5 Supplements to Add to Your Dog’s Food for Better Health

For many dog owners, feeding their dog means simply pouring kibble into a bowl. Store-bought kibble is easy to buy and easy to store – no wonder it is the most popular way to feed your dog.

But even the priciest dog kibble can lack the essentials or be improved to help give your dog a diet that is best suited for them.

We feed our dog a homemade dog food diet, so we’ve spent a lot of time researching supplements. We have found these 5 supplements to add to your dog’s food to be the most well-rounded for their health.

Remember to always check with your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is great for improving your dog’s coat, preventing infection, and aiding in digestion.

The MCT’s in coconut oil provide healthier skin and weight loss. Coconut oil also includes Lauric Acid which have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

When giving your dog coconut oil, it’s important to start with small amounts. Too much will upset their stomach. A good guideline is to start with ¼ teaspoon for small dogs and puppies and 1 teaspoon for larger dogs.

When they seem to have grown accustomed to coconut oil in their food work up to 1 teaspoon per ten pounds of body weight.

Raw Honey

Honey is rich in vitamins A, B, C, D and K. It’s also packed with antioxidants. But, that’s not all raw honey can provide. It also helps when dealing with allergies, can promote healthy digestion, and soothe kennel cough.

Much like people, dogs can be sensitive to pollen and dust. Spring and summer are especially difficult for dogs with allergies and can result in symptoms like pawing at their eyes, licking their feet or scratching.

Adding local, unfiltered raw honey can help soothe your pup’s allergies. Simply add a tablespoon to their food daily. (This same tip can work for humans with pollen allergies!)

Fish Oil

Fish oil contains EPA and DHA, which are omega-3’s that can help with anything from arthritis, to skin problems, and cognitive functioning.

Make sure to check the dosage on the back of the bottle to know how much to give your dog. If you are uncertain, try buying fish oil that is made specifically for dogs to help determine proper dosage.

Too much fish oil can result in weight gain, increased bleeding, and inflammation.

Lots of dogs will enjoying eating the fish oil capsule buy itself, but if they don’t seem interested, simply cut the capsule and drizzle it onto their food.

Kefir

If your dog has yeast problems (inflammatory skin conditions) or problems with gas, adding kefir to their diet might do the trick.

Kefir is made from kefir grains and cultures. It looks like milk but contains more than 30 different strains of good bacteria as well as B complex vitamins, amino acids and vitamin D.

Small dogs should be given 1 teaspoon and large dog can be given up to 3 table spoons.

Turmeric

Containing powerful antioxidants, turmeric isn’t just a spice to make your dinner tastier, it can actually help decrease inflammation, help prevent the risk of blood clots, and protect the liver.

Turmeric is difficult for the body to absorb by itself. It needs to be made into a paste, gravy or capsule to be safe. Turmeric Life has some great recipes.

Small dogs should start with ¼ teaspoon a day, large dogs can start with ¾ teaspoon a day. If your dog is on medication or diabetic, it’s best to skip on the turmeric as it could interfere with their medications.

We hope we’ve provided helpful insights into the type of supplements to add to your dog food. Let us know what you add for supplements!