Three of My Favorite Supplements
Dogs might not use words, but they do “talk” to us and let us know when they are happy, depressed, in pain or feeling good. There are many articles and papers dedicated to evaluating which are the best dog foods available. I follow these and have learned to read labels and understand what I am reading. However, dog food is meant to meet the requirements for substance, but not nutrient needs for peak health. Therefore, more than 10 years ago I found a veterinarian who understood the need for supplements. It was slightly less than a 6 hour drive one way to see her, but I believe she helped me keep a dog at least an extra 4 years with supplements.
My dog had a runny nose this morning. So the first thing I did was go to his cabinet and look at the supplements I had available. With the internet’s help, I researched each bottle and chose two to add to my dog’s food. Remember I have had vet instruction on how to add these plus I have attended several seminars and do as much research as I can. This weekend, I will pay for a telephone consultation to inquire about what I think I would like to add and see if there is something I do not know about. Sometimes I just need to hear that they need to be added gradually while others can be given 6 tablets at a time.
As of this morning, had about 10 bottles in my dog’s cabinet. Here are three of my favorites.
Boswellia (also known as frankincense) is an herbal medicine made from the resin of the boswellia serrata tree. For thousands of years, boswellia has been regarded as a potent anti-inflammatory nutrient. Modern studies have shown that boswellia is effective for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Gamma Oryzanol is a mixture of antioxidant compounds that occurs naturally in rice bran oil. Gamma oryzanol is believed to improve muscle tone and performance, which has made rice bran oil a popular supplement among athletes and animal breeders. Gamma oryzanol is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, which are known to protect against heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. Gamma oryzanol was first extracted from rice bran oil in Japan in 1953, and rice bran oil has since gained a reputation as the world’s healthiest seed oil.
Spirulina is a microscopic blue-green vegetable algae that nourishes the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems, and can promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation. Spirulina is a source of highly absorbable protein, mixed carotenoids and other phytonutrients, B-Vitamins, GLA and essential amino acids. Of all the algae, Spirulina has emerged as an especially potent and healthy food source for humans and animals alike.
Do you supplement your dog’s food? What do you use and why? I would love to learn from you.