Home-Made Nutritional Supplements for Dogs

Among the natural products we humans have available to us, there are certain foods such as oils, spices and yeasts that can be highly advisable in certain cases for our dogs.

We do need to know what amount to give and when, though, since too much of these supplements can be harmful. As with everything in life, each thing in its proper measure. Let's run through the best supplements, how to give them and what benefits they offer.

Brewer's Yeast

Brewer's yeast is a valuable addition to our dog's diet: it has high amounts of phosphorus and is rich in amino acids such as lysine, methionine, tryptophan and cysteine, essential for good nutrition.

It provides B complex vitamins, such as thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid and pantothenic acid. If you give sensible amounts of yeast systematically in your pet's diet, you will notice their skin looking smoother and healthier, while their coat gains strength and shine.

Your pet will also be more energetic and focused, thanks to the benefits of brewer's yeast on the central nervous system. It strengthens the immune system and optimises digestion.

It acts as a natural repellent against external parasites, since it reacts with vitamin B1, slightly changing the taste and smell of the blood; this way we stop fleas, mosquitoes or ticks being attracted to our dog.

The recommended dose for a healthy dog of around 30 kilos is one teaspoon (yes, the small ones) once a day, three or four days a week. It should be given with caution, since too much can lead to diarrhoea.

Salmon Oil

Salmon oil is well known among professionals in the canine world, since it is widely used in show dogs and as a natural supplement. It can be bought in any pet shop, in capsule or liquid form.

Although the oil of any other fish works too, salmon oil is the most widely used for its beneficial properties and its metabolic efficiency; that is, your pet's body puts these nutrients straight to use with no prior conversion needed.

Salmon oil provides a daily supplement rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, supporting optimal health and cardiovascular protection. It gives our dogs' coat a very noticeable shine, as well as being very good for their skin too. Dogs who take part in beauty competitions usually have this oil for several months before the event, to improve the quality of their coat.

The recommended dose for a healthy dog of around 30 kilos is one tablespoon a day, mixed into their usual food. If we notice our dog's stools starting to look far shinier than normal, almost oily, we lower this dose to half a tablespoon a day.

Tinned Sardines

Sardines are an exceptional food source, very complete and highly beneficial for our dog's health. We should choose sardines tinned in oil, since other formats such as "in vinegar" are not at all advisable.

They offer high doses of fatty acids that benefit our dog, as well as a large amount of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron. B, A and D vitamins too — in short, a very nourishing, wholesome food.

They are widely used as a supplement in dogs doing intense physical activity, sporting dogs or dogs who are a little run down nutritionally. They provide a very noticeable extra boost of energy, as well as being very good for their body nutritionally.

The recommended dose for a healthy dog of 30 kilos is half a tin of sardines a week. It is best given all at once alongside their usual food, rather than spread out daily.

Oregano

Oregano is a spice very common in human cooking, but it is also an excellent supplement for our dogs. It has many beneficial properties, though perhaps the most notable is its antifungal property.

Oregano helps our dog repel fungal attacks on their skin, ears, gut or any part of their body. Given in the right doses it can even be used as a natural preventive during periods of greater fungal activity, such as spring and winter.

It also has digestive and anti-inflammatory properties, good for organs such as the liver or pancreas. It is without doubt a great ally for dogs, though as with everything… in its proper measure.

The recommended dose for a healthy dog of 30 kilos is a quarter of a teaspoon (the small one) a day, three or four days a week.

Seaweed

Seaweed is not only healthy for our dogs, but for us too. It is somewhat hard to get hold of; although some health food shops stock it, we need to look closely, since it is not always good quality. Don't let anyone pass off inferior goods on you.

Seaweed, such as the well-known spirulina for example, offers our dogs a large amount of essential minerals. Natural minerals — we should not confuse these with the chemical ones some kibbles use as an additive. Its high iodine content benefits cellular metabolism and the synthesis of thyroid hormones.

Beyond minerals, they contain trace elements, vitamins and protein highly recommended for the diet of any living creature. They are without doubt the food of the future… though for now, they are only a supplement :)

The recommended dose of seaweed for a healthy dog of around 30 kilos is one tablespoon a week. We can give the seaweed dried (crushed) or pre-hydrated. We recommend buying it dehydrated, though everyone has their preferences…

Kefir

Kefir is an entirely natural product obtained from milk or sugared water. It is a collection of bacteria highly beneficial to dogs and humans alike, which has been used as a natural remedy for centuries.

Its properties are simply astonishing: it destroys the harmful bacteria found in our dog's body (digestive tract) and encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria. It is also recommended in dogs with digestive illnesses such as E. coli or Salmonella, given these properties.

On top of that, it contains a wide variety of B group vitamins, and vitamins A, D and K. As well as various highly nutritious minerals.

The recommended dose of kefir for a healthy dog of around 30 kilos is two or three small teaspoons a day. At first it is better to start with smaller doses to avoid upsets, and increase them gradually.

There are obviously many other nutritional supplements that can bring great benefits to our dog… such as cinnamon, among so many others. The ones we have mentioned here are the ones we use personally and routinely, with good results.

If you know of any other natural supplement you have tried that offers good benefits, you can suggest it in the comments or by email and we will add it to the list.