3 Food Supplements For Dogs

Most dog owners give their pets kibble from their local pet supplies store, and if your dog isn't a raw food eater, you might not know to give them anything else, or what's safe to give him or her. However, you can add fresh foods and supplements to your dog's meals to increase their natural vitamin and nutrient intake. Here are three foods you can start with and why you should!

1. Raw Eggs

Raw eggs, when eaten with shells, are a complete source of nutrients for dogs. Yes, with shells! That stereotype of farm dogs breaking into chicken coops is there for a reason! Eggs are a great source of folate, Vitamin B12, fatty acids, Vitamin A, selenium, iron, and riboflavin, and protein!

Depending on the weight of your dog (more weight = more eggs), you can safely give your dog raw eggs a few times a week, but be sure that they're raw! Cooking will destroy a lot of nutritional value. If your dog cannot ingest bone for any reason, you can dry and grind the eggshells using a coffee grinder or other food processor. Make sure you get your eggs from an organic seller as well—commercial brands frequently spray the shells with chemicals to keep them shiny and prevent them from breaking easily during transport.

2. Goat's Milk

This milk is the most digestible kind since it has small molecules. If your dog cannot consume cow's milk, they might be able to tolerate goat's milk. Since this variant has naturally-occurring probiotics, it also benefits dogs with digestive issues. Try small amounts to start and build up to a full dose. Keep in mind the appropriate serving for your dog's size; if you are not sure, ask us! Everybody on our team here at EarthWise Pet Marysville has 300+ hours of certified training as a pet nutritionist - we are here to help!

Generally speaking, though, if your dog is 20 lbs or less, give him one to two ounces of milk a day. A dog from 20 to 40 lbs can drink two to four, and one weighing 40 to 60 lbs can drink four to six ounces. A medium-sized dog weighing between 60 to 80 lbs can drink up to eight ounces of goat's milk per day. If your dog weighs over 80 lbs, he can drink up to ten.

We carry a few brands of goat's milk and kefir that we highly recommend: Answers and Primal. Our pets and the pets of our customers have nothing but great reviews for these products, and we love dealing with these American manufacturers as well.

3. Kefir

Kefir is known as the "grain of life," and there are various health benefits to ingesting it. It is similar to yogurt but has more probiotics and good yeast. These help the body ward off bacteria and pathogenic yeast. A dog on a dry food diet will have an overabundance of carbohydrates in his body. Since carbs are fuel for yeast, your pet might develop issues with yeast overgrowth. A dog with smelly, itchy, or patchy fur might have issues with yeast overgrowth. Ear infections are also a signal of excess yeast in the body.

Furthermore, a dog that has undergone extra stress or taken antibiotics recently needs kefir or other pre- or probiotic supplements. Kefir and similar substances are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and filled with vitamins and minerals. It also helps with IBD, allergies, and candidiasis. This food is traditionally prepared using cow's milk, but you can make it from goat or sheep's milk as well. However, it could be challenging to find. There are also variants in coconut or almond milk.

If you're interested in kefir, Answers Pet Food makes a great series of products around it and we should be able to bring some in for you! Reach out to us via email, Facebook, or phone to place a special order!

Conclusion

Dogs can lead healthy lives if you put them on a predominantly kibble-based diet. However, supplements like the ones above do not hurt. When you're thinking of switching up your pet's menu, choose raw eggs, goat's milk, or kefir to start. Your dog will be healthier and happier when you do!

Get both dry and wet food for your dog at EarthWise Pet. We are a pet supplies store in Marysville, WA, and we stock a wide range of foods for pets of all sizes, breeds, and ages! Browse our catalog or get in touch with us for more information.