Naturally Supporting Your Dog’s Health

Our dogs mean the world to us. They are our best friends and our family members. Of course, we want to give them the longest, healthiest life we can. Fortunately, there are natural supplements you can give to help prevent health problems for your four-legged friend. These steps will help your dog feel great and will help you avoid expensive vet bills in the future.

Beautiful Coat and Skin

Everyone wants their dogs to have a healthy coat and skin. Not only does it help their overall appearance, but it is good for them. Dry, flaky skin can cause irritation and rashes, which are uncomfortable for our dogs. There are several natural methods to help your pup. Collagen is one of the main building blocks of your dog’s skin, so it can also keep their skin looking good and helps with a shiny coat.

Another supplement that can improve your dog’s coat and give it a beautiful shine is fish oil. Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids and is also used to help dogs with itchy skin and skin allergies. There have been additional studies looking at fish oil’s ability to reduce inflammation and support kidney functions. According to the American Kennel Club, many dog owners use it in this way. (1) These natural supplements can keep your dog’s skin and coat looking beautiful and healthy, and offer additional benefits to your dog’s health.

Healthy Supplements for Arthritis

As your dog enters their middle and senior years, it is also essential to care for their joint health. As they get older, dogs can have joint pain, stiffness, and arthritis. Fortunately, there are natural supplements that can help. Collagen, for example, is the most abundant protein in your dog’s body. (Ours too!) It is in our bones, muscles, skin, blood vessels, and tendons; this is why collagen can be a great preventative and can help your dog stay mobile and active.

Signs of arthritis in your dog include walking stiffly or slowly, limping, reduced activity, an unwillingness to jump, and since arthritis is so painful, irritability. (2) The most effective cure for arthritis involves catching it as early as possible. But even better is not letting it take hold at all. Supplements like collagen can help support your dog’s joint health as they age. Healthy joints mean you can avoid expensive surgeries and procedures later on.

Another popular natural supplement for dogs is glucosamine. Glucosamine can help improve mobility and relieve joint pain. In nature, glucosamine is found in the cartilage that cushions joints. When this cartilage degrades due to old age, glucosamine can help. It can also be helpful to aid in recovery if your pup has an injury or is recovering from surgery.

However, if you suspect your dog does have arthritis, collagen can assist even after pain and stiffness have set in. In studies on arthritic dogs, supplements with collagen significantly improved their overall pain and activity levels, all without side effects. (3) These natural supplements can assist in your dog’s overall health and help you avoid costly treatments.

Preventing Joint Instability

Some dogs are prone to unstable joints, which can lead to arthritis in later years. The three most common joint instability issues are hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation. Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the hips, and elbow dysplasia is a disorder of the elbow. These are more likely in large, fast-growing dogs. Small or toy breeds can have patellar luxation, which is a disorder of the kneecap. (4) Research has shown that natural supplements can help. In a study on Labradors, researchers found that a supplement containing collagen improved movement and swelling of elbow joints and actively reduced the signs of elbow dysplasia. (5) Preventing these problems early on means you won’t have to deal with them later on.

Counteracting Age-Related Ailments

Another helpful natural supplement that can support your dog’s health is antioxidants. They are used to help reduce some of the effects of aging, like reduced mental health and memory loss. Antioxidants also help protect your dog’s cells and cell membranes from free radicals. Free radicals can cause aging and cancer. But that isn’t all, antioxidants also help your pooch convert food into energy, which supports their immune system. Vitamins C and E are commonly used antioxidants.           

Care For Their Gut

One of the other reasons to make sure your dog is getting a good diet is to ensure their digestive tract is working well. Poor diet, stress, toxic substances, and antibiotics can all take their toll on your dog’s GI system. When this happens, the intestinal barrier in the little folds and pockets in their small intestines can become weakened, leading to particles leaving the intestine and entering the bloodstream. This can cause their immune system to flare up, leading to disease and allergy issues. Collagen can help soothe and repair the intestinal lining, keeping your pet’s gut working the way it should.

Other than collagen, another way to help your best friend’s gut is through probiotics. Probiotics help with digestion, reduce intestinal inflammation, and can help with elimination. They may also help with UTIs. These natural supplements ensure that your dog’s gut has good bacteria that will help them break down their food to extract the nutrients. In this way, the nutrients are absorbed properly and they get the nutrition they need.

Supplements for Urinary Health

Speaking of elimination, many dogs also have problems with urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and incontinence. These can be difficult and expensive problems to treat. Incontinence, in particular, can be frustrating and destructive to your home. Cranberry, organic licorice, astragalus, and marshmallow root are used in supplements to support kidney and bladder health.

Hearth Health

CoQ-10, or Coenzyme Q-10, is already part of your dog’s body. It is an essential part of the mitochondria in their cells. As you might remember from your school biology classes, mitochondria are responsible for producing energy. CoQ-10 is useful in muscles that use a lot of energy, like your dog’s heart and brain. As a supplement, it helps support the brain and heart function in our pets. It is also used as a supplement to help with inflammation and some cancers. (5)

Naturally Caring For Your Dog

There are many natural and common sense ways you can support your dog’s health throughout their lifetime. Supplements can be beneficial in helping your pet have a long and happy life – and keep your vet bills low.

For example, a simple supplement like collagen, combined with regular exercise, can help prevent painful and expensive problems like joint imbalances and arthritis. The We.Collagen supplement is adaptable and versatile. It will help keep your dog’s joints healthy, improve the volume of their coat, strengthen their gums, and help your four-legged best friend stay fit and active. Doing preventive care like using We.Collagen for their gut, skin, coat, heart, and brain will keep them feeling their best and looking beautiful.

Natural supplements help you avoid significant and costly problems that can come up when serious health problems arise. Emergency veterinary care, surgeries, and prescription medicines are extremely expensive. Surgeries can also mean long recovery periods, which can be difficult on your pet, and some prescriptions can have unfortunate side effects. Taking care of your pet at an early stage means that you may be able to avoid these problems in the future.

For all that they do, your dog deserves the best care. And in return, you will have a happy, healthy, loving pet for years to come.