Supplements

VITAMINS/MINERALS:

Vitamin A:

Liver, eggs, cheddar cheese, greens, carrots, pumpkin

B complex(thiamine and folate):

B complex is a balanced form of vitamin B supplementation; which is the only way B vitamins should be given, unless specifically instructed to give one of the B vitamins by your veterinarian. B vitamins are cofactors for a number of important biological processes. They are important in maintaining a positive environment for neural regenerative efforts. In addition, they are water soluble so that any excess is merely eliminated in the urine. I recommend that all dogs receive B complex supplements twice a day.

For small dogs, use the regular B complex. For medium size dogs, use high potency B complex (B 50s). For large dogs, use high potency stress formula B complex (B 100s).

B12:

Can help old dogs stay alert

Vitamin D:

It is important to feed foods rich in this vitamin especially in winter.

Sardines, oysters, eggs, and liver

Copper:

An essential trace mineral.

Beef Liver

Iodine: An essential trace mineral.

Kelp, oysters, sardines

Lutein: Eyesight

Green leafy vegetables including spinach, broccoli

Manganese: Is an essential trace mineral.

Spinach, Yams, Broccoli, Flaxseed, hempseed, kelp

Potassium:

Almonds, Apricots, Bananas, sweet potatoes

Sodium:

cheese and cottage cheese

Salt:

Salt is essential in maintaining the electrical balance of a dogs body. In the ancestral diet, blood and organs contained substantial amounts of salt.

Plain salt should be used, not iodized, as iodized salt is inconsistent in it’s iodine content. Iodine will be added with kelp. Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt can add amounts of trace minerals that may be beneficial.

Zinc:

Some breeds have difficulty with Zinc, but most need to receive more than the normal level.

Beef

Oysters (great for pregnant and lactating females)

Sardines

ANTIOXIDANTS:

Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is an important nutrient which has been shown to have a number of physiologic and pharmacologic effects. It in a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Poultry diets require more Vitamin E than do beef diets. Use natural sources of Vitamin E listed with the “d” form: d-alpha-tocopherol.

For dogs under 2 years of age, give 400 IU of vitamin E daily. For dogs over 2 years of age, give 800 IU of vitamin E daily.

raw almonds, beets,Spinach, sweet potatoes

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C works with vitamin E and helps regenerate vitamin E, potentiating its antioxidant effect. Vitamin C supplementation does no harm, since the excess is excreted through the kidney. While dogs produce vitamin C in their bodies (unlike human beings and guinea pigs who must have it in their diet), under stress or disease, they may need vitamin C in excess of their manufacturing capacity. In excessive dose, vitamin C can cause flatulence and diarrhea. This intestinal tolerance level varies among dogs, but is generally around 3000 mg per day in an adult German Shepherd. I recommend this be given to all dogs.

For dogs under 2 years of age, give 250 mg vitamin C twice a day. For dogs over 2 years of age, give 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day.

Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Brussels sprouts

Beta-carotene:

Beta-carotene is an important antioxidant which may protect against certain forms of cancer. It is available in fresh vegetables and can be provided by eating plenty of these. If vegetables are lacking in the diet, then supplementation with extra beta-carotene is probably wise.

The dosage should be between 10,000 and 25,000 IU daily, depending upon the size of the dog. (One medium raw carrot has 25,000 IU of beta-carotene; cooking reduces the content by half.)

Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Squash, Sweet Potatoes

Coenzyme Q10:

CQ10 is essential for cellular energy production, and acts as an anti-oxidant that protects the fatty acids in cell membranes from oxidation.

Organ meats: beef hearts

Flax seed:

Contains essential vitamins and minerals (including vitamin B and potassium), fiber, and protein. It plays a significant role in canine cardiovascular health and skin and coat health. Flax seed is an important source of fiber and antioxidants, and it may have anti-tumor properties as well.

Selenium:

Selenium is an important mineral which has antioxidant properties similar to vitamin E. Vitamin E can replace the requirement for selenium in the body, but selenium cannot substitute for vitamin E. In addition, selenium does not cross the blood-brain barrier like vitamin E. On the other hand, selenium may help allow vitamin E to be more effective. Many plant sources are low in selenium and supplementation may be important.

raw almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, meat, fish, eggs

Taurine:

Dogs cannot live without this vital, eye, brain, heart nutrient

Beef heart

Carnitine:

Carnitines exert a substantial antioxidant action which benefits the heart, dogs with weak kidneys

Beef

OTHER NECESSARY COMPOUNDS:

Bones:

Bone is necessary for proper calcium and phosphorus. If you don’t feed raw bones, then adding bone meal to your dog’s diet will be necessary (1.5-2% of meat weight). Dicalcium Phosphate or powdered egg shells (1% of meat weight) may be substituted for bone meal.

Digestive Enzymes:

Products with lactose my cause problems for some animals, so it is a good idea to add digestive enzymes which are not fungal to their food. Digestive enzymes are lost in cooking and are found in prey animal’s digestive systems which we usually don’t feed. There are many good products which can be bought for digestive enzymes. Usually, major improvements can be seen in health and digestion with the use of these products.

Omega 3 Fats:

Sardines, high quality eggs, krill oil, flax oil, hemp oil

Probiotics:

Maintain the balance of beneficial flora in the gut. The best probiotics are found in the dairy section in the whole/health food store. These are especially useful during antibiotic use, after an illness, for chronic digestive issues, or immune problem. Plain Kefir or Yogurt will provide the beneficial organisms. Kefir is the best choice with a wider range of beneficial organisms.

