The 5 Best Supplements For Dogs: A Guide On What To Give Them And Why
According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition , about 68% of adults in the US take some sort of dietary supplement or multivitamin daily. We know that for our own health, supplements can fill gaps in our nutritional intake and help support the health of specific organs like hearts. So, if we rely on dietary supplements for our own health, it makes sense that our furry friends may need an extra boost to theirs. Supplements for dogs are becoming more and more common and popular among pet owners, and there are many different ones you can buy, so weve put together a guide to show you a few of the best ones available! This article will cover:
- Multivitamins
What About Feeding Your Golden Retriever A Raw Diet Or Homemade Food
Other diets in the studies above included raw diets and homemade diets.
Heres what Dr. Lisa Freeman had to say about it: We also emphasize that changing to a raw or home-prepared diet may not be sufficient to improve cardiac abnormalities and may increase the risk for other nutritional deficiencies or infectious diseases.
How To Select The Right Dog Food Formula For Your Golden Retriever
Image Credit: Pixaby
All dog food formulas are regulated by the FDA and the U.S. This provides protection to pet parents and pooch. A high-quality dog food depends on the ingredients within the dog food.
#4 Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon & Potato Formula
PROS
Do Golden Retrievers Have Special Nutritional Requirements
Goldens have the distinction of being one of the most common breeds around, so there are actually a large number of foods made specifically for the breed.
In general, as high-energy dogs a diet high in proteins and fats is desirable. Those dogs who are actually being put to work will need to have a special emphasis on this.
In addition, due to a fairly large number of health problems which Golden retrievers often suffer from, the addition of certain supplements is common in food targeted towards them.
Choose A Joint Supplement That Has A Wide Variety Of Ingredients
Glucosamine is an essential ingredient that you should opt for when choosing a joint supplement. It lubricates your Golden Retrievers joints so that their movements can become more fluid. Your Golden Retrievers body produces less glucosamine as they get older.
The lack of glucosamine results in joint pain and discomfort. Ensuring that your joint supplement has glucosamine will counter the deterioration of your Golden Retrievers joints.
Another ingredient that is vital to your Golden Retrievers joint is Chrondroitin sulfate. It has been proven to support the cartilage in the joints. This counters the extra strain that is placed on your Golden Retrievers joints. This ingredient also supports the development of cartilage and reduces joint pain.
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What Kind Of Foods Is Bad For The Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers need a low glycemic diet, that is low in carbs and moderate in fats. It is advisable for golden retriever owners to not feed them with lots of artificial additives, high in sugar and salt. And added colors. Packed junk food is a big NO-NO for goldies.
Also, it is not recommended to feed them with food that contains the digestives of animals. Never feed your dog raw or uncooked meat as they might not digest it. Also, raw meat can disturb their stomach and can make their breath stinky. Some of the worst-hit food for retrievers are
- Packed high carb food
- You should avoid food that contains ethoxyquin, BHT, BHA, sodium nitrate/nitrite, or propylene glycol.
Choose A Supplement Made In The Usa
Before buying any supplement, make sure you check the supplement is made in the USA. Buying USA products guarantees the highest quality ingredients and stringent safety procedures.
Budget brands, including some made overseas, may not be subject to the same stringent quality control. Supplements made in the USA also use Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
This means that budget supplements may contain less active ingredients. You could be disappointed by the lack of results they offer. Choosing made in the USA, you can guarantee a quality product.
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Best Treats For Golden Retrievers
Many dog owners enjoy giving their dogs treats, but since theyre not expected to adopt AAFCO guidelines, like dog food, how do you know what treats are the best for Golden Retrievers?
The best treats for Golden Retrievers are those made with high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients, low in calories and fat. Artificial preservatives, colorings, or additives should not be used in dog treats. As an alternative, you can feed nutritious fruits and vegetables.
You can find high-quality treats on the market however, they can be quite expensive, but Im happy to pay more if it means my dog stays healthy and happy.
There are many different types of commercial dog treats, and you can pick the one that best fits your needs. Do you need training treats, dental treats, chew treats, or even natural calming treats, for example? I like to have a range of treats on hand for my dog.
Treats should make up no more than 10% of your Golden Retrievers daily calories.
Make sure you buy healthy dog treats, particularly chew treats, that are suitable for large breeds. Bully sticks made entirely of all-natural beef are one of my favorite treats for my dog and she thinks so too! You may use them as a chew stick or break them up into smaller pieces. Check out the Downtown Pet Supply bully sticks from Amazon. They are 100% natural and get thousands of good reviews.
Best Dog Foods For Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are one of the worlds most renowned breeds. These energetic dogs were used in the past for hunting, but these days most of them end up as lovable family companions. Theyre renowned for their even-temper, intelligence, and trainability.
