@bluescityleon I’m not a veterinarian, but in my personal opinion I think theres a big difference between different supplements.
You can add very natural things that has a lot of good stuff, then there’s the supplements that aren’t as natural.
For example there is stuff like blueberries for antioxidants, salmon oil (or just some boiled white fish) for omega 3, kefir for good bacteria that helps the stomach, green lipped mussel (usually powder or pills) works AMAZING for stiff/aching joints etc. This is “real stuff”, like it comes from actual animals or berries/veggies/fruits. These kind of supplements can also be great for picky dogs, because most dogs think it’s delicious.
Then there are some more processed supplements, mixing a bunch of stuff together. Like mixing things that are good for different things, or mixing a lot of vitamins in one supplement. Then your dog might get too much of some of the vitamins and not enough of some. Some vitamins can be way too “strong” for small dogs like yours.
It’s also not great to rely on things like these, you can’t give your dog a few supplements every day and believe that is solves/prevents everything. Just because you give “vitamin XXX” doesn’t mean it’s enough if your dogs diet isn’t properly balanced.
So, in my opinion, there’s a difference between putting some salmon oil in their food to help some dry skin or fur, and putting 15 different supplements in the bowl (especially if the diet is not balanced, eg homemade without proper knowledge about nutrition for dogs).
Also, if your dog is not sick, regular dog food should have
everything a dog needs. Well at least all it needs to live, but some supplement can improve their life. Just make sure you have the right food for species, life stage, size, activity level and other (individual) needs. It is quite fun to add some little things to their food, but in moderation. I’m telling you, a single green bean and a pump of salmon oil goes a long way for my chihuahua! Especially if I add water or bone broth!
To make sure your dog stays as healthy as possible, do yearly vet visits, separate from vaccinations. They will check for a lot of stuff and recommend treatment if they find something, if you do this chances are you find it early. The vet will also be happy to answer questions about nutrition and supplements.
The one thing you can do for your dog that will prevent so much trouble in the future is to keep her fit. You can look at
this for reference. You want her at a 4 or a 5. A dog that is slightly too thin
(probably referring to a 4/9, this is ideal, but more on the fit/thin side) lives up to 2 years longer than a dog that is slightly overweight, and they have a better quality of life as well. Her weight is 100% up to you (and other family members), you are feeding her, she can’t really go grab a snack from the fridge herself. If she is at a healthy weight now, great!! Just keep an eye on her as she gets older her metabolism might slow down.
ETA: Since every little bit of extra weight on their body will affect them negatively sooner or later, I personally want my chihuahua at around a 4 now that he is an adult. I was cautious to keep him at that when he was a puppy but he turned 1 in June so it’s okay. He isn’t a very hungry dog so he is easy to keep lean without constant begging
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