Dog supplements are one of the most talked about topics in the dog industry. But why are they so popular? What supplements are good and which are considered a placebo effect? It can be difficult when searching for a supplement, especially if you're not sure what to look for.

Important information to note: Supplements should not be taken in place of medication or other medical needs. Supplements are solely a supportive aid/vitamin for the body. Before taking supplements, it is recommended to talk to your veterinarian. It is possible for supplements to be toxic when not given in moderation, and supplements do not heal/cure any condition.

Key Takeaways

  • Dog vitamins and supplements are a supportive aid — they don't treat, cure, or replace veterinary care.
  • More is not always better: too much of a vitamin can be as harmful as too little.
  • The best dog supplements depend on the need — joint, skin, immunity, and calming formulas all differ.
  • Talk to your vet before starting anything new, especially for a dog on medication or with a health condition.
  • Anxiety and pill-time struggles are behaviour problems — training does more than any chew.

What Dog Vitamins and Supplements Do

Dog vitamins and supplements are usually given daily, or sometimes twice a day, and each supplement can play a different role. Your dog's weight and size will determine how many supplements they need a day.

There are a variety of OTC dog health supplements out there that are available to dog parents like hemp chews, CBD chews, calming chews, skin & coat, allergy, hip & joint, gut health, urinary tract, anal glands, daily vitamins and so, so many more. Each different supplement is supposed to aid in what it states on the label, not cure, but aid. Hemp and CBD are usually used for calming, but some use it for pain relief as well.

It's important to know that more is not always better.

💡Tip:

Just like a dog can be deficient in a vitamin they can also have toxic levels of a vitamin when given too much.

All kibbles should have every vitamin a dog needs, but a dog who is not eating the correct amount of food can become deficient, and the same the opposite way around. A dog eating too much kibble can take in an excessive number of needed vitamins, which is why it's important to feed the recommended amount.

As much as supplements can help, they actually can become harmful. Given more than the recommended amount, the supplement can actually become toxic to your dog, so it's important to know what to feed.

It's also important to know that when giving supplements daily, your dog can stop developing certain nutrients on their own. An artificial nutrient that the dog does not naturally produce (essential nutrients) is A-Ok, as the dog does not produce them anyway. But a nutrient that a dog does naturally produce on its own (non-essential nutrients) is worth researching before giving daily. Usually these are supplements for the gut, immune system or urinary system.

Best Dog Supplements by Health Need

It can be difficult choosing the best dog supplements because there are so many different kinds and so many different brands. So, what should you know first? It's important to look for a NASC quality seal on the container. Not all supplements have this label, but they should.

💡Tip:

If a bottle is stamped with NASC, then that means this supplement is up to their standards with reporting, following strict guidelines, accuracy and product testing.

This means that this supplement brand has gone above and beyond to ensure their product is up to a high standard. Each supplement brand has to explain why each ingredient is in their supplement and what role it has on benefiting the said "support." Here's a quick guide to the main active ingredients by need:

Health need Common ingredients
Joint support Glucosamine, chondroitin, omega-3, green-lipped mussel, collagen
Skin & coat Omega-3, quercetin, biotin
Urinary Cranberry, D-mannose
Anxiety/stress L-theanine, alpha-casozepine, hemp (where appropriate)

Still not sure which row your dog falls into? PawHealth and CareTeam, PawChamp's wellness advisors, can talk you through what to look for before you buy anything.

Dog Joint Supplements and Arthritis Care

One thing I have learned, is that it is never too early to support the hip and joints. Some people avoid giving dog joint supplements because their dog is still young, but the truth is, giving those joints some extra support early can prevent unwanted issues in the future.

It's important to know that these supplements are exactly that. They are not medication or a cure but instead a support, or in other words an aid for supporting the hip and joints. Dog arthritis supplements sit alongside a plan your vet sets, never in place of it.

Omega 3 can be a great additive for arthritis care as well as omega 3 enriched therapeutic diets, so going for a fish flavoured food or adding a fish oil can be beneficial. Dog muscle supplements are sometimes used alongside them in older or recovering dogs.

Research suggests that some supplements, such as glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and omega-3 fatty acids, may help dogs with hip and joint disorders.
Lauren Lee, BA, MA, GoodRx

Dog Supplements for Skin and Immunity

Dog supplements for skin can be controversial. There's lots of reasons why a dog has allergies or itchy skin and a supplement cannot always help that issue. Feeding your dog a food that contains an ingredient your dog is allergic to means the supplement will not do much until that particular ingredient is out of their diet.

A dog with a weak immune system or seasonal allergies is where a skin & coat or dog immunity supplements can help. Dog fish oil supplements come in both a capsule form and a liquid form, and antioxidants are the usual immunity ingredients. It's important to know why your dog is itching before giving said supplement.

