Pet Health Care and Nutrition

by J Boda

Our dogs and cats depend on us for pet health care and nutrition. This is why it is important to feed them the best and most nutritionally balanced pet food that we are able to provide. Just as each dog's personality is different, different needs based on age, activity levels and overall health may require different pet health care routines and supplementation with high quality dog vitamins.

Dogs of all ages may benefit from proper supplementation. This could help improve the quality and texture of their coats, reduce shedding, improve the strength of bones and teeth, and give your dogs better health and an improved quality of life.

Not all vitamin supplements are created equal, however, poor quality ingredients and wrong dosages can also cause more pet health problems than they prevent. This is why it is important to choose high quality pet vitamin supplements that benefit your dog's specific health needs and life stage.

A young puppy or might benefit from Vitamin B12, which is known to increase appetite in the correct dosages. Combined with Vitamin C for increased immune systems, this can boost pet health by encouraging him to grow to a healthy size and weight, and avoid any problems caused by malnutrition.

An already healthy dog might do well to improve his coat sheen and texture with supplements containing Vitamins C, and D. Besides preventing common ailments by strengthening the immune system, Vitamin C can improve coat quality and reduce shedding by maintaining the health of a dog's skin. Dog vitamins containing vitamin C help in the absorption of vitamin D, which produces collagen. Vitamin D also combines with the vitamin C in these dog vitamins to form collagen. This is important in keeping tendons and ligaments in the best condition.

A more senior canine might benefit from supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin, which keeps joints lubricated and can help prevent joint conditions, if taken as a preventative measure. Extracted from shellfish, these minerals improve pet health by enabling a dog to remain active and happy even in his advanced years.

Not all pet vitamin supplements are created equal, however, poor quality ingredients and wrong dosages can also cause more pet health problems than they prevent. Our best friends can benefit greatly from intelligent choices of pet vitamin supplements to suit dogs' specific needs at different stages in their lives.

Published July 19th, 2009

Filed in Health