We often get asked “what supplements should I give my pets?” and while there are a ton of options that can help create the optimal diet for your pet, not all supplements are necessary, and over-supplementing some micronutrients can be as harmful as not getting enough. There are multiple categories of supplements and while some can be offered at any time, with any type of diet, some could do more harm than good in the long term.
The easiest way to over-supplement is when your pet is already eating a complete and balanced diet. Any type of food, that is already complete and balanced, does not need extra micronutrients added. For example, adding Thrive Fortify to a Dinner will create an excess in micronutrients such as Vitamin E, iodine, zinc, etc. which in the long term, can create some pretty serious health issues. Excessive Vitamin D can cause symptoms ranging from vomiting and appetite loss to more concerning muscle tremors and seizures. Dogs need these nutrients in their diet, but as the name suggests micronutrients are needed in very small and precise amounts. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to get some help to figure out if your pet actually needs extra vitamins and minerals. Contrary to what we’re led to believe, more isn’t always better.
A relatively common supplement that can cause some confusion is fish oil. While it is hard to overdo Omega-3 fatty acids, there is a certain balance in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Usually, the diets we offer our pets are naturally quite high in saturated fat, and PUFA Omega-6, that it is almost impossible to give too much Omega-3, disrupting the omega balance. Some processed diets, that include fish oil in the premix, can even benefit from fresh fish oil added (see our blog about fish oil and its sensitive properties). For most pets, eating only 20% fish in the diet is enough to cover your pet’s Omega-3 requirements. You can do this by offering Fish Dinner twice per week, adding 1 tsp of fish oil per 20 lbs of your pet’s body weight daily, or adding 20% whole fish as a side dish to your non-fish ground raw meal. Every fish option we offer has it’s Omega-3 oil equivalent on the website, for example one Big Country Raw sardine is equivalent to roughly 1 teaspoon of Thrive fish oil.
Digestive supplements are common among raw and kibble feeders. They are designed to promote a healthy gut microbiome and digestive tract. But some products in this category can act as symptom inhibitors, or could have the digestive tract come to rely on the supplemental addition in order to properly function, when it should be able to function well on its own. Obviously, this isn’t true of chronic issues, like irritated bowel syndrome (IBS), exocrine pancreas insufficiency (EPI), or chronic anal gland issues. In these situations, daily supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics, digestives enzymes, or dietary fiber might be essential.
For most healthy pets, these supplements should be fed as needed, or preventatively, just a couple times per week. If, for example, your dog needs pumpkin added to their diet daily in order to have good stools, keep in mind that the pumpkin could actually be “hiding” a symptom, offering a band-aid type solution. The fiber content will give the stool the correct texture, but there is very probably an underlying issue that should be investigated: possibly a protein intolerance, too much or not enough bone, etc. instead of just feeding pumpkin every day. During specific periods, like food transition, it can be added as a preventative, but once the pet is accustomed to the new diet, it shouldn’t need this type of supplement every day.
Feeding probiotics and “live” food like fermented foods are also great to offer occasionally and in moderation. Just a couple times a week or a couple days in a row and then taking a break, will offer a ton of benefit in supporting the gut microbiome. Like the other digestive supplements though, pets shouldn’t rely on fermented foods to maintain a healthy gut.
There are some supplements that are very beneficial for active pets and can safely be offered daily. Thrive Joint Support and Thrive Green Lipped Mussels are powdered supplements that assist in healing and lubricating active and senior joints and are most effective when offered daily. Additionally, Thrive Pro-Immune, can safely be offered daily to offer natural immune system support. In addition, bone broth is great for supporting both joint and immune system health but has the added benefits of supporting heart health, providing extra moisture, collagen, and best of all, dogs love it.
Over supplementing is sometimes driven by the anxiety surrounding the “just in case” mentality. We add extra nutrients, vitamins and minerals just in case the dog needs it. Or we add digestive supplements just in case my dog might get an irritable bowel or just in case some other health issue presents itself. It’s important to remember that feeding whole, raw, fresh, food is already the best prevention possible, and adding extra, intentionally chosen ingredients now and then is great. We shouldn’t overthink it too much, but we need to be mindful that your pet’s bowl should be primarily fresh whole food. Superfoods and supplement powders, frozen mold treats and adds on, should always be a very small portion of the diet, and most should be given only if necessary.