Your Guide to Senior Dog Supplements

We all want to provide our dogs with a good quality of life, especially as they age. Aging is part of life and it happens to our beloved pups too. However, you can easily get overwhelmed when determining what food and supplements to give our aging pups.

In addition to regular exercise, the most important way to support the aging process is to give your senior dog essential vitamins and proper nutrition. Senior dog supplements ensure that your senior dog gets the full range of vitamins needed to remain active and healthy.

Watching your once energetic canine companion slow down into a senior dog can be a bittersweet experience. Not all senior pet supplements are created equal. Therefore, every dog has different needs as it ages. This article covers the science behind aging and how supplements can improve your dog’s wellness.

What is a Pet Supplement?

A supplement is a concentrated ingredient added to a pet's diet to provide either a therapeutic or nutritional effect. These supplements include vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, enzymes, botanicals, and herbs.

These ingredients can be added to food as dietary supplements to make it nutritionally balanced and complete.

There are also a couple of different terms used when referring to these products. Let's take at two of the key terms: dietary supplements & nutraceuticals.

1. Dietary Supplements for Pets

Dietary supplements are substances added to your pet's diet that offer additional nutrients that go beyond what is necessary for a "complete and balanced" diet. 

These can be oral supplements or additions to food, and may include a combination of vitamins and minerals intended to improve health. 

2. Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are foods, vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, or different compounds that are intended to help an animal's health beyond its immediate nutritional value. 

CBD oil for dogs is a nutraceutical, for example. It's not used for the value of its nutritional value, but rather the effect that this compound has on the body of a dog. 

So, when a product's health value is believed to extend beyond its nutritional value and support a specific aspect of health, it becomes a nutraceutical.

When You Need to Use Senior Dog Supplements

Using the appropriate supplements can help maintain wellness as your dog ages. You must also consider the product factors, including safety and dosage.

Aging is not a disease. However, aging dogs may have a reduced capacity to digest foods and nutrients. This situation occurs due to the altered metabolism as the dog ages. Aging also results in an impaired immune system that reduces the dog's ability to resist infections.

As the dog advances into old age, dietary requirements change. These changes occur due to the changing activity level, ability to kill toxins, and ability to absorb and digest nutrients. Therefore, you need to adjust the dietary levels of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and fiber. Using supplements to facilitate these adjustments improves longevity and quality of life.

When is a Dog Viewed as a Senior?

Aging is defined by the degenerative changes that take place after maturity.

As a living organism ages, vital organs begin to lose some function. As a result, aging leads to the reduced ability to meet the day-to-day challenges. These degenerative changes affect organs such as muscles, bones, joints, teeth, skin, heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.

When dogs reach maturity, they are considered seniors. However, different dog breeds reach maturity at different ages. For instance, giant breeds have shorter lifespans than smaller and medium-sized breeds. As a result, veterinarians don’t use age-based definitions to identify a dog’s life stage. They instead use their expected lifespan to classify dogs.

Dogs are classified as seniors when they reach 75% of their expected lifespan. If your dog has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, you should consider it a senior from the age of 8 years. You can talk to a veterinarian to determine your dog’s life expectancy.

How Nutritional Needs Change as Your Dog Ages

Unlike younger pups, older dogs require diets higher in protein and lower in fat. This helps maintain lean body mass and reduces the risk of obesity.

For dogs that have become less active as they grow older, they require fewer calories to maintain a healthy body condition. Giving a balanced diet and the appropriate senior dog supplements for your dog’s condition ensures that the dog gets all the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy.

Understanding Your Dog’s Aging Process

Your canine companion develops and ages faster than humans do. Experts estimate that a two-year-old dog is equivalent to a 10-year-old child. After the initial two years, aging slows down to approximately 4 years for every 1 human year. Larger dog breeds age quicker than smaller breeds.

As your dog gets older, you start noticing loss of mobility and graying fur. Underlying changes, however, are more significant to their health but can easily be overlooked. Such changes include:

• Cognitive decline

• Reduced brain function

• Reduced immune function

• Degenerative joint disease

• Decline in strength and muscle mass

• Cartilage breakdown resulting in stiffness and aches

When these changes occur, it means that you need to help your pet adapt by boosting their nutrition.

The Role of Nutrition in Senior Dog Health

Unfortunately, aging is a natural process dependent on factors that we can’t control. However, your dog’s breed and individual genetics greatly affect how well they age. These factors may also determine which health problems your dog will be more likely to develop as they age.

Aging can also be affected by the care you provide your dog. Better nutrition and frequent veterinary care can increase the lifespan of your canine companion. Also, keeping your dog active and providing senior dog supplements can make a significant difference in its quality of life as they age.

What is the Best Supplement for Your Senior Dog?

There’s no one-size-fits-all supplement recommendation for a senior dog. The right supplement for senior dogs is based on each dog’s nutritional needs. The individual needs may vary depending on the following factors:

• Activity level

• Body condition

• Underlying health conditions

• Reproductive status

1. CBD Oil Nutraceuticals

You can use CBD supplements to support your aging dog. CBD (cannabidiol) comprises the active ingredients obtained from the hemp plant. Veterinarian-formulated organic CBD oil for dogs can help your furry friend live healthy and age gracefully.

Owners of aging dogs with aches and pains can use CBD oil supplements to help relive occasional joint discomfort. CBD oil supplements might also support your dog's appetite, emotional wellness, and more. 

Choosing a CBD Supplement

CBD supplements are sold as oils, capsules, soft chews, or treats. These products undergo strict oversight and testing to ensure they don’t have contaminants. Before selecting a CBD supplement, take time to research the product. The product must have been submitted to third-party testing to validate its ingredients and CBD levels.

