A quick Google search for supplements for your dog will bring up results for itchy skin, joints, heart health, and even supplements to add to homemade diets. But do you need to give your pup these supplements? You may notice a wide variety of brands and ingredients making bold claims to boost your best friend’s health. Are they true? We looked at a wide variety of expert sources to determine what is truth and what is a marketing tactic.
What Are Dietary Supplements for Dogs?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)T defines supplements as: “A feed used with(sic) in conjunction with another feed to improve the nutritive balance or performance of the total feed.”
An April 2019 report by market research publisher Packaged Facts revealed that the pet supplement industry had a value of about $636 million. In their research, they found that the majority of this spending was done by dog owners.
They state that “For over a decade pet supplements have been steady and at times outstanding pet market performers, maintaining momentum thanks (to) the overall pet market’s driving focus on health and wellness, increased attention to age- and obesity-related pet health conditions and risks, the strengthening embrace of nutrition as part of a preventative health and wellness routine, and ongoing high-level interest in functional ingredients and products targeting specific health conditions.”
What are the most frequently used supplements and what are they used for?
Fish Oil
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids….
