Does Your Dog Really Need Supplements? Start Here First

Is your dog’s food actually nourishing them, or are they just surviving? Many dog owners worry about whether their dogs are getting enough nutrients, and supplements often seem like a quick fix. But the real solution might start with their diet.

Before you add any supplements to their diet, let’s take a closer look at why they might need them, the risks of unnecessary supplementation, and why fresh, whole food is often the answer.

Are Processed Foods Letting Your Dog Down?

The vast majority of dogs today eat diets made up of highly processed foods, like kibble/dry food or canned meals. While these diets may meet basic nutritional standards, they are often lacking in bioavailable nutrients—nutrients that your dog’s body can easily absorb and use.

If you’re considering supplements because your dog seems to lack energy, has a dull coat, or suffers from ailments like skin allergies or digestive issues, you’re not alone. But before reaching for supplements, it’s important to address the foundation of their health: their diet.

What Are Your Goals With Supplementing?

Before giving your dog any supplement, ask yourself:

1. Why are you supplementing? Is it to improve their coat, support recovery, or address a specific health issue?
2. Is it necessary? Does their current food meet their needs, or are deficiencies likely?

Many supplements promise a “shiny coat” or “better gut health,” but adding nutrients unnecessarily can be dangerous.

The Risks of Over-Supplementing

Nutrients like vitamins and minerals work together in delicate balance. Giving too much of one nutrient can throw off this balance and harm your dog. For example:

• Mild overdose: Could cause issues like diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Severe overdose: Can result in improper bone growth, kidney damage, or liver disease, depending on the nutrient.

At the same time, being nutrient-deficient is equally harmful. That’s why understanding bioavailability—how well nutrients are absorbed—is so important.

What is Bioavailability? Why It Matters

Bioavailability is how easily a nutrient can be absorbed into your dog’s bloodstream and have an active effect. Just because a supplement says “healthy” on the label doesn’t mean your dog’s body can use it.

Nature provides the most bioavailable nutrients in fresh, whole foods. For example:

• Lean meats and organs provide protein, iron, and essential B vitamins.
• Fresh vegetables like spinach and carrots offer fibre, phytonutrients and antioxidants.
• Healthy fats, like fish oil, support skin, coat, and brain health.

On the other hand, many synthetic supplements are poorly absorbed or not pre-activated, meaning they pass through your dog’s system unused or wreak havoc on internal systems. In these cases, you’re wasting money—and potentially putting your dog’s health at risk.

A Fresh Food Diet: The Foundation of Health

If your dog is eating a high-quality, fresh food diet, they likely don’t need supplements at all. That’s because fresh foods naturally provide the nutrients your dog needs in a form their body can easily absorb.

Here’s what a fresh food diet might look like:

• Proteins: Muscle meats, raw meaty bones and organ meats (liver, kidney).
• Plants: Spinach, watermelon, broccoli, berries and pumpkin.
• Healthy Fats: Fish oil, coconut oil, animal fat or raw egg.

Switching from highly processed foods to a fresh, whole-food diet can lead to remarkable changes, such as:

• A shinier coat and healthier skin.
• Better digestion and smaller, firmer stools.
• Improved energy levels and overall vitality.

Many dogs also find relief from chronic ear infections and skin allergies.

So, Does Your Dog Need Supplements?

Before spending money on supplements, consider this: are you addressing the root cause of your dog’s nutritional needs? Start by improving their diet. A fresh, whole-food approach often eliminates the need for additional supplementation.

Instead of using supplements to bridge the gaps in a poor diet, let’s try feeding real food.

Take the challenge: try feeding your dog a fresh food diet for a few weeks and watch for changes. You might just find you no longer need those supplements at all.

*A poorly formulated fresh diet can cause nutrient deficiencies. I recommend consulting with a professional canine nutritionist for advice on a diet that will suit your individual dog. A little bit of diet education will go a long way for you and your dog.