There are so many supplements being marketed toward dogs these days. How can you possibly know which one or ones are the best for your dog? While each dog has his own health, nutrition, and supplemental needs that you should discuss with your vet before adding supplements to your dog’s diet, one veterinarian believes that nearly every dog in the country would benefit from one supplement in particular. Which one would that be? Read on to find out!
Dr. Karen Becker is a holistic, proactive, and integrative wellness veterinarian who offers the most up-to-date information on species-appropriate nutrition, lifestyle choices, and proactive living for Mercola Healthy Pets. She recommends using as many living, raw ingredients in your dog’s diet as possible but recognizes that a raw diet isn’t right for every family.
In her video, “The Supplement Most Needed By Your Pet,” Dr. Becker discusses the importance of enzymes to your dog’s digestive system and why most dogs, including some who are on raw diets, don’t have enough digestive enzymes and suffer from a wide variety of digestive problems as a result. Dogs don’t naturally produce enough enzymes to naturally digest their food. Since the way that wild dogs and wolves get enough enzymes into their diet is from eating the entrails of their prey, there is no good way to add those enzymes into a domestic dog’s diet without a supplement.
Related: 12 Best Dog Breath Fresheners
Processed commercial dog foods are made using high levels of heat, which kills off any enzymes that would have made it into their food, and most raw diets don’t include entrails, especially since the best source of enzymes is the pancreas, which is illegal to sell in many places. Green tripe can provide some enzymes, but not enough to really help with digestion.
The supplement that Dr. Becker recommends that most dogs receive is a digestive enzyme supplement to aid in digestion. If your dog suffers from gas, acid reflux, belching, bloating, abdominal pain, extremely foul-smelling greasy stool, bad breath, or vomiting, he could likely benefit from a digestive enzyme. Digestive enzymes are particularly critical for dogs that only receive a dry dog food diet (kibble).
Related: 10 Best Eye Supplements for Dogs
If you’d like to learn more about digestive enzymes, and the product that iHeartDogs recommends, click here.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional.
(H/T: Mercola)
- Best Joint Supplement for Dogs
- Best CBD Gummies for Dogs
- Goat's Milk for Dogs
- Skin & Coat Supplements for Dogs
- Weight Gain Supplements for Dogs
- Muscle Building Supplements for Dogs
- Heart Supplements for Dogs
- Multivitamins for Dogs
- Pill Pockets for Dogs
- Digestive Enzymes for Dogs
- Turmeric for Dogs
- Liver Supplements for Dogs
- Tear Stain Supplement for Dogs
- Breath Fresheners for Dogs
- Kidney, Urinary, & Bladder Supplements for Dogs
- Stool Eating Deterrent for Dogs
- Eye Supplements for Dogs
- Melatonin for Dogs
- Apple Cider Vinegar for Dogs
- Green Lipped Mussels for Dogs
- L Theanine for Dogs
- Chondroitin Supplements for Dogs
- MSM for Dogs
- Valerian Root for Dogs
- Chamomile for Dogs
- Boswellia for Dogs
- L Tryptophan for Dogs
- Yucca for Dogs
- Licorice Root for Dogs
- Bromelain for Dogs
- Papain for Dogs
- Devil's Claw for Dogs
- Quercetin for Dogs
- Hemp gummy for dogs
- Best Hemp Dog Treats
- Best Hemp Oil for Dogs
- Best Calming Treats, Chews, & Supplements for Dogs
- Best Bone Broth for Dogs
- Best Fish Oil for Dogs
- Best Probiotics for Dogs
- Best Hip Dysplasia Supplements for Dogs
- Best Colostrum for Dogs
- Best Quercetin for Dogs
- Best Greens for Dogs Supplements
- Best Vitamin C Supplements for Dogs
- Best Probiotic for Dog with Allergies
- Best Taurine Supplements for Dogs
- Best Dog Food Toppers
- Best Anal Gland Supplement for Dogs
- Best Dog Probiotic Powder
- Best CoQ10 Supplement for Dogs
- Best Liquid Glucosamine for Dogs
- Best Wrinkle Creams, Balms, and Wipes for Dogs
- Best Puppy Calming Treats