PawHealth and CareTeam, PawChamp's wellness advisors, can offer general guidance and support when searching for a supplement — not a brand recommendation, and not clinical advice.

💡Tip:

Read your dog food label — is there anything alarming or something that could be causing an allergic reaction? Always talk to your veterinarian about possible allergy issues.

Natural and Food-Based Dog Supplements

There are different kinds of supplements. Some supplements are natural based, and some are more artificial based. Depending on the brand, they both have been proven to help. It depends on what you're comfortable giving. Some people do not like artificially processed products, so they lean towards natural based products and vice versa. It's important to do your research on both, to understand what you're giving your beloved pet and which you can trust more.

Natural dog supplements are usually sourced from whole foods. Most of the time they are soft chews or a powder instead of a hard capsule-like chew. For more severe cases like senior issues or severe anxiety, some say natural is not the best choice. Dog food supplements like pumpkin, fish oil or plain yoghurt are the simplest version of the idea: whole ingredients added to a meal your dog already eats.

Dog dental and teeth supplements come as water additives, powders or chews for plaque control, alongside brushing rather than replacing it. Senior dog supplements lean on the same joint ingredients, and older dogs are more likely to be on medication — so ask your vet first.

Some like to make their own homemade dog food supplements but it's important to talk with a pet nutritionist or a veterinarian before doing so — home-mixed nutrition is easy to get wrong.

Calming an Anxious Dog — Beyond Supplements

Sure, dog anxiety supplements can take the edge off, but they are at most a supporting aid and a decision for your vet. The real answer to how to calm a dog down is behavioural, not a chew. First, find out what is making your dog anxious. Can you avoid exposing your dog to that stimulant? Try that first.

Besides supplements, you can create a safe place for your anxious dog like a kennel, a room or a designated area. Make that space safe and comfortable with a few simple additions:

  • Calming music playing in the background.
  • Something to occupy them, like a bone or a lick mat.
  • A blanket, plus a worn T-shirt of their favourite person.
  • A blanket over the crate, if that's where they settle.

They also make "thunder shirts" that are supposed to mimic the feeling of a baby being swaddled. Some other people use calming collars and a teddy bear with a warming pack and a heartbeat! All of it works better paired with real training: gradual desensitisation, counter-conditioning, predictable routine and daily enrichment.

💡Tip:

Giving in to their anxiety can make it worse, especially since they got our attention.

Don't force your dog to face whatever it is they're anxious about, but also don't make the situation worse by feeling bad for them. For example, when a kid is scared to go to the first day of school, if the parent hugs them, kisses them and assures them it will be okay, the kid may start to act anxious. But if the parent says "go have fun you'll love it" the kid is likely going to try to make the best of it!

Desensitisation only works when it's consistent. PawChamp turns it into short daily steps built around your own dog.

How to Give a Dog a Pill or Supplement

Some dogs don't like to take supplements. Maybe it's because of the smell or the taste. So, what can you do if your dog refuses to take their supplements? The quickest answer to how to give a dog a pill is to hide it — try wrapping it in some cheese or peanut butter, or use a pill pocket. That will usually get them to take it. If they're still refusing, try a different flavour or brand!

When your dog won't take pills no matter what you wrap them in, the problem has usually become the handling rather than the pill itself.

The longer-term fix is desensitising your dog to handling. Touch the muzzle, reward, repeat — the same positive reinforcement you'd use for any other skill, and the real answer to how to get a dog to take medicine. Never force, pin or scruff a dog to get a pill down.

💡Tip:

Always remember to associate the supplements with positive reinforcement — try giving a treat after the supplement routinely, so the dog associates it with a treat.

Handling practice is a two-minute daily drill that's easy to skip, and exactly the kind of routine PawChamp is built for.

How PawChamp Helps

The right supplement is a decision for you, your vet and a nutrition professional. Getting an anxious dog calm, and getting any dog to cooperate at supplement time, is training — and that's where PawChamp comes in.

  • Step-by-step desensitisation plans for anxiety, broken into short daily sessions.
  • Handling exercises so pill time stops being a wrestling match.
  • Enrichment and routine ideas that give an anxious dog predictability.
  • The Ask a Dog Expert chat when you can't tell whether a behaviour is anxiety, habit, or something for your vet.

Bottom Line

Knowing what's in your dog's supplements and when to give them, as well as seeking your vet, is the best course of action before giving supplements. Dog supplements support a healthy dog — they don't replace a balanced diet, veterinary care, or training. For anxiety and pill-time battles, training will always do more than a chew.

References