Keep Your Pet Healthy with Nutritional Health

Most humans have turned to supplements as a way to get the necessary nutrients that they are lacking in their daily diets. In fact, many of the fundamental vitamins and minerals are not easily absorbed from the foods that we eat, so supplements are the ideal solution for your overall health.

But did you know that your pet may also be missing out on essential components in their daily diets? This can happen when they are puppies and as they age. If you are a pet owner and want to support the health and longevity of your fur baby, then nutritional pet food additives could be the best option.

Keep in mind that not all human supplement/pet food additive equivalents are good options for your pet. It’s important to do your research and ask your vet before adding a pet food additive to their diets. We should also note that most of the commercial foods available today for dogs and cats provide a solid balance of nutrition for pets that do not suffer from health problems such as inflammation, coat or gastrointestinal issues.

However, when these health concerns occur, it might be a good reason and time to consider a healthy pet food additive.

What is a Pet Food Additive?

There are several different types of nutritional pet food additives including vitamins, amino acids, herbs, enzymes, botanicals and minerals. Pet food additives are like human supplements in that they are made of concentrated ingredients that can be added to a daily diet as a dietary aid.

Do Pets Need Healthy Food Additives?

Maintaining the overall wellness of our pets has become more important than ever. Many pet parents turn to pet food additives to help maintain and extend the lives of their fur babies. You may be deciding whether your pet is a candidate for pet food additives either as a preventative measure.

Today’s pet food additives can be used for a myriad of reasons. The most common include:

• Healthy digestive system (particularly if taking prebiotics and probiotics)
• Joint health
• Soft and silky coat

Studies are ongoing, but some pet food additives, especially probiotics, have shown some promise. The question of whether your pet needs food additives should be discussed with your vet. You want to ensure that your pets are getting a good quality product with optimal results.

Healthy Digestive System

How do you know if your dog needs probiotics?

The importance of digestive or gut health in the overall health of humans continues to gain attention. But is  digestive health also key to our pets’ well-being? The short answer is, yes!

Probiotics are good bacteria or yeasts that are part of the digestion process. These good bacteria live in the intestinal tract that allow good bacteria to thrive.

In the human digestive system, probiotics in supplement form have been known to help promote immune system health and treat symptoms of gastrointestinal issues such as leaky gut, occasional diarrhea and more. Studies are still ongoing regarding the efficacy of probiotics in dogs, but some strains show promise in helping to improve digestion.

If your pooch is suffering from gastrointestinal issues, one likely culprit might be their food. Many of today’s dry kibble products contain high levels of processed ingredients that might be harder for dogs to digest. This may make your dog more apt to be lethargic and show signs of digestive discomfort such as occasional diarrhea.

If your pet is experiencing these issues, then it might be a good idea to talk to your vet about incorporating probiotics or bovine colostrum into their diet. Not all probiotics or bovine colostrum pet food additives are created equal. We suggest you use a bovine colostrum pet food additive that has a liposomal delivery system for optimal results.

Joint Health Through Better Nutrition

How do I keep my pet’s joints healthy?

As with their pet parents, the joint health of your dog or cat tends to deteriorate as they age. You may notice that they may be experiencing joint discomfort and are not as spry as they used to be. This is due to a breakdown in cartilage, which may be the result of an injury, age or both. It can impact not only their physical health but their mental health as well.

Certain bigger breeds of dogs tend to be more prone to joint issues such as hip dysplasia. However, the most dogs regardless of their breed suffer joint issues most commonly in their elbows, knees and hind hips.

While you can’t reverse whatever damage has been done, there are steps you can take to ease joint discomfort in your pets. Here are ways to help keep their joints as healthy as possible:

• Daily walks
• A healthy diet/nutrition/food
• Treating injuries promptly

When should my dog start taking joint health pet food additives?

Dogs at their core are pack animals, and due to their nature, they may try to hide any joint issues they are experiencing. In the wild, an injured animal in a pack is considered a burden. So your pup will most likely treat their issues the same in your home.

It’s best to start joint health pet food additives as soon as possible, before your pets age and before they try to hide symptoms. Always consult with your vet, but a good rule of thumb is to choose one that contains four active ingredients: MSM, glucosamine, manganese and chondroitin.

Soft & Silky Coat

One of the first signs that your dog is aging or that their nutritional health is not optimal is their coat. Excessive shedding and a dull coat can often be turned into a soft and silky coat by adding a pet food additive.

Bovine colostrum is not just beneficial for the digestive health of your pets, as mentioned above. It can also address a plethora of issues and is an optimal supplement for pets that’s available in powder form that can be easily added to food. In addition to having bioactive properties to help address digestive issues and joint health, bovine colostrum supplements for dogs contain natural elements that can help speed up wound recovery time and proteins to accelerate skin cell production, which can lead to that healthy shine in your pet’s coat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bovine Colostrum for Dogs

Is bovine colostrum safe for dogs?

Yes! In fact, colostrum is the pre-milk that proceeds the production of breast milk that your puppy probably received right after birth, before it was weaned. However, you should always talk to your vet before adding any supplement to your pet’s daily diet.

How much colostrum should I give my dog?

The recommended dose is 1/16 teaspoon per 25 lbs. of body weight, one to two times per day for the first month. After that, it can be added to their food on an as needed basis.

How long does it take for colostrum to work?

On average, it takes approximately four weeks to see any results. This is a good starting point, but it might take even longer for lasting benefits to show, especially in pets.

Sara Seitz Super Pet Nutrition Colostrum-LD Review

PetKeen.com author and Sovereign Laboratories affiliate partner, Sara Seitz, puts Super Pet nutrition to the test with her cat, Makoa. She tries the human product too! Read about Sara’s experience on Pet Keen.