- Best Colloidal Silver for Dogs
- Best Adaptogen Supplements for Dogs
- Best Cognitive Supplements for Dogs
- Best Bee Pollen for Dogs
- Best Vitamin A Supplements for Dogs
- Best Vitamin E Supplements for
- Best Liquid Glucosamine Supplements for Dogs
- Best SAM-e Supplements for Dogs
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Supplements for Dogs
- Best Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements for Dogs
- Best Diarrhea Medicine for Dogs
- Best Milk Thistle for Dogs
- Best Turkey Tail Mushroom Supplements for Dogs
- Best Astaxanthin Supplements for Dogs
- Best Lutein Supplements for Dogs
- Best Electrolyte Supplements for Dogs
- Best Coconut Oil for Dogs
- Best Prenatal Vitamins for Dogs
- Best Puppy Milk Replacements
- Best Iron Supplements for Dogs
- Best Dewormer Products for Dogs
- Best Mange Medications for Dogs
- Best Cough Relief Products for Dogs
- Best Sinus Relief Products for Dogs
- Best Collapsed Trachea Supplements for Dogs
- Best Fireworks Anxiety Relief Products for Dogs
- Best Thunderstorm Anxiety Relief Products for Dogs
- Best Travel Anxiety Relief Product for Dogs
- Best Supplements for a Dog with a Torn ACL
- Best Supplements for a Dog with Patellar Luxation
- Best Supplements for a Dog with Intervertebral Disc Disease
- Best Zinc Supplements for Dogs
- Best Biotin Supplements for Dogs
- Best Tart Cherry Supplements for Dogs
- Best Resveratrol Supplements for Dogs
- Best Ginkgo Biloba Supplements for Dogs
- Best Ashwagandha Supplements for Dogs
- Best Supplements for Dogs with Cushing's Disease
- Best Adrenal Supplements for Dogs
- Best NAD+ Supplements for Dogs
- Best NMN Supplements for Dogs
- Best Supplements for Dogs with Dementia
- Best Supplements for Dogs with CCD(Canine Cognitive Dysfunction)
- Best Fiber Supplements for Dogs
- Best Spirulina for Dogs
- Best Hairball Remedies for Dogs
- Best Eye Drops for Dogs with Allergies
- Best Magnesium Supplements for Dogs
- Best Brushes for Double-Coated Dogs
- Best Dandelion Root Supplements for Dogs
- Best Probiotic for Dogs with Yeast Infections
- Best Flaxseed Oil for Dogs
- Best Chamomile Supplements for Dogs
- Best Lavender Supplements. Treats & Sprays for Dogs
- Best Collagen Supplements for Dogs
- Best Kelp Supplements for Dogs
- Best Activated Charcoal for Dogs
- Best Slippery Elm Supplements for Dogs
- Best Supplements for Dogs with Seizures & Epilepsy
- Best Antioxidant Supplements for Dogs
- Best Ubiquinol Supplements for Dogs
- Best Hormone & Glandular Supplements for Dogs
- Best Thyroid Supplements for Dogs
- Best Iodine Supplements for Dogs
- Best Dog Shedding Supplements for Dogs
- Best Detox Supplements for Dogs
- Best Postbiotics for Dogs
- Best Aspirin Products for Dogs
- Best Dog Anti-Nausea Products
- Best Dog Mouthwashes
- Best Camelina Oils for Dogs
- Best Hemp Seed Oils for Dogs
- Best Natural Anti-Inflammatories for Dogs
- Best Cancer Supplements for Dogs
- Best Sardine & Anchovy Oils for Dogs
- Best Fatty Acid Supplements for Dogs
- Best Chia Seed Supplements & Treats for Dogs
- Best Olive Oils for Dogs
- Best Amino Acid Supplements for Dogs
- Best Moringa Supplements for Dogs
- Best Echinacea Supplements for Dogs
- Best Cranberry Supplements for Dogs
- Best D-Mannose Supplements for Dogs
- Best Nettle Leaf Supplements for Dogs
- Best Marshmallow Root Supplements for Dogs
- Best Astragalus Supplements for Dogs
- Best Pumpkin Seed Supplement for Dogs
- Best Supplements for a Dog Wetting The Bed
- Best Blueberry Supplement for Dogs
- Best Bromelain Supplements for Dogs
- Best Yucca Supplements for Dogs
- Best Ginger Supplements for Dogs
- Best Rosehip Supplements for Dogs
- Best Allergy Medicines for Dogs
- Best Reishi Mushroom Supplement for Dogs
- Best Maitake Mushroom Supplement for Dogs
- Best Chaga Mushroom Supplement for Dogs
- Best Shiitake Mushroom Supplement for Dogs
- Best Cordyceps Mushroom Supplement for Dogs
- Best Lion's Maine Supplement for Dogs
- Have question? - Ask in our Dog Health Forum