What is more precious than those that we love, and when it comes to giving us unconditional love there really isn't much more of better candidate than the dogs that share our lives. They are absolutely priceless and irreplaceable, so it is no wonder that we want them to be as happy and as healthy as possible. One way of doing this is through dog food supplements. There is the expression, you are what you eat, and since a dog will generally eat only one thing during the day that one thing would need to give them everything that they need in the way of nutrition, but that is where the problem lies.

Most dog foods are simply not healthy for our dogs. They are produced by companies that only have the goal of making money, not making our dogs healthier. Did you know that dogs really only live up to half the potential years that they were created to live? This is mainly due to a lack of proper nutrition. Imagine if you would only feed your child one thing, and one thing only and the company that made that food told you that it was the best thing for you, and on the commercials they showed children happily eating the food as if it were the first meal they had eaten in days. Then you were to find out that the food was actually full of garbage, fats and chemicals, and the children on the commercials were starved before they were given the food to make them look as if they were enjoying it more? That is basically what the dog food companies are doing to our pets.

So dog food supplements are a must if we are to have our friends around and healthy for a lifetime. Remember that whatever your dog eats is what they will become, so supplement their diet with the best things possible, and enjoy a long and lasting relationship with your fur friend.

The dog food and dog care industries are out to get your money, not to help your dog live a healthy life. By making simple changes to the way you feed your pet you could help them to live a much healthier and longer life. Download our Special Report at [http://www.healthy-fur-friends.info]

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Are dog food supplements really required, or should your dog food provide all the nutrients? Being a pet owner you must certainly consider buying pet supplements and wonder if they are necessary. Even if you carefully examine the pet nutrition labeling on the packages you are buying, it may not be enough. For example, few of us are aware that toxic substance found in nature can cause liver disease in animals and there are natural products that are helpful in removing these toxins.

To help your pet cope with the painful disease of arthritis, you can use Glucosamine as a supplement. A regular intake of Glucosamine, prescribed by your Vet, can help with this problem. Calcium, phosphorous and vitamin B2 supplements are also effective additions to Glucosamine. If your pet suffers from joint pain, serving dog food supplements will help.

One thing to be taken care of is serving your pet with supplements which are rich in calcium. It is recommended that dog gets their calcium need fulfilled from the eatables rather than supplements. A bulk amount of calcium can lead your dog to form calcium deposits and which results in dysplasia. There are cases when the calcium intake for pet is necessary but buy the your vet has recommended. An itching problem of pets can also be eased and even cured with dog supplements blended with good dosage of flaxseed oil.

Fat is not always bad. There are fat varieties which can be found in healthy food. Fat can make your pet's skin healthy and it is a good tool to fight against problems like inflammation, blood clotting etc.

No doubt antioxidants contribute in building a healthy immune system and helping to prevent heart disease. Vitamin C and E in your pet's diet offers protection against allergies and helps prevent all forms of cancer.

Before purchasing any dog supplements make sure you have taken a good look at the ingredients list. Control everything that goes into your dog's meals yourself so that you are able to see the improvement and make further change in the diet if required.

You can read expert views on dog supplements, pet nutrition, cat nutrition and many more articles on pet nutrition by Sandra Williams. She is an expert at researching and writing on pet nutrition products.

A dog food supplement is an additional food which is given complementary to a dog's existing diet. Supplements are given to pets generally for health reasons in the same way that we take supplements for various health concerns or to keep a healthy and balanced immune system to help stave off illness. They differ from 'treats' in that they are formulated to comprise vitamins, minerals and other ingredients designed to enhance the overall well-being of a dog and sometimes to target specific illnesses or complaints.

There are many brands of supplements available that promote different aspects of health and they can come in many different forms including tablets, pellets, concentrate powder and liquids (solutions). Probably the most well-known ailment is arthritis since this is common to humans as we age and is also common to our dogs. Other common ailments supplements are given for include allergies, digestive problems, skin problems, coat problems, weight problems and dental problems.

The diet for domesticated dogs has changed dramatically from their descendants the grey wolf and whilst modern day manufacturers strive to create a healthy balanced diet for pets many veterinarians have recognised that some of these dog foods can be lacking in essential nutrients and complementary food may be recommended to supplement the diet. This can be for simple maintenance purposes or it could be to treat a specific ailment.

The inter-breeding of domestic dogs has also left a legacy of known disorders amongst breeds many of which can be treated by feeding a supplement to your dog. The most common of these problems are osteoarthritis, arthritis and degenerative diseases such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Skeletal problems of this nature are common in older dogs, however can be seen to affect a large proportion of the domestic dog population.

James Spratt created the first commercial dog food in around 1860. He called it the 'Patented Meat Fibrine Dog Cake' and began the first mass production of a prepared dog food. In fact this first commercial dog biscuit was the first dog food supplement given in addition to a dog's normal diet (in most cases likely to have been scraps, raw meat, bones and available vegetables and fruit). Inspired by the reaction to this initial offering James Spratt continued to refine his recipe and develop more complete dog food for all kinds of dogs. Spratt's created many formulas targeting different life-stages and went on to sell a range of other dog products. Spratt's was eventually acquired by General Mills in 1950.

Spratt's huge success in the prepared dog food market introduced many more manufacturers hoping for similar success and led to the multi-billion pound market we see today. Industrial and process development enabled new forms of packaging and distribution to service the market including tinned dog food which could be shipped all over the world.

The availability of ingredients increased significantly after World War II and so too did the range of foods and number of manufacturers. The ease and convenience for owners coupled with the scientific advancements in nutrition saw demand steadily increase for an array of dog foods and dog food supplements to meet owners requirements.

As scientific developments enabled advancements in human nutrition, so too have advancements been made in nutrition for dogs and complementary dog food products (supplements). In the last twenty years the popularity and range of dog food supplements has increased through the sharing of information and as clinical trials revealed many ingredients used to treat human ailments could also provide significant benefits for our canine friends.

There are essentially three types of supplements available:

(i) 'Pharmaceutical' grade supplements can only be dispensed with a prescription from a vet (frequently patented products which generally include powerful concentrates of ingredients) and should only be given to a pet if prescribed by their Veterinarian.
(ii) 'Neutraceutical' supplements are available over-the-counter (and on the internet). These are likely to contain 'active ingredients' which have various effects on a dog's health and a formula is normally targeted to assist with a specific illness (ingredients are likely to include natural compounds which cannot be patented by pharmaceutical companies).
(iii) 'Herbal' remedies which contain natural plant and flora extracts which may have a history of certain health benefits.

Barker and Wags LeapDOG Natural Joint Nutrition is a neutraceutical maintenance supplement specifically for dogs suffering from or likely to suffer from any form of joint pain including arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia. The formula includes glucosamine and chondroitin alongside other active ingredients, vitamins and minerals in an easily digestible oat-based pellet form that is quickly absorbed into a dog's body. LeapDOG can be given to all dogs for a healthy more active life. Results are often seen within 3 weeks from taking the supplement.