Of course, these large dogs actually require best dog food for Goldens. Theyre not at the hard-to-take-care-of end of the scale, but with some forethought, you can help make sure that your Golden grows up into a well-muscled dog with a beautiful coat.
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Final Thoughts The Importance Of Nutrition
Many pet food companies have spent millions of dollars studying which ingredients have the highest levels of nutrients to achieve a nutritious, balanced diet that will help vital puppy growth and mental and physical development.
Its your job to do your due diligence and select the right one for your doggo! As for supplements, theres no reason to feed them if your dog is eating a complete and healthy diet unless a veterinarian recommends them. So heres my best piece of advice:
Choose a diet that is appropriate for your Golden Retrievers age, your lifestyle, and your beliefs and invest in the highest-quality dog food you can afford. Your dog will enjoy a longer and healthier life due to this, and you will both be happier as a result.
I hope youve enjoyed this article and its helped you decide on the best diet for your Golden Retriever.
Special Considerations When Feeding Golden Retrievers
There are a number of special considerations to take into account when youre feeding your Golden. Unlike bully dogs, they dont quite have the same voracious never gonna chew appetite, but youll still want to keep an eye on the frequency and amount feed your Golden.
As a puppy, they should be fed four times per day, as one or two large feedings can cause the runs and no one wants to deal with that.
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Diet Plan For Adolescent Golden Retriever
Usually, once a Golden Retriever puppy grows above 12 weeks of age, it reaches its adolescence stage and teething. So, in this stage, you should start giving your pal some healthy chewing options like fish skin, chicken bones, etc.
Furthermore, start giving your pal dry food mixed with an enormous amount of water. Besides this, you can also use wet foods for your Golden Retriever. In addition, try adding some vegetables to the dog food while preparing your pets meal to ensure that the meal has all the essential nutrients.
However, be careful that your pals food is not too dry. Thus, always maintain a run-in consistency.
How Much Should Golden Retriever Eat In A Day
Golden retrievers have an in-built clock in them, which propels them to have their meal at the right time. It is advisable to feed the golden retrievers 2 times a day and with an average intake of 1300 to 1700 cal according to their size and requirements. Make them eat with an interval of 12hrs in between.
In the case of golden retriever puppies, start by feeding them 3 times a day for three weeks and then turn into 2 times. You can give them ice cubes if they are thirsty, and treat them with crunchy vegetables like carrots, cucumber for short hunger pangs.
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Nutritional Guidelines To Follow
To ensure a homemade dog food diet will meet your Golden Retrievers dietary requirements, you need to take into account your Goldens weight, health condition, size, and activity level.
The best homemade diet for Golden Retriever will always have the six essential nutrients any dog meal should always have.
| Nutrient | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protein | Chicken, lamb, turkey, beef, fish, yogurt and cooked eggs | Builds and repairs muscles and other body tissues. Needed to make new skin cells, grow hair, hormones, enzymes and more. |
| Carbohydrates | Oats, brown rice, potatoes, and whole wheat | |
| Fat | From meats and oils such as olive or sunflower oil, fish oil, canola oils among others | Responsible for providing quality energy. Necessary for the normal development and function of body cells, nerves, muscles, and body tissues |
| Minerals | Calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. | Common functions include the formation of bone and cartilage, nerve and muscle function, fluid balance regulation, the transportation of oxygen in the bloodstream and hormone production. |
| Water | Water | Hydration is critical in dogs. A dog that loses too much water can get very sick and even die. Ensure they have water available throughout the day. |
| Vitamins | A, B, C, D, E, and K | Keeps skin and coat healthy, strengthens bones and teeth, and gives them the overall energy that they need to function. |
Its not advice to improvise when cooking for your pooch.
Tips In Giving Vitamins To Your Golden Retriever
Is your Goldie picky when it comes to vitamins? If the vet recommended a tablet or pill form, the following hacks would help trick your dog into taking the supplement:
- Mix it with food. Mixing the supplement to your dogs food is the most convenient and easiest way to feed it to him. Just make sure that your Goldie cant separate the tablet or pill from the kibble or wet food.
- Slather it with peanut butter. Another trick pet owners recommend is covering the vitamins with peanut butter. This will mask the undesirable taste of the pill or tablet.
- Place it inside a strawberry. If theres one trick that I swear by, it would be pressing the pill or tablet inside a strawberry. This works every single time with my Golden Retriever, whos quite obsessed with strawberries.
- Conceal it in a piece of cheese. If your dog isnt a big fan of fruits, a thick slice of cheese might do the trick. However, make sure that it wont be a choking hazard.
- Bait and switch. You can trick your dog into taking the supplement by giving it a few treats in a row then tossing the pill at a constant speed.
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Best Tablet Joint Supplement: Dasuquin Advanced
Joint Tablet
Supplements in tablet form tend to be a little more shelf-stable compared to chewable treats. Dasuquin Advanced is the best joint supplement tablet available. Not only does it remain effective for over one year after opening the bottle, it provides an effective combination of glycosaminoglycans and herbal ingredients that are proven to help dogs with arthritis.
