5 Signs Your Dog Needs Nutritional Supplements

Reviewed By Tom •  Updated: 04/19/21 •  5 min read
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Having a dog with you is one of the most amazing things in the world as it can fill your home with joy. With that, you need to ensure that your dog can have the same happiness and love they give to you. Along with this, it’s your responsibility to give them the appropriate nutrients that they need to be healthy.  

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When it comes to your dog’s health, you need to ensure that they’re getting enough. However, no matter how healthy you feed your dog, they might be needing additional nutritional supplements like the ones you can find out here. To help determine if your dog needs nutritional supplements, here are the signs you should take note of:

Change Of Coat or Skin 

You should know the ideal coat of your dog. Preferably, your dog’s coat should be shiny and smooth. For your dog’s skin, it should be in a healthy light pink color without any red patches indicating irritation or rashes.  

You need to be observant with your dog’s skin as you cannot usually see them, especially for breeds that have thicker coats. If you could check for your dog’s skin condition daily, it’ll be great. In that way, you can immediately prepare and fix what’s wrong with your dog. Also, when it comes to your dog’s skin, any changes might be a sign of nutritional deficiency.  

If you notice that your dog has a sudden change with their coat or skin and you haven’t switched their dog food and shampoo, it could be an early sign of nutritional deficiency. In this case, immediately consult with a vet.   

Lack Of Energy 

If your dog is usually joyful and then has a sudden change of mood and energy, it could be an indication that your dog would need nutritional supplements so they can go back on their feet.  

When your dog lacks energy, it could be because they’re having a deficiency with carbohydrates, which is considered a primary energy source. Moreover, if you notice that your dog isn’t their usual self for a minimum of three days, you can bring them to the vet and ask which kind of nutritional supplements your dog needs.  

Gets Sick Easily  

Regardless of the healthy foods you give to your dog, if you notice that they’re always getting sick, you might need to provide them a nutritional supplement to fill the gap in their needs.  

Some dogs may require additional nutrients as they might have an underlying issue that you don’t know about. In most cases, you’ll need to give your dog additional Vitamin A in their diet, which could come in the foods that you serve. However, if you’d like to guarantee that they’re genuinely getting the nutrients they need, providing a nutritional supplement would never hurt.  

Before you provide your dog with any supplements, you should consult with your vet first, especially if they have a previous illness. 

Change Of Tongue and Gum Color 

Ideally, your dog’s gum and teeth should be in a healthy pink color. Unless your dog had a natural black or brown patch, you shouldn’t worry too much. However, you should be cautious when you notice a change of color in your dog’s tongue and gum.  

As you play with your dog and you notice that their gum and tongue have a sudden change of color that doesn’t just come in patches, but as a whole, you may want to consult with your vet immediately so they can further assess if it’s something serious. If you also observe that they have inflamed gums and loss of appetite, you should be extra cautious and drive to your vet’s clinic immediately.  

Your vet should be able to provide you with proper medication and nutritional supplements you can give to your dog. 

Have Trouble Moving  

If you notice that your dog is having trouble with mobility, even if they’re still young, it’ll be great if you could provide your dog with additional calcium. If you’re having problems giving your dog milk as part of their beverage, it’ll be helpful if you could provide them a calcium supplement so they could have stronger bones without consuming the actual milk.  

Moreover, if you notice that your dog is acting strangely or is showing that they’re in great pain, you should bring them to the vet so they could run tests to assess your dog’s situation.  

Conclusion 

Your dog’s health is essential, and you shouldn’t ignore it as it can put their lives at risk. When you notice the early signs of nutrient deficiency, you should consider bringing them to the vet to know if giving them nutrients would be the best option for them.

 

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Tom

Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!

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