2. Vitamin B Complex

You can also use vitamin B complex to help improve appetite and counter fatigue. Vitamin B complex supplements include Vitamin B1, B2, B6, and B12. Vitamin B complex is associated with a low risk of toxicity since it is excreted in the urine when it exceeds the body’s requirements.

3. Coenzyme Q-10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid

You can use Coenzyme Q-10 and Alpha Lipoic Acid to improve your dog’s overall physical performance and reduce age-related illnesses. Coenzyme Q-10 can help to improve the strength of the heart muscle. On the other hand, Alpha Lipoic Acid supports eye health and slows down degenerative neurological conditions.

3. Omega Fatty Acids

You can increase the intake of fatty acids, including omega fatty acids, to support healthy skin, help with joint pain, and modulate inflammatory reactions. Omega 3 fatty acids can help improve and prevent the deterioration of the brain and memory as they improve cognitive function.

You can also use probiotics and digestive enzymes to help your dog absorb nutrients.

Other Supplements for Specific Conditions Affecting Dogs

If your senior dog has underlying conditions, you can use specific supplements. Some diseases are responsive to treatment using supplements. For older dogs, supplements can help through:

1. Degenerative processes using whole tissue supplements or glandular therapy

2. Gastrointestinal disease using probiotics or digestive enzymes

3. Supporting joint health and improving mobility using a joint supplement like a chondroprotective agent

4. Potentially helping liver issues using milk thistle

Before administering these supplements to senior dogs, pet parents are advised to inform the vet. Informing your veterinarian helps determine the best supplement based on your dogs age and condition. It also helps the veterinarian to integrate other treatments that may be required.

Common Health Issues That Need Senior Dog Supplements

Older dogs experience various challenges and health problems. To support your senior dog’s well-being, you need to provide them with a balanced diet, a comfortable living environment, appropriate exercise, and regular veterinary check-ups. The following are some of the issues that your senior dog may face and the specific supplements that can help:

1. Arthritis

Arthritis is common among senior dogs. It can lead to joint pain and stiffness. These problems make it difficult for senior dogs to move comfortably.

In case your senior dog is having difficulties getting up, avoiding stairs unlike in the past, or limping, it may be arthritis. Using hip and joint products can support healthy joints and offer relief for occasional joint stiffness.

2. Coat Health and Skin Problems

Skin issues, including hair loss and dryness, increase as your dog ages. One of the main ways a vet identifies a healthy dog is by assessing the condition of their coat and skin. Using dog supplements such as salmon oil and fish oil can help support your dog’s skin.

These options contain nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids have various health benefits, including promoting the appearance of the coat and skin.

3. Dental Issues and Bone Health

Dental problems also become more pronounced as your dog ages. These issues include tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease. Dental disease can cause pain and difficulty eating. You must keep up with your dog’s oral health and maintain a regular dental routine such as teeth brushing. You can also use supplements like coenzyme Q-10 and probiotics to boost your aging dog's dental health.

You can also boost your senior dog’s bone health using calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, phosphorous, and vitamins C and E.

4. Digestive Issues

Senior dogs are prone to gastrointestinal issues, including food sensitivities, diarrhea, and constipation. You need to use the right food to aid in digestion.

You can also use probiotic supplements to maintain a healthy balance of good gut bacteria. You can also use soft chews rich in digestive enzymes and vitamins to improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients.

4. Low Energy

You can use dimethylglycine (DMG) and L-carnitine to support your dog’s energy. L-carnitine helps with weight control and unlocks an additional energy boost. DMG also boosts energy by encouraging metabolism or offering anti-inflammatory support for the joints.

Using supplements can boost energy to support senior dogs. However, you also need to spend more time with your senior dog doing activities they love. Such activities include training sessions. You can use training sessions with their favorite toy or natural soft chews to help perk them up.

Shopping for the Right Supplement Give Aging Dogs

There are so many options available to choose from when it comes to dog supplements. So much so that it can become overwhelming.

To know what makes up a good supplement, check for safe and natural ingredients, proper balance of nutrients, and absorbability.

While shopping, check the labels for:

Safe Ingredients

Dog foods and supplements may contain added vitamins, colors, or flavoring retrieved from synthetic sources. You should instead opt for supplements obtained from natural sources. These sources include plant foods, fish oil, and grass-fed meat created without unnecessary additives.

Age-Specific Formulation

Pups and grown dogs have different nutritional needs from your senior dog. As a result, the label should specify the age range or whether it is appropriate for dogs of all life stages.

Absorbability

Does the supplement provide the active ingredients and how they are absorbed? The product should be formulated with a clinically proven technology that allows the nutrients to pass through the cell wall efficiently.

Some supplements may contain nutrients in a form that is not bioavailable. This means that all healthy ingredients pass straight through the digestive system into the doggy doo bag.

How to Know Whether a Supplement is Effective

Not all supplements are subjected to scientific trials that can determine their efficacy. Much of the information regarding the use of senior dog supplements comes from testimonials or anecdotal evidence.

Concerning senior dogs, enhanced appearance, increased activity levels, and improved mobility are all beneficial outcomes observed from the use of senior dog supplements. Dose-related responses or improvements may be observed, which diminish when the supplement is discontinued. These situations show the benefits of the supplement to both the owner and the veterinarian.

How to Know If a Supplement is Safe to Give to Senior Dogs?

You need to consult your veterinarian to identify if a supplement is safe for use. Veterinarians are trained about the physiology and anatomy of animals. They are expected to know about the right treatments to prescribe, including their toxicity and side effects. Therefore, the best source of knowledge regarding the safety of supplements is your veterinarian.

The quality of supplements varies depending on the manufacturer. Trusted manufacturers provide detailed information regarding the product on its label.

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