system and the immune system. Adding probiotics to your dog's diet will help them properly digest their food while improving nutrient absorption. Probiotics also help build immune system health by creating a proper balance of healthy bacteria in the body, making it easier for the body to fend off harmful bacteria and disease. Probiotics have also proven to be beneficial to dogs with allergies, digestive disorders and susceptibility to bacterial infections.

Read more about the benefits of probiotics with my article: The Benefits of Probiotics for Dogs

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COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is a healthy,very easily digested fat that is quickly converted to energy in the body. Coconut oil is my third recommendation because of it's antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Coconut oil also helps condition the dog's fur to make it thick, glossy and healthy. Coconut oil can also be applied topically to hot spots, cuts and abrasions and can also be used as an all natural toothpaste!

Learn more about this powerful natural remedy with my article: The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

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MULTIVITAMIN
A good multivitamin can provide dogs with a nutritional boost that can improve their physical condition and help prevent disease and illness. Dogs who receive complete nutritionally balance in their diets are stronger, live longer, and recover from sickness faster.

Read more about my most recommended multivitamins here: The Best Multivitamins for your Dog

When you combine these supplements with a balanced, highly nutritious diet you ultimately set your dog up for a life of strength, health and longevity. Choosing a correct diet is the most important factor in ensuring the very best health your dog can possibly achieve.

Learn more about diet with my other nutrition articles!

The Incredible Raw Food Diet
The Benefits of a Homemade Diet for Dogs
The Best Dog Foods

Don't forget to like K9 Instinct on Facebook to get new blog post updates and other helpful dog tips!

Angel
K9 Instinct
www.k9instinct.com

12 Comments
James Davis
4/30/2013 09:32:33 am

Most of this makes sense. But, is there anything that can be used instead of coconut oil? I can't have it in the house. My wife is highly allergic to coconut

Reply
K9 Instinct link
4/30/2013 09:42:11 am

James, alternatively you can use Apple Cider Vinegar!

Reply
Jesse
4/30/2013 10:29:26 am

Olive oil works well

Mark
5/12/2013 06:03:10 am

How would having coconut oil in the house cause your wife problems if she doesn't eat it?
Also, I've never heard of someone being allergic to coconut oil, that's interesting... normally it's the proteins in a food that cause allergic issues....

Reply
xellil
5/26/2013 03:01:01 pm

My brother has gone into anaphylactic shock from coconut oil. I'm allergic to avocados and apricots although it's not life threatening.

Heidi
4/30/2013 11:58:08 am

I have given my GSD salmon oil and a salmon based soft dog food and it always causes him to get diarrhea. Is this something that you have heard before?

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Aamna
4/30/2013 05:42:51 pm

Dogs have allergies, some fish like salmon are capable of triggering off allergic reactions which can result in diarrhea. It is obviously causing an enzymatic imbalance in the dog's digestive tract so for next time avoid sea food.
It could also be because of the high salt concentration of salt if you are using canned salmon dog food, since they often add additives.

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Anibal
5/1/2013 09:06:33 am

I give my first GSD 1 fish pill a day n is good no diarrhea.

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Ed Hotmar link
5/3/2013 03:04:39 pm

So is the Multi_Vitamin and the probiotics the Human kind or is there actual Canine types of these that are needed to be given in lieu of the Human type?

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sisi
5/14/2013 04:52:10 am

would like to know if people vitms. and supplements work for my 4-legged children too? tks...

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Lori
7/2/2013 12:58:06 pm

Can you ever give to much coconut oil. My GSD have extreme allergies and was up to 4 steroid pills a day. I started him on coconut oil twice daily and he is now on 1 pill a day. however since the heat hit. Alberta, Canada he now had hot spots that are breaking the skin. He's not scratching them but he has a big patch of raised bumps that are flaking skin. and looks like they want to come to a head to break. I have put oil on the spots plus vetecyn and its not getting worse but not getting better either. Any suggestions

Reply
Hal Sikes
8/25/2014 08:49:57 am

My 80 lb GS gets 4 tbls of coconut oil with both morning and evening feedings. Absolutely swear by it, both for him and me!

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