Supplementing Your Dog's Diet
For years, all the advice recommended against supplementing your dog's commercial food in any way, claiming that the supplements could cause harm, from the seemingly inconsequential — giving your dog diarrhea — to potentially deadly — such as causing debilitating growth spurts or disrupting the overall balance of a food.
While these fears can be valid, canine nutritionists, veterinarians, breeders, and pet owners have come to find that not only does smart supplementing do more good than harm, it can actually significantly improve your dog's health. Note the word “smart” before supplementing. That's the key. Your dog's bowl shouldn't be a garbage can for every leftover you have in your refrigerator. At the same time, there are lots of things you and your family eat that are really good for your dog. Some of these are fresh vegetables; fresh fruits; plain, organic lowfat yogurt; organic meats; fresh fish; omega-3 oils; and other fresh and natural foods.
If your dog stops eating his dog food because he's waiting for you to give him something tastier, it's time to take a step back. Unless you want to research how to feed a nutritionally sound homemade diet, your dog needs the nutrients that are in commercially available foods. His kibble should make up 95 to 98 percent of his meal. Cut out the supplements until he is eating his dog food again, and proceed with caution.
It's critical to understand what you're supplementing your dog's food with and why. For example, if your dog is taking an antibiotic, you should add some plain, organic lowfat yogurt to his meals. Antibiotics can destroy the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, and the live, active cultures in yogurt can help reestablish a healthy balance. If your dog has itchy or dry skin, add an omega-3 oil such as fish or flaxseed oil. Adding steamed fresh vegetables to your dog's food provides the same benefits from an excellent source of carbohydrates and fiber as it does to your diet.
One of the best books written on understanding the health benefits of supplements and what types and quantities to feed is The Goldsteins' Wellness & Longevity Program: Natural Care for Dogs and Cats by Dr. Robert Goldstein and Susan Goldstein.
Besides the health benefits of certain supplements, your dog will appreciate the variety that supplements can provide. The key to feeding human goodies to your dog is moderation and consideration. Excessively fatty, over-processed foods aren't good for us, and they're not good for dogs. But small pieces of pizza crust, the last slice of lunch meat, the occasional potato chip — these will not hurt your dog in moderation. You just have to use common sense.
