Supplements (part 1)

Supplementation are a rapidly growing area of the health and wellness industry. They are marketed in our pet stores, health stores, grocery stores and in our food products. I once gave a consultation to a dog whose owner was a cancer survivor. She told me without hestitation that she swore by supplements and believed they are what helped her beat cancer.

As someone that trusts in the power of nutrients and food, my approach to supplementation is that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. A healthy dog eating a balanced, bio-available diet, should not need supplementation. A healthy diet will provide all the vitamins, minerals, omega 6’s and other various nutrients that the body needs to function smoothly. That being said, we live in a world that is getting progressively filled with chemicals and carcinogens, and supplements can help to arm ourselves, and our pets, against the harmful effects.

For that reason I like to divide supplements into two categories.

Category 1: Proactive Supplements; support the immune system and organs

Category 2: Target Supplements; specific additions into the diet that are used to address a specific health concern. Ie pancreatitis, irritable bowel (category 2 supplements will be outlined in a blog later on)

PROACTIVE SUPPLEMENTS

Fish Oils & Vitamin E

We all know about omega 3 fatty acids and their fantastic health benefits. If you don’t and are interested, please check out my website. The ideal ratio of ingested omega 3 to omega 6 is 1:1 to 1:4. The problem is that our diets, and that of the animals we eat, are extremely high in omega 6 fatty acids and this offsets the balance. This is, in part, a result of an agriculture industry that no longer produces food naturally. Omega 6 fatty acids are extremely high in plant oils such as corn and soy. Studies show that  the meat of grass-fed cows (grass is rich in omega 3s) have a ratio of 1:1 omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids.  Cows fed corn and soy (the vast majority) produce meat in the range of 1:20.

A great website to read about this topic is www.tendergrassfedmeat.com

The best source of omega 3 is from cold-water fish such as mackerel, white fish, herring or salmon. Another great source is cod liver oil which has 20 grams of omega 3 per 100 grams of food (compared to 1.5 grams of omega 3s in herring or salmon). I caution the use of cod liver oil however as it is also very high in vitamin A and vitamin D, which are the two vitamins that are accumulated in the liver and are toxic at high levels. Another high source of omega 3 is flax seed oil, however only 7-15% of the omega 3  is available to the canine body as it needs extensive conversion. The best source is wild, fish oil which can be found in your local health food store.

When supplementing with fatty acids it is always wise to also add vitamin E. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that prevents the peroxidation of lipids within the cellular membranes. Basically, it protects the omega 3 that you are supplementing, but in this process, it is destroyed. Supplementing the diet three to four times a week with vitamin E will reduce any risk of a deficiency developing.

Joint Supplement

These days approximately 20% of adult dogs are afflicted with arthritis and that number is on the rise. Supplementing early with glucosamine and chondroitin is a great proactive approach to preventing the onset of arthritis as these compounds block the action of cartilage destroying enzymes and promote the cartilage producing cells.  If your dog is already showing signs of arthritis, glucosamine can help support the joint mobility and repair the collagen damage. Raw meaty bones are a great source of natural glucosamine and chondroitin , however they are not suitable for all dogs (Kya looks at a chicken neck like it’s a worm) and in that case there are great liquid alternatives available. Green Lipped Mussels is an example that I’ve been trying recently with great results.

Green Food

I love green foods. I’m not sure why, but something about even the word, green, sounds healthy and revitalizing. Am I a product of marketing or what? Green foods include kelp, spirulina, alfalfa, barley or wheat grass and your tonic herbs.  Green foods support and gently cleanse respiratory, digestive, renal, hepatic and circulatory systems. They are proven to have potent antiviral, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties.  They are generally inexpensive to purchase (or grow in some cases) and they will make your dog feel great!