Simplifying Supplements

Thrive oils, powders or Equipments chews? Which is best for my pet?

As we expand the Thrive lineup with our new Equipments soft functional chews, we thought it would be a great idea to help you understand when and how to use each of them, the powder and oils versus the chews.

The first thing to note is that supplements shouldn’t be doubled-up within the same category. Each product has unique ingredients that might not always have a beneficial synergistic effect. For example, mixing Thrive omega-rich fish oils and the Renew Skin and Coat chew could create an excess of omega fats in the long term, especially if you also include whole fish in the diet. The same is true for the vitamin and mineral supplements, we recommend using only one at a time or taking special care to ensure there is no ingredient or nutrient overlap!

We’ll dive into each category one by one:

Joint and Mobility

We offer a triad of choice if you wish to support optimal hip and joint health and mobility for your pet. A good daily mild prevention at a lower price would be Thrive Joint Support, which is a simple mix of glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM.

Green Lipped Mussel powder is more “complete” than the Joint Support because of its natural unique omega-3 and mineral content such as boron, which lends to a higher dose of prevention. GLM’s efficacy has been proven by science within 3 weeks.

Finally, new Equipments Reflex soft chew (not for cats) would be the “strongest” of all three. Reflex contains the active ingredients of both Joint Support and Green Lipped Mussels, as well as a high dose of EPA and DHA omega fatty acids for optimal support. This chew also contains Type II collagen sourced from fish, making it unique and complete mobility support offering protection, lubrication, pain and inflammation relief, due to joint overuse, injury or aging.

Skin and Coat

Adding to our popular line of omega-rich oil supplements we bring Renew. Most pet parents are familiar with our oils: herring for maximum omega-3 content, versatile salmon for a perfect taste and beneficial antioxidants, and hemp seed, perfect for accommodating a fish allergy or meals containing grass-fed meats. Rotating between all three oils ensures optimal effect on skin and coat.

Embrace Renew in your supplement rotation! It has the highest level of omega-3, it also includes immune-boosting colostrum, probiotics, as well as antioxidants and zinc. These ingredients work together to support a healthy dog manifesting in a perfectly smooth and shiny skin and coat!

Digestive Health

Whether your dog needs daily support, or has tummy trouble occasionally, this category has some great options. Resume would be the ideal daily support for prevention and maintaining optimal gut health because it contains the “biotics” trifecta – pre-pro and post! It also includes ginger for its well-known beneficial impact on the digestive system.

For symptom-specific support Thrive offers Dehydrated Pumpkin, Pro-Gut and Slippery Elm powder to help with minor digestive discomfort.

Dehydrated Pumpkin doesn’t need an introduction – it is well known by most pet parents for its soluble and insoluble fiber which can help with both constipation and minor diarrhea.

Another single-ingredient option, Slippery Elm powder, from the bark of the slippery elm tree, stated simply, it is nature’s Pepto-Bismol!

For more intense situations, Pro-Gut could be the perfect option. With pre-pro-and post biotics as well as slippery elm and marshmallow root, it is a must have for food transitions or during times of tummy trouble.

Immune Support

Also with a new chew addition, this category now has two daily options. Pro-Immune powder contains colostrum, spirulina and medicinal mushrooms including Turkey Tail, Chaga and Reishi. It is a great support for the entire immune system.

Our new Rebound chew has many of the same active ingredients, but would be ideal for dogs that need something a little stronger, like for pets dealing with skin or food allergies, autoimmune diseases, and even cancer. Ingredients that support digestion and liver function were added as the gut and liver both play a major role in immune system health.

Pets needing seasonal support for allergies, Thrive Bovine Colostrum would be a great single-ingredient option. Scientific studies show how colostrum modulates immune response in dogs. For best results, offer daily before high allergy season starts and continue through to the first frost.

Nutrient Support

Our largest category, Nutrient Support, isn’t gaining a chew so we’ll take a moment to explain the differences between the available Thrive powdered supplements. The most commonly used, and well known by pet parents, is the kelp. Simple and pure dehydrated Thrive Canadian Sea Kelp is rich in many vitamins and minerals, but is used mostly for its iodine content. On its own, kelp will not make a Pure or Blend recipe complete, but is a budget-friendly supplement, suitable for diets with extensive protein and ingredient rotation including tripe and fish. Kelp is included in our Dinner, XL and Fare game complete recipes.

Thrive Fortify is specially formulated to make Pure and Blend recipes complete and balanced. It contains kelp, wheat grass, and other vitamins and minerals that are usually lacking in recipes containing only meat, bone, and organ meat (ratio or 80/10/10 recipes). We still recommend rotating poultry and red meat, 3-5 or more different proteins each month when using Fortify.

For a pet with major food allergies or intolerances, hypoallergenic FortifyRX, will make any Pure and Blend complete on its own, without a lot of dietary variety.

Calming

A new Thrive supplement, worthy of its own category, was created with the invention of Relax. For situations that cause stress or hyperactivity, Relax, the most complete and efficient calming chew on the market can help put your pet in a more relaxed state of mind. This supplement targets several aspects of anxiety and stress, ensuring its effectiveness – essential oils, amino acids, and a gentle natural sedative. Best of all, it’s backed by science so it WILL work!

The mission of Thrive supplements has always been to use specifically chosen, nutritionally dense, effective, human grade ingredients to meet the needs of pets that traditional diets can’t always address. Whether pet parents are dealing with existing health concerns or offering preventative support for puppy, adult pet or canine athlete, Thrive oils, powdered supplements and new Thrive Equipments chews are valuable additions to your pet’s wellness regime.