With the influx of dog multivitamins on the market, it’s tricky choosing a quality product you can trust for your dog. Here is a guide to show you what aspects to prioritize when picking a multivitamin for your dog.
Essential vitamins
Any good multivitamin will contain the essential vitamins and minerals to enhance your dog’s all around health. Unless you are looking to treat a very specific health area, look for a multivitamin that includes essential vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B3, B6, B8, B12, C, D3, E, and K.Full spectrum of benefits
The best multivitamins will target a wide range of health areas. The foundational and most common areas to address for your dog are:Joints & mobility
How easy and pain free your dog moves will have the biggest impacts to their overall life enjoyment. Less pain and lubricated joints increase their desire to go for walks, play with toys, or follow their favorite humans around the house. Mood and energy also pick up when your dog is moving with less pain. Look for glucosamine and Chondroitin.Skin & coat health
A healthy coat is a great indicator of your dog’s overall health. Their coat should be shiny and smooth without coarse brittle hairs. Skin should be clear and supple without any greasy feel or flaky skin and bumps. Look for vitamin A, zinc, biotin.Gut health
A dog’s immune system runs largely through their gut. Make sure your dog has healthy gut bacteria, normal stools without any diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. A breakdown in your dog’s stomach lining (leaky gut) can lead to other problems including allergies. Look for probiotics, collagen, vitamin B12 and fiber.Immune system
Your dog needs a strong immune system to take on everyday life. Chemicals from household cleaners, allergens, and the countless objects your dog chews & eats are more likely to make your dog sick if their immune system is weakened. Look for vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants.Heart & brain health
Good heart and brain function will keep powering your dog throughout their life and allow them to continue interacting with the world around them. Look for taurine, vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants.What form it comes in
One aspect least considered when looking for a multivitamin is how you are going to give this to your dog. You don’t want to give it in a way your dog doesn’t like taking or will become bored with as this will only create more work for you and frustrate you both.Pills and powders
These have been around the longest, but might end up taking the most effort. Most pills need to be hidden in food or a treat anyway. Powder can take time to mix with your dog’s food or left at the bottom of the bowl if it’s not particularly tasty.Chews
Chews have become more popular recently with flavors that entice dogs to eat them more easily, acting like a treat. Try to look for chews that are made without heat to retain more of the nutritional value and ones that minimize fillers. The biggest drawback is for chews is they require owners to remember another routine to give their dog consistently.Creamy liquid
This is the newest form of dog multivitamin. The liquid form allows for better and quicker nutrient absorption and can be put directly on the meals you already give your dog. It also acts as a food topper, getting your dog more interested in their meals again, giving you a double benefit of more overall nutrition and sticking to one meal routine.Tasty Flavor
Tasty flavor will keep your dog taking their multi day after day. This part will ultimately come down to personal preference for your dog and how picky they are about eating. Complex flavors that include a meat component and natural food flavor will increase the chances of your dog loving the taste.Natural Ingredients
Look for all natural ingredients and this includes fillers, binders, and nonactive ingredients. Stay away from wheat, soy, corn, dairy and artificial ingredients as those may cause their own issues. You want natural, not a product full of synthetic ingredients simply so a brand can save money on their ingredients.Safe Manufacturing
Manufacturing should also a consideration. Products made in the USA have better oversight than products made overseas, especially in Asia.Tip: Look for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified products and Safe Quality Food. These are both certifications of high quality and clean production.
