Have You Considered a Vitamin Supplement for Your Dog?
It’s not easy to find independent information online on the subject of canine vitamin supplements. If you are considering a vitamin supplement for your dog, be careful about getting caught up in the articles from the websites promoting such supplements. Just as you need to have objective and independent information regarding your own need for dietary supplements, your pet’s health can fall into the same category. Whoever sells the supplements says you need the supplements.
Just as we should check with our doctors before embarking on dietary supplements, so should you check with your veterinarian before you decide on a vitamin supplement for your dog. Almost any website, store or publication that sells dietary supplements for pets will tell you that your dog does indeed need a vitamin supplement. However, just as humans can ingest toxic levels of vitamins and suffer dangerous side effects, so can your dog.
Your veterinarian can conduct a blood test to see if your dog is deficient in any vitamins and nutrients. Just as in humans there are medical conditions for which a vitamin supplement is warranted, there are medical conditions including malabsorption issues that indicate a need for a vitamin supplement for your dog.
In discussing with your veterinarian the possible need for a vitamin supplement for your dog, you and your veterinarian should discuss the activity level of your four-legged friend. Service dogs, such as guide dogs for the blind sometimes need vitamin supplements due to their increased activity. Also, be sure to discuss the need for a vitamin supplement for your dog in conjunction with any ongoing medical condition your dog may have.
There’s been a lot of controversy in recent years over pet supplements. At one point, pet owners were concerned the FDA was going to pull all pet supplements off the market. Instead, the National Animal Supplement Council was formed. It’s comprised mostly of pet supplement manufacturers whose mission is to forge compliance of supplement statutes.
The FDA regulates animal supplements the same way it does supplements for human consumption. Enforcement of the laws, though as in the human sector is lacking due to a shortage of resources. Some manufacturers take advantage of this knowing it will take a long time at worst, for the FDA to crack down on them.
If you are considering a vitamin supplement for your dog, make sure you consult with a veterinarian who does not sell supplements. This will help ensure you get an unbiased opinion as to whether you need to purchase a vitamin supplement for your dog.
