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As dogs age, they experience many of the same ailments and conditions that we humans tolerate — like arthritis, memory loss, and incontinence.
We tend to get frail and feeble as we age. Unfortunately, so do our four-legged friends.
Just as your doctor is likely to recommend vitamins and supplements to ensure that your health doesn’t deteriorate in your later years, your dog’s veterinarian is likely to offer the same recommendation: senior dog vitamins.
For example, people often take glucosamine and condroitin to provide lubrication for arthritic, stiffened joints. As it turns out, senior dogs can benefit in the same way from those same 2 supplements. Glucosamine can help a dog’s achy joints, thus returning mobility and allowing a senior dog to move about more comfortably.
That said, dog vitamins aren’t just for issues associated with old age. Vitamins should be given throughout your dog’s life in order to ensure that his senior years are just as healthy and active as his puppy years were. Dog vitamins and supplements can also be helpful after an injury.
There are lots of different vitamins and supplements that are beneficial for dogs…
Why Dog Vitamins Are Important
The idea with dog vitamins is to supplement your dog’s diet throughout his life, in order to extend his good health by many years as a senior dog.
This is even more important for working dogs because the added stress associated with heavy training schedules and active lifestyles can deplete a dog’s natural minerals, as well as a dog’s natural ability to fight off sickness.
As with human vitamins, dog vitamins are formulated for different ages:
- Puppies and young dogs need vitamins and minerals aimed at building strong bones and encouraging good growth.
- Adult dog vitamins focus on maintaining a healthy and vigorous lifestyle.
- Senior dog vitamins help aging dogs retain their mobility while maintaining a healthy digestive system.
When shopping for dog vitamins, make sure they are appropriate for your dog’s age and weight.
Some Dog Vitamins Worth Considering
A few vitamin supplements that can be beneficial for dogs (especially aging dogs) include:
- Vitamin B-12, when given correctly, can improve a dogs appetite.
- Vitamin C builds up the immune system and aids in fighting off infections and viruses, as well as possibly warding off hip dysplasia
- Vitamin E keeps a dog’s foot pads in good condition (…and it’s a mild anti-inflammatory as well).
Senior dogs may not be absorbing enough vitamins and minerals from their food alone. Especially if there are dental issues, then an older dog may not be eating the proper quantity of food in the first place in order to maintain a healthy life.
- Vitamin supplements help you reinforce your dog’s regular feeding program, while keeping your dog strong and vital — from the inside out.
- A good multi-vitamin taken daily can cover all the bases in one convenient package for most dogs.
- Nutritional supplements for dogs come in a wide variety addressing many different conditions. Be sure to ask your veterinarian which supplements would be best for your dog based on his previous and current health record.
Before you buy dog vitamins and supplements for your pet, be sure to look for the National Animal Supplement Council seal. Their mission is to protect the non-human food chain and ensure the integrity of the animal health product industry. When you see their seal on a product, you can feel safe knowing that you are getting top-quality ingredients that were processed in a facility that’s been inspected and approved.
See, step-by-step, how to give your dog a pill.
I’ve been involved in RVing for 50 years now — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller, you’ve got a good idea of who I am.