Fiber:

Fiber may be needed because we usually don’t feed our dogs fur or other non-digestible parts of dog’s prey from their ancestral diet. Fiber remains largely undigested and slows the digested system to balance water content in the intestines, creating a healthy colon. If your dog has dry stools or loose stools, or has difficulty defecating, add fiber. Ground psyllium is the easiest way to add fiber to your dog’s diet, but adding sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or ground veggies will also help. Apples, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and seeds, and Flax seed can also be added to your dog’s diet as a source of fiber.

Glandular Products:

These are made up of the tiny glands and organs that animals eat in the wild. These include, in addition to the heart and liver, pituitary, hypothalamus, adrenal, pancreas, spleen and other substances. Since we are usually not able to supply our animals with these products, you may want to supplement with a glandular product sold in capsule or powder form.

Ribose:

An organic monosaccharide (simple sugar) which benefits the heart function and is important for active, working dogs.

Raw Red Meats

Glucosamine/Chondroitin/Hyaluronic acid:

These nutrients are reported to help relieve joint and soft tissue pain.

egg shells

bone broth

Membrane Stabilizers:

Omega-3 fatty acids:

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, probably the most important fat for brains and eyes)

These are the constituents of fish oils that act as anti-inflammatory agents and may be worth trying if your dog has an autoimmune disorder or arthritis.

Herring, Sardines, Mackerel, Anchovies,

ground flax seeds or flax oil, hemp seed

enriched eggs, grass fed meat, animal brains and eyes

I recommend all dogs receive 1000 mg of fish oil capsule, 1 T ground flax seeds or eat 2 sardines every day. Since some studies have demonstrated negative or adverse effects using fish oil capsules (due to spoilage), I prefer giving sardines or ground flax seeds as the supplement source.

Phosphatidylserine (PS):

A phospholipid component that can help with memory, intelligence, and mood. It has also been used in sports nutrition to speed up recovery, prevent muscle soreness, improve well-being, and might possess ergogenic properties in athletes.

Mackerel

Sardines

Chicken heart

Atlantic herring

Egg yokes

Gammalinolenic acid (GLA):

A fatty acid which is hard to get in the diet. GLA is an effective anti-inflammatory agent with none of the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs. It also promotes healthy growth of skin, hair, and nails. It may be good for skin conditions, arthritis, and autoimmune disorders. It takes six to eight weeks to see changes after adding GLA to the diet.

Evening primrose oil

black currant oil

borage oil

I recommend small to medium dogs receive 500 mg of a GLA source daily, either as evening primrose oil, as black currant oil or as borage oil. Large dogs should receive 500 mg of a GLA source twice a day.

 

HERBS:

Ginkgo leaves:

One tonic I recommend is an herbal preparation made from the leaves of the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba). Recently extracts of ginkgo leaves have attracted much attention from researchers because of their ability to increase blood flow to the brain. You can buy capsules of these extracts in most health- food stores, although different brands vary considerably in their content of active ingredients (ginkgolides). Ginkgo is nontoxic.

For dogs with nervous system disorders, give 1 capsule twice a day.

Ginseng: (males only)

Two species of ginseng are available: Oriental ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium). Both are full of compounds (ginsenosides) that work on the pituitary-adrenal axis, increasing resistance to stress and affecting metabolism, skin and muscle tone, and hormonal balance. Oriental ginseng is more of a stimulant and can raise blood pressure in some people, so I recommend using only the American species for dogs. Ginseng probably has little to offer young dogs, but may provide an increase in vitality to older one.

I recommend using 1 capsule of American ginseng once or twice a day in male dogs over 6 years of age.

Dong quai: (females only)

Dong quai is a Chinese herbal remedy made from the root of Angelica sinensis, a large plant in the carrot family. It is often called “female ginseng,” because it is a general tonic for women and the female reproductive system in much the same way that ginseng acts as a tonic for men and the male reproductive system. Dong quai is available in the form of encapsulated extracts. It is a good general remedy for female dogs who lack energy.

I recommend using 1 capsule of dong quai once or twice a day for female dogs over 5 years of the age.

Green tea:

Green tea is a good general tonic and has some cholesterol lowering effects. It also contains theophylline which can help boost energy. It is available as a capsular extract or you can make green tea and add it to the diet.

I recommend 1 capsule (or cup) twice a day for dogs.

Grape seed extract:

A great deal of recent evidence supports the value of grape seed extract in reducing free radicals and decreasing the chances of developing chronic diseases. It is best to use standardized extracts. Alternatively, your dog can drink 1 cup of “purple” grape juice a day.

The dose of the extract is 1 capsule daily (usually 50 mg in strength).

Siberian Ginseng:

Siberian ginseng is derived from the root of a large, spiny shrub (Eleutherococcus senticosus) found in Siberia and northern China. It is a relative of true ginseng, but has entirely different properties. Siberian ginseng has “adaptogenic” properties and reduces physiologic responses to stress. Scientific investigations suggest it increases physical performance and endurance and improves immune function.

For dogs, give 1 capsule twice a day.

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You can also purchase many of these in dry form from various sources and mix yourself. Many animal science companies have mixed their own complete supplement. A source I use is NuVet Labs which contains many of these ingredients.