The old adage of ‘prevention is better than cure’ rings true when it comes to your dog’s nutrition, health and development. While we might often think of supplements as a treatment to address ailments as they arise, nutritional support is essential for the prevention of many common health conditions in dogs. The tissues in your dog’s body require a diverse range of key nutrients to develop, and these nutrients are also essential for the maintenance of the body’s systems over time. The prevention of common eye, joint, skin and digestive issues can all be aided by dietary supplementation.
While pharmaceutically developed supplements are available, we prefer to find natural solutions to canine nutritional requirements. The natural dog supplements that we offer in the Gully Road range are safe and extremely beneficial to feed in their recommended doses. These also are effective in supplementing many of the nutrients required within the body including proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. These essential nutrients are required as part of the dog’s regular diet and are involved in all of the basic functions of the body. We’ve listed our favourite dog supplements in the range below, along with their key nutritional value.
You can refer to our previous article, All About Supplements for Dogs for more in depth information on each of these as well as the recommended feeding guides.
Organic Rosehip for Dogs
Rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, Rosehip is a particularly potent source of vitamin C. It also contains significant amounts of Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin B5 as well as polyphenols, galactolipids, catechins, quercetin, ellagic acid and carotenoid pigments known as lycopene and beta carotene.
Benefits of Rosehip for Dogs
Rosehip is important for overall health as well as the prevention and treatment of joint problems. This supplement and its abundance of vitamins provides immune system support, while also assisting in reducing inflammation and promoting good joint health. Rosehip also improves skin and coat quality and is important in assisting all kinds of physical recovery.
‘My 8 yr old somewhat grumpy-towards-puppies Moodle pulled up with the dreaded twisted knee from his obvious Olympic Ball team training he just must do daily. The MSM and Rosehip combo started working within the week. It’s now been 3 weeks. He is bounding around like a much younger dog. Not chewing his knees after a ball session (reduced time and intensity) and I’m being that person reaching for the camera when he is playing with another dog like he was a puppy again!’
– Deanne
Gelatin Supplement for Dogs
Gelatin is made up primarily of protein and more specifically collagen, which is an essential component of healthy bones, cartilage, skin and joints. Gelatin also contains key amino acids glycine, proline, valine, hydroxyproline and glutanic acid.
Benefits of Gelatin for Dogs
Collagen – the key component of gelatin – is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. Therefore, feeding gelatin assists in the development and maintenance of healthy tissues, particularly connective tissues. This also supports the digestive tract and the digestive organs, while aiding inflammation within the body’s systems.
Green Lipped Mussels for Dogs
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels are a potent source of several types of omega-3 fatty acids, including Eicosatetraenoic Acid. These are also an excellent source of zinc as well as iron, selenium and several B-vitamins.
Benefits of Green Lipped Mussels for Dogs
The key benefit of Green Lipped Mussels is their anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce swelling and pain while promoting overall good health. Importantly, New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel contains an omega-3 fatty acid that can’t be found in oily fish — eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA). ETA has been shown to block pain signals in the body in a similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, but it does not result in the same side effects. This also has a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than other omega-3 fatty acids. Green lipped mussels also support growth and joint repair and are beneficial to dogs with arthritis.
Kelp Supplement for Dogs
King Island Kelp is a natural source of vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D and E, as well as minerals including zinc, iodine, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper and calcium. Kelp is also rich in amino acids and omega 3s, as well as an abundance of antioxidants. In total, kelp contains over 60 vitamins & minerals and 21 amino acids.
Benefits of Kelp for Dogs
Kelp is famous for promoting shiny, healthy coats in dogs however its benefits are far greater. Being rich in such a diverse range of vitamins, kelp supports the health of virtually all of the body’s systems. Amino acids assist tissue growth and repair, while kelp also aids digestion, assists skin allergies and helps to reduce itching and inflammation. Kelp also assists with the regulation of glandular activity in the adrenal, pituitary and thyroid glands along with myriad other benefits.
I feed my dog a premium dog food, do I need to supplement?
Modern domesticated doggo diets are often filled with a range of delicious, gourmet (and often expensive) foods, which you know only too well if you’re like us and seem to spend more time preparing your dog’s dinner than your own! Despite this and our very best efforts, many of our pooches’ dietary intakes are still deficient in many key nutrients required for optimum health and the prevention of common ailments as they mature.
Most premium commercial pet foods are formulated to meet all the nutrient requirements a dog needs to thrive. However, not all brands are equal. We always recommend doing your research on the types of foods that your dog is consuming, the nutritional values of this food and the recommended intake of key vitamins and minerals relative to their age, size, breed and activity levels.
Should I give my puppy supplements?
As the Gully Road range are 100% natural supplements, they are completely safe to feed at all stages of your dog’s life from 12 weeks onward. The developing tissue in a puppy’s body benefits from added nutrients, especially omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
Although not relevant to the supplements in Gully Road’s range, care should be taken when supplementing calcium and large doses of additional vitamins to your puppy’s diet. We always recommend seeking veterinary advice when it comes to your dog’s diets and particular individual needs.
Dog Supplements for Joint Conditions
Gelatin, Rosehip, Kelp and seafood supplements all provide important support for joint conditions such as arthritis. When pain and inflammation is involved MSM is a key supplement that can have astounding results. Methylsulfonylmethane is a chemical found naturally in plants and animals which is a natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory.
Do joint supplements for dogs actually work?
While every dog and situation is different, the proof is best found in the results! Time and time again our customers share the incredible outcomes that they have seen from feeding a simple selection of natural supplements.
‘My 8 yr old somewhat grumpy-towards-puppies Moodle pulled up with the dreaded twisted knee from his obvious Olympic Ball team training he just must do daily. The MSM and Rosehip combo started working within the week. It’s now been 3 weeks. He is bounding around like a much younger dog. Not chewing his knees after a ball session (reduced time and intensity) and I’m being that person reaching for the camera when he is playing with another dog like he was a puppy again!’
– Deanne
‘Ever since we have started using (Gelatin for Skin and Joints) plus the King Island Kelp, our German Shepherd pup’s coat has come up so shiny, we get a lot of comments from people when we are out walking about how beautiful she is. We turn them into the jellies following Gully Road’s recipe and she has 1 jelly for breakfast with her kibble and loves it.’
– Dianne
‘Miss Violet and Pippy Longbottom have had the joint health pack for the past year. Pip is only 2 but Violet the black and tan is nearly 11yrs and has no problems keeping up with pippy and is always commented on her amazing health by people and our vet.’
– Anne
‘I adopted a rescue dingo a year ago. For the previous two years, due to her very timid nature, she was kept segregated from others on a tiny concrete pad less than 1m by 2m. She never left this area for two whole years so was never exercised. When I got her she could hardly walk with her feet constantly slipping out from under her. When I brought her home I put a lot of effort into researching the best way to encourage exercise along with a supportive diet and supplements. She could not tolerate people being near her so needed a safe enclosed area that encouraged movement on her own that challenged her. She needed nourishing food and supplements that would support muscle growth and development as well as cognitive function. I started her on your rosehip, msm, gelatin and kelp as well as raw wild meat. As the weeks passed her feet grew in confidence. She started increasing in speed then balancing and jumping. We recently got her a companion and her athleticism is such that she runs rings around him. She is so quick on her feet. It is such a beautiful thing to see the changes in our little girl who could hardly stand when she arrived. Your products have paid a key role in returning our little girl to full health.’
– Phoenix and Noah’s owner
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