How should we supplement our dogs' diets? What a loaded question! Like us, our dogs are complicated biological machines. They can survive on just about any kind of food, as the last 50 years or so prove. But, surviving isn't thriving. While there are many supplements that can support our dogs' health, our dogs' nutritional adequacy begins with the foods they consume.
The quality of the pre-made foods we feed our dogs varies drastically (see sidebar 1). The worst foods are your basic grocery chows, with their disturbing ingredient list of glutens, by-products, corn, wheat, soy, sugar, salt and added colors and preservatives. At the top end is a 100 percent natural fresh, raw diet made from whole foods, with no added chemicals. This begs the question: "How can both of these foods be complete and balanced for daily feeding?" I guess it depends on what one believes is nutrition: chemicals or food.
Therefore, begin supplementing your dog's diet by feeding"” or at least adding"”healthier whole, raw, live foods and raw meaty bones (see sidebar 2). Consider integrating fresh raw fruits and meats. Blanch, finely grate or liquefy veggies, allowing them to be better assimilated by a carnivore. Add eggs, kefir and whole milk yogurt to their diets"”if you seek convenience, there are pre-made frozen raw diets available. Even if you opt to cook foods, it still adds nutritional benefit that the over-processed dry foods lack. There is also a natural kibbled diet that doesn't contain chemicallysynthesized supplements.
If you are going to supplement in the more traditional sense, try using whole food supplements rather than synthetic vitamin isolates. Whole food supplements are made by concentrating foods, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, meats, organs and algae, which naturally contain limitless variations of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes. Whole food nutrients work to provide optimum nutrition because the nutrients are in a natural state that the body can immediately recognize and utilize.
Specific whole food supplements that are frequently requested, required and that some experts believe are necessary on a daily basis include:
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs): EFAs, especially omega-3, are beneficial to the immune system, the nervous system and the heart. They aid in reducing inflammation associated with arthritis, allergies and inflammatory bowel. They support brain development, function and retention. The reason that EFAs are so important to supplement is their delicacy. Regardless of how well you feed your dog, omega-3s perish when exposed to air, light and heat. The best sources for EFAs, especially the delicate omega-3s, are whole-bodied fish oils. Salmon and sardines appear to be the best sources"”you can even use whole sardines"”and most contain vitamin E, which is not only synergistic with whole-bodied fish oils, but acts as an antioxidant for the oil and the dog. IMPORTANT: KEEP EFAs REFRIGERATED! Expose them to the air as little as possible.
Probiotics: The body's natural flora live in the intestines. These good bacteria promote intestinal health and help control overgrowth of undesirable bacteria, such as yeast and clostridium; they also aid in digestion. Probiotics can be lost with the administration of antibiotics, with severe or chronic diarrhea or when the dog is stressed. Use a probiotic with multiple bacteria strains"”lactobacillus sporogenes and Enterococcus faecium are found to be particularly beneficial to dogs.
Prebiotics: Food for probiotics. Prebiotics feed the healthy bacteria that are already present. If you see fructooligosaccharides (FOS), chicory or inulin in the ingredient list of your dog food, a prebiotic is present.
Digestive Enzymes: Promote the assimilation of food. Cooking kills enzymes and air evaporates them"” they are a living part of raw foods, which are lost in any cooking process. There are specific digestive enzymes for breaking down fats (lipase), proteins (protease) and carbohydrates (amylase). Plant-based digestive enzymes work the widest range of pH and temperature and are often combined with probiotics.
Now, you are feeding better, maybe way better. But your dog is still finding ways to communicate to you that there is something missing in her diet. If you are seeing minor changes in behavior, appearance and/or activity, you may want to try a supplement known to address that specific issue and see how your dog responds. You may see a drastic change in trainability, behavioral issues, skin, coat, eyes, activity or mannerisms. Feeding and supplementing our dogs with wellbalanced, whole-food meals and supplementation, which allows them to naturally draw the nutrition they need and allocate them properly. Nutritional adequacy will allow your dog's biological machine to thrive.
RAW MEATY BONES Raw meaty bones are the most natural diet for our dogs. The best choices for raw meaty bones are:
Carcasses:
Chicken
Hen
Rabbit
Fish
Non weight-bearing, raw meaty bones:
Ribs
Necks
Tails
Both of the following ingredient list samples are American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approved as a complete and balanced food for all life stages. How can that be? NATURAL RAW DIET: Ingredients: Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Kidney, Pumpkin Seed, Montmorillonite Clay, Cottage Cheese, Egg Shell Meal, Whole Eggs, Cod Liver Oil, Parsley, Blueberry Powder, Suncured Alfalfa Meal, Cranberry Powder, Almond Powder, Tomato Powder , Apricot Powder, Artichoke Powder, Avocado Powder, Spinach Powder, Apple Powder, Broccoli Powder, Carrot Powder, Pumpkin Powder, Kelp, Chicory Root, Rosemary. GROCERY KIBBLE: Ingredients: Ground yellow corn, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, whole wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), rice flour, beef, soy flour, sugar, sorbitol, tricalcium phosphate, water, salt, phosphoric acid, animal digest, potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, sorbic acid (a preservative), L-Lysine monohydrochloride, dried peas, dried carrots, calcium carbonate, calcium propionate (a preservative), choline chloride, added color (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 2), DL-Methionine, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin A supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin B-12 supplement, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, copper sulfate, biotin, garlic oil, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), calcium iodate, sodium selenite.
For more information or to contact Lori: Lorileigh Moreland (owner) Pet Empawrium & Spaw 12393 W. 64th Ave. Arvada, CO 80004 (303) 467-7777 www.petempawrium.com