Product features:
- Combines three GAGs with herbal ingredients to provide an anti-inflammatory effect
- Also includes manganese, an effective antioxidant ingredient
- Comes in 64 or 140 count bottles and is effective for dogs of all sizes
Dasuquin Advanced is a supplement that is available through your veterinarian prescription only. It contains glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, all of which have a protective effect on joint cartilage. Dasuquin also contains herbal ingredients such as Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa, also known as turmeric. These anti-inflammatory ingredients are used in human supplements as well, and there is scientific research that proves their effectiveness for dogs with arthritis pain. Dasuquin also contains manganese, an antioxidant which helps rid the body of harmful free radicals.
Like with most joint supplements, it takes 4-6 weeks of higher doses of Dasuquin before it becomes fully effective. After that time period, you will cut the daily dose in half for your Golden. Larger sized bottles are more cost effective and have a shelf-life of one year and four months.
The Best Food For Golden Retriever Puppies
What is the best dog food for Goldens puppies? When it comes to small funny Goldens, there are some specific requirements which must be met in order to be a worthy food for these growing members of our families. It comes in at 21% protein and .85% calcium which is great for growing pups.
Its not particularly nutrient dense, coming in at 293 calories per cup. The unique, donut-shaped kibble helps to keep your Golden from gorging themselves as well, which is an extra layer of thought which few manufacturers seem to think of.
All of the nutritional content is aimed towards keeping your Golden healthy and happy, allowing them to grow up with strong eyes, a nice coat, and well muscled.
As far as puppy chows go, its hard to beat something which is made specifically for the breed. Royal Canin delivers with this puppy food. Its the one of the best dog food brands for Goldens, well known in all world.
If youre looking for the best puppy food for Goldens, then youll be pleased with Royal Canins offering. Its nutritionally balanced and the extra bits of thought put into it can make all the difference in the end.
Pros:
Blue Buffalo is one of the most recommended pet food brands by vets. It has a reputation, deservedly, for being expensive, but this chicken and rice-based senior dog chow is excellent for those Goldens that are getting up there in years.
Pros:
Pros:
- Not good for house pets
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Taste Of The Wild Pacific Stream Canine Formula With Smoked Salmon
Taste of the Wild is a high-quality dog food, and I think this recipe is a great choice for typical Golden Retrievers, which is what got it to the number one spot.
Its macronutrient breakdown is ideal, with 25% protein and 15% fat. I chose this recipe as the protein comes from salmon and ocean fish meal protein sources that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction in your dog. Plus, the use of smoked salmon makes it a very flavorsome food, so its good for enticing picky eaters.
The fat comes from canola oil, which is a very healthy source, as it is low in saturated fats, and high in omega-3s. Despite this, there are fewer omega-3s in comparison to other recipes in this review, which makes it a little less well-balanced.
There is a handful of fruit and veg, however, which I like to see for Golden Retrievers, as those antioxidants are essential to keep her healthy. Blueberries are included, which also provide essential nutrients for eye health.
This specific dog food does not include additional ingredients for a dogs joint health, so if your Golden Retriever suffers from hip dysplasia or arthritis, I wouldnt recommend this recipe.
PROS
- Good for typical Golden Retrievers
- Protein comes from fish no beef or chicken
- Good choice for picky eaters
- Customers
- A good handful of fruit and veg
- Contains ingredients that promote eye health
CONS
What About Feeding Your Golden Retriever A Raw Diet Or Homemade Food
#4 Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Salmon & Potato Formula
How To Select The Right Dog Food Formula For Your Golden Retriever
Image Credit: Pixaby
All dog food formulas are regulated by the FDA and the U.S. This provides protection to pet parents and pooch. A high-quality dog food depends on the ingredients within the dog food.
Today, dog food formulas are always changing so as to update current formulas with new research. There are also numerous high-quality dog food formulas to choose from, which makes it all the more difficult for pet parents.
There are also many alternative meat options for protein-focused nutrition that offer duck, alligator, venison, rabbit and boar supplemented with chickpeas, sweet potatoes or lentils.
What Does Cummings Veterinary Medical Center Tufts Suggest You Do
Reconsider your dogs diet. If youre feeding a boutique, grain-free, or exotic ingredient diets, I would reassess whether you could change to a diet with more typical ingredients made by a company with a long track record of producing good quality diets. And do yourself a favor stop reading the ingredient list! Although this is the most common way owners select their pets food, it is the least reliable way to do so. And be careful about currently available pet food rating websites that rank pet foods either on opinion or on based on myths and subjective information. Its important to use more objective criteria . The best way to select what is really the best food for your pet is to ensure the manufacturer has excellent nutritional expertise and rigorous quality control standards, via Tufts